Dumb Parents!

[kfiedler]

I really try not to pass judgement on other peoples parenting techniques, but sometimes I can't help it. At the park today I saw a bunch of dumb parents. I saw a few that had there daughters in pretty pink dresses where the little girls were trying to run around but the parents didn't want them to ruin there dress, or the parents whose kids falls to his hands and they run over with sanitizer and douse the whole kid. Or yelling at there kids because they are eating sand (I ate it, you ate it, our parents ate it, as long as it'd not part of a normal routine I think they will be fine!) Or you go to the other end and see kids bulling others and there parents not stepping in, kids with green things dangleing out of there noses ,(all it needs is a quick wipe) or the kid with breakfast still all out there face. It seems like wherever I go I see more dumb parents. I am not saying that I am the perfect parent But I am a firm believer that "kids will be kids!" they like to play and get dirty (and then need a bath), and they like to push boundries, you keep on top of them but still give them freedom, if they don't listen you take things away and they will learn. At what point do you step in and say "don't you think that's a bit much?" or "You mind wiping that" or "Your kids in being mean" I haven't done it yet, only because it hasn't directly effected my kids but by the time I do I might be so frustrated that what I have to say probably won't be nice. Has anyone stepped out, and called parents out on things?

[kfiedler]

I am also sick of when parents think there child is a perfect little angel (turns out there little brats) and tries to convience everyone that they can do no wrong. My kids have done wrong things but we correct them so they don't happen again. Just like me they have good and bad days. I am just so frustrated, thanks for letting me vent.

[ra11en]

I have never had to guts yet to speak up, but I see this all the time too. In fact, I think I was one at first. It took me a little while to figure out that my daughter NEEDED to be getting in the dirt and getting grass stains all over her clothes and shoes. We just planted a veggie garden, and my husband kept telling me we shouldn't be doing it because our DD would get all in the dirt. I reminded him that she's 18mo and is SUPPOSED to be getting in the dirt and shoveling it in her face, it's how she learns and how she enjoys herself. When she was first crawling / walking I spent so much time trying to keep her clean or away from things I didn't want her to get messed up with. Total duh moment when my mom reminded me of what a tomboy I was and how much fun I had getting all grimey. Now, instead of the nice new pink dress, she gets whatever tshirt is most stained and a pair of cut off jeans - go baby go!!!

As for the runny nose - OMG I so agree!! I have no problem following her around and wiping her nose every few minutes if it is runny. So gross!!! And if I don't wipe it with a kleenex, I know she will be using the back of her hand and smearing it everywhere. Double gross!!

[myboysmom]

First of all, don't knock the kid with breakfast on his face -- at least he had breakfast! J/K That is one of MY biggest pet peeves. I babysit at home, and these parents will bring their kids to my house at 7am or after and tell me how long they've been up and then "Oh, he/she hasn't had breakfast yet." And then give me that sheepish grin. I just want to slap them! I don't say too much, but since my boys are getting older and able to play with other kids at the park, etc., I am becoming more inclined to step in and tell the other kid as well as my own, "That's enough" of whatever the inappropriate behavior was. I figure if my kid is playing with these kids and their parents aren't going to say anything, I might as well.

[ShutterbugMommie]

I have spoken up. Sometimes I am greeted by a thankful mom and sometime i received the mid you own business attitude. I can recall may times where I have pointed out a runny nose to a parent and seen then jump up and take care of it because they just didn't notice. I have also walked up to parents not letting the little girl in the pink frilly dress play - I approached this situation after the 2nd time seeing it happen to the same little girl and she was throwing a temper tantrum. Her mom kept telling her to be quiet which is what irked me enough to speak up. I just went over there and said she might not have as much trouble with her little one if she would dress her in appropriate clothing to play at the park so she could get dirty I was greeted with a mind you own business look but the next time I saw them at the park the little girl was in a t-shirt and jeans.

The bullying is my main pet peeve. I cannot stand it when parents just stand there and watch their children bully another little child. I became gutsy enough to say something after being a teacher assistant for four years while I went to school to get my teaching degree and after my year of student teaching. I had to deal with bullying in my classroom so it is a comfortable situation for me to jump in and take care of. Also, I took my little cousins to the park all the time. I had to deal with a situation where they were bullied and I handled it right away. I always figured if I wouldn’t want it happening to my child or my little cousins then I should say something when I see it happening to another persons child. I have approached parents and received comments like "Its not your child why do you care" and "That’s how kids learn to defend them selves and survive". Comments like these just lead me to take care of the situation myself (the teacher in me which has to come out in these moments). I find that once the parents see that I will do something about it, they go and talk to their children. If the parent wont do anything, I simple walk up to the bully and start a conversations with them (along the lines of asking them how they would feel if somebody was treating them like they were treating the other child), then I escort them to their parent and tell them what their child is doing (even if they were watching the whole thing). I have no idea what they do after that because I go about my own business, but the bullying is stopped for the time being and the child who was victim to this is off playing with other children.

I am thankful that I have had to deal with bullying on the playground so when my little one is old enough to go out and play, I know I am prepared to handle the situation. But for some reason, I cannot sit back and watch somebody else's kid get bullied either.

[BlackVelvetSky]

I used to work at a video game store. A woman came in with her son, and was going to by him a new handheld system to keep him busy when they were out and about. The poor boy didn't know anything about the two she was trying to get him to choose between (DS or PSP), or the games made for them. So since the kid didn't know enough to know right off the bat which one he wanted, she told him, "Fine, you won't get anything then, you little ****." Pretty much everyone in the store looked up, appalled, but it really didn't seem to phase her. No one really knew what to do about it, but I'd say that definitely falls under the category of dumb parents.

[autymsmommy]

I would say that calling your child a "little ****" qualifies the parent as verbally abusive - not just a dumb parent. Just my opinion though

[Jean]

I have spoke up on things that are truly inappropriate like toddlers cursing in the sandbox and so forth. Other things that are more up to the parents like hand sanitizer and so forth I go with the "to each their own" and look away. Most parents will learn with time, you do not have to tell them the basics. I can guarantee you they have already heard it from some well meaning family or friend.