Douchebag parents

FallinAgain · August 2009

I don't find home depot to be a store filled with obnoxious noises. Sure there may be some sawing from time to time, but it's not like people are nailing things together in the store. The sound of grills being slammed shut would get on my nerves too. There's no need for it, even in a hardware store. I agree the Home Depot is loud but not loud like repeated clanging of metal. Plus, the older lady probably had a legitimate reason to be in that aisle. There is zero need for a 4 year-old to play with grills.

tastyburger · August 2009

A 4-y-o is plenty old enough to realize the difference between when she can play/make noise/whatever and when she shouldn't because grown ups are talking or doing business.nah, I agree w. SB. A 4-yo probably isn't making the best decisions about his/her public behavior all the time, no matter who the parent is. It IS, however, the parents' job to correct the behavior should it need it. I fully expect a 12-yo to make bad descisions regarding behavior, but the parents teach and correct.

buddhagouda · August 2009

[i]I also got asked if I "need[ed] a trip to the ladies room" as code for "if you do not shape up right now, I will tan your hide, so help me God."[/i] I think we had the same parents.

KayRI · August 2009

I guess I wouldn't be annoyed by the sound of a grill opening and closing to such an extent that I'd say something to the parents. In a restaurant, movie theatre, bookstore, yes.

AngieP900 · August 2009

I less concerned with customers expectations of a Home Depot, and am more concerned with letting your kid run rampant through a hardware. Nails, saws, tools, machinery are not child friendly.

buddhagouda · August 2009

[i]I guess I wouldn't be annoyed by the sound of a grill opening and closing to such an extent that I'd say something to the parents. In a restaurant, movie theatre, bookstore, yes. [/i] I probably wouldn't either, but if the lady was actually hurting and not just annoyed she might have. Besides, even if I wouldn't say anything, that doesn't mean the parent shouldn't have to watch her kid.

FallinAgain · August 2009

I guess I wouldn't be annoyed by the sound of a grill opening and closing to such an extent that I'd say something to the parents. In a restaurant, movie theatre, bookstore, yes. That's fine, but if your kid was annoying someone to the point that they said something and had no legitimate need to be doing the activity at all, would you tell her to stop it sincerely or would you attempt to embarrass the person who asked that she stop?

mashedpotato · August 2009

it's really annoying when you're in a store and want to look at something like a grill and some little brat is there playing. You say excuse me ten times loud enough for the parent to hear you and they just ignore you because the grill is keeping little preslea entertained while they're busy looking at something else. IT'S NOT A TOY, IT'S NOT FOR YOU, DON'T TOUCH IT AND GET OUT OF MY FOFFING WAY.

the_mulva · August 2009

i would be mortified if someone in a store felt they had to correct my kid... even if that person was a crogedy old bitty w/ bad ears.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

rosenjoe, I think you are seriously overestimating the decision making skills of a 4 year old. They're not thinking about how what they do affects other people. They're thinking about them.I'm not saying it's okay behavior from the kid, but I don't hold it against them. I hold it against their douchey parents who haven't shown them that their have consequences.

CaliopeSpidrman · August 2009

BTW, I meant to say that I think Tasty is going to be the greatest mom ever. Tell your Travel Bear a story. Brilliant. Please move here and be my kid's nanny.

Novemberrocks · August 2009

I don't know. I think that by 4, a kid should be able to exhibit basic manners (assuming they've been taught to that kid). Perhaps I'm in for a rude awakening...

the_mulva · August 2009

yeah, i kinda tend to think by 4, a kid would be more well-behaved. But, if their not, it's b/c the parents suck, not the kid. But w/ that said, my kid is 1, so how the hell would I know?

shanollee · August 2009

November, I agree with you. I think a lot of 4-year-olds are a great deal smarter than we give them credit for, and they're perfectly capable of understanding certain social situations and how to behave. BUT they have to be taught those things, they don't just wake up one day with the knowledge of how to be well behaved and have good manners. It's not magic, it does take good parenting

tastyburger · August 2009

aww, that's super sweet Calie. When we are in our utopian compound, I shall be the nanny. It just drives me completely f'ing nuts when parents don't have an alternative for the kid to do during "boring" times. Like the fantastically douchebag parent in my office who keeps having kids brought her 18 month and 5 month old yesterday and thought she could put the 18 month old in a stroller with NOTHING TO DO and he'd what, sit quietly and watch Mommy work? yeah. what an idiot. Bring a toy or two for toast's sake. I found a couple cat toys and some random tupperware in our kitchen that were fine for him to play with for a good while.

SarahBethBR · August 2009

Well, my kid is non-existent, so I'm sure one day I'll understand.I hope my kids are well behaved at 4 too. But I think Miss Shame the Adults Who Complain is to blame here, not her kid.

Stackeye210 · August 2009

The horrific mess left behind combined with a crappy tip was the worst as well. We actually tip more if we have our daughter because we know people automatically dismiss us as serious diners. I think I'm more worried about how she acts in public then I am when we're home alone. These parents that don't correct their kids are the first ones to complain about someone elses child as well.

GroomzMcFinehiney · August 2009

I agree that the mother is to blame. But she's to blame for being a complete asshat to the other woman, and she's to blame for not teaching her child how to behave.

Novemberrocks · August 2009

I do agree with you SB, that it's not the kid's fault. I think poor behavior generally reflects poor/insufficient parenting. And Tasty, I totally agree with you that you have to always be prepared with something to keep the kid distracted. It seems like a basic concept - we do this with the dog when we take her places. Maybe she and the baby will be able to share pig ears.

Knottie_22382082 · August 2009

What November and Mulva said. It's not about decision making so much as it is manners. I was very much raised to be deferential to the adults around me, and that meant being unobtrusive in public settings that weren't explicitly child-friendly (again, we're talking about hardware stores and sit-down restaurants, not a toy store or Chuck E. Cheese). I tend to believe that there are times and places where "a child should be seen but not heard" should be the rule. Four is, in my experience, old enough for most kids to know that Home Depot isn't a place to play and be loud. If a particular four year old isn't there, one well placed look or word from Mom should be enough to bring the child around.

jbloom · August 2009

it's called conditioning. All a small child wants to do is have fun and please their parents/avoid punishment. So you condition them to please you, a.k.a. behave.

CaliopeSpidrman · August 2009

I don't even think she did a good job of shaming the old woman. I doubt the lady realized she was being sarcastic. So she's a failure at keeping her kid under control AND at shaming people.

GroomzMcFinehiney · August 2009

Cali, when you finally fish that hair out of your hiney, please leave it on this woman's desk. thanks.

lanie26 · August 2009

This makes me twitch. I'd be horrified. And utterly humiliated if anyone had to say anything about my child's behaviour. I'm very aware of where we are and who we may be disturbing. We have a toddler, so she's into everything all the time if you let her. If we go out to dinner as a family we go to a place where we know we can be served in a hurry. We don't have long luxurious meals. We order straight away and make sure she's hungry, so she'll sit and eat. We also bring this contraption that allows for us to be loved by servers and therefore limits the amount of bodily fluid entering our food. It's this little placemat thing with a cup at the bottom which collects gunk that normally would fall on the floor. Sticks to the table so we just roll it up and roll up the mess with it. I've had many a relieved compliment. 4? That's pathetic.

CaliopeSpidrman · August 2009

I think I need that placemat thing for myself.

wingedbride · August 2009

i hate the word yucky.

samfish2bcrab · August 2009

Cali. How i do love thee

shanollee · August 2009

"I am sorry you had to see the yucky behavior of that kid. Don't you think he/she is making his/her mommy very sad? You like to be a good girl and help your mommy, don't you?!"I'm pretty sure I will never utter phrases like this to my children. Ever

lanie26 · August 2009

OMG Cali. Bahahahahaha. And yeah normally I just say "Jo, enough." Fewer words for her the better. Explanations can come later.

lanie26 · August 2009

I didn't read that right. You say this to OTHER children who are misbehaving? Not your own? Yeah I don't want my kid to grow up to be a douche so I generally just lead her away from whatever kid is throwing a tantrum. I don't want her to turn into an attachment parent who tsk tsks people for myriad of ridiculous reasons.

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