Horrible Children

AshleyC48

I'm not quite sure what to do about this.  My wedding is coming up in October and I have 2 cousins age 3 and 5.  They are probably the worst behaved children I have ever seen.  Ever seen an episode of Supernanny?  Think that.  The parents have no control over them and don't even try.  Here's the deal.  I originally didn't want to invite them to the wedding.  We aren't having kids, but my other cousins on the other side are coming. Who are incredibly well behaved kids so now I figure the other two have to come.  Then last week they were down for a visit and I spent about half an hour with them and almost lost it.  I really don't want them at the ceremony.  The reception I can deal with, but not the ceremony. How do I go about doing this?  Is it wrong??  To put it into perspective when they were here they ran around smashing everything in sight.  Kicking my dog repeatedly trying to get him to bite them.  Screaming as loud as they could, all while the mother sat by and watched.............  Picture that at a ceremony....

6fsn

It's your decision, but it's either all the kids or none of them.

Heffalump

You can invite kids or not invite kids, but you can't pick and choose.

zsazsa-stl

Invite the kids but gift each with a muzzle and a straight jacket at the door.

Butter Cookie

What about a baby sitter for the ceremony?

mrsconn23

Yeah, there's no way to tell someone that their kids are hellions and therefore not invited but other people's children are invited without there being an issue.  And if they show up and there's kids there, that would be even worse.

My $0.02?  I had about 200 ppl at my wedding and there were some kids there that I think are total brats (friends of DH's family's children), I don't think I saw or even thought about either of them all day.  My friend apologized to me for her son throwing a fit during my ceremony and I didn't even know that had happened either. 

There's so much going on that you won't even notice.  So if you're going to have more than enough people at your wedding, it will help to defray the effects of the bratty children.

hmonkey

btw, if children are kicking your dog, it's within your rights to stop them; you don't have to wait for mom.  i mean, i would stop kids from kicking my car or my luggage.

how do you know if the other kids are coming if you haven't sent out invites yet?

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_horrible-children?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:a401ab3a-f205-40af-8baf-cab512e18590Post:39fc5ef0-3988-4a7f-95cf-4f5298633d63">Re: Horrible Children</a>:
[QUOTE]btw, if children are kicking your dog, it's within your rights to stop them; you don't have to wait for mom.  i mean, i would stop kids from kicking my car or my luggage.
Posted by hmonkey[/QUOTE]

Exactly.  I have no issue telling one of my son's friends to not do something (like ride their bike within 2 inches of my car) even if their parent is standing there and doesn't say anything. 

AshleyC48

Invites are out.  The parents are already making jokes about trying to control them.

A babysitter sounds like a great idea!  I don't know why I didn't think about it.  I think I might use that one. Thanks.

As far as the dog goes, trust me I pulled them off the dog and told them to stop.  This resulted in them smacking me and screaming at me.  It really does blow my mind some parents these days.

MNNEBride

Yes - it's either all children or no children at the wedding. 

Regarding their recent visit - if it's your home and/or your dog, you make the rules.  Even if the parents do not step up to manage their children, you need to let them know what is allowed in your home and with your dog.  I would have removed the dog away from those demon children.

loveshine1

You can't pick and choose which kids come, which is why I had a strict no children policy at my wedding. Also, I personally didn't feel a formal wedding on a Saturday night was appropriate for children.

I think the babysitter idea sounds great. Although you may have to pay him or her extra if the kids are really as bad as you say they are.

*Barbie*

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_horrible-children?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:a401ab3a-f205-40af-8baf-cab512e18590Post:39fc5ef0-3988-4a7f-95cf-4f5298633d63">Re: Horrible Children</a>:
[QUOTE]btw, if children are kicking your dog, it's within your rights to stop them; you don't have to wait for mom.  i mean, i would stop kids from kicking my car or my luggage. 
Posted by hmonkey[/QUOTE]

<div>i'm with HMO here - i don't care who the kid belongs to - if they are misbehaving and the parents aren't doing anything, i will. if someone kicks at my dogs, i'm not above stopping them by any means necessary. </div>

mrsconn23

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_horrible-children?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:a401ab3a-f205-40af-8baf-cab512e18590Post:ad7f0143-d1c5-4aa4-a8ab-0f23e82acb16">Re: Horrible Children</a>:
[QUOTE]Invites are out. <strong> The parents are already making jokes about trying to control them.</strong> A babysitter sounds like a great idea!  I don't know why I didn't think about it.  I think I might use that one. Thanks.<strong> As far as the dog goes, trust me I pulled them off the dog and told them to stop.  This resulted in them smacking me and screaming at me. </strong> It really does blow my mind some parents these days.
Posted by AshleyC48[/QUOTE]

The parents of the hellions are making these jokes?  They're assholes.

And OMG @ them screaming and smacking you. 

I agree with LS, pay the babysitter big $$ for putting up with them. 

Butter Cookie

I would punch someone who kicked my dog. I will be a very bad parent.

hmonkey

ashley, these kids are your cousins?  what -- exactly -- is the relation of the parents to you?

Paulo's Menina Bela

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/special-topic-wedding-boards_wedding-woes_horrible-children?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Special%20Topic%20Wedding%20BoardsForum:47Discussion:a401ab3a-f205-40af-8baf-cab512e18590Post:ad7f0143-d1c5-4aa4-a8ab-0f23e82acb16">Re: Horrible Children</a>:
[QUOTE]Invites are out.  <strong>The parents are already making jokes about trying to control them.</strong> A babysitter sounds like a great idea!  I don't know why I didn't think about it.  I think I might use that one. Thanks. <strong>As far as the dog goes, trust me I pulled them off the dog and told them to stop.  This resulted in them smacking me and screaming at me.</strong>  It really does blow my mind some parents these days.
Posted by AshleyC48[/QUOTE]

That's really sick. Do these parents realize they're raising serial killers?

AshleyC48

They are my dads brothers children.  Both of my parents are the oldest of many kids on that side of the family. Hence me having such young cousins.

I wanted so badly to have no kids, but I am using my one cousin as a flower girl, so I had to invite her brother.  And these other two are the only kids.  Sticky situation.

hmonkey

are you particularly close to his uncle and aunt?  do you think they would be offended if you separated out just their kids to go with the sitter?

kpwedkk

We had plenty kids at our wedding and reception too - and we too didn't hear any of them... You get so wrapped up in your vows, and the emotions of marrying the one you love!

If the priest can give some warning before the ceremony starts - If you need to make a call, or have a wailing kid, so that we don't interrupt the sanctity of the cermony, please, outside through the double doors.

hmonkey

[QUOTE]If the priest can give some warning before the ceremony starts - If you need to make a call, or have a wailing kid, so that we don't interrupt the sanctity of the cermony, please, outside through the double doors.
Posted by kpwedkk[/QUOTE]

even though the parents in this case think their kids will be trouble, they don't care enough to actually do anything about it.

Meg1979

I can see that the bride and groom would be wrapped in wedded bliss, but the other guests are going to notice if the kids are kicking them in the shins or hollering louder than the vows.