I feel as though I’ve earned a new Badge of Motherhood. I’ve conquered many things in my almost 10 year mothering journey – nursing, sleeping, potty-training, nightmares, tantrums, weaning, boo-boos, screaming, tickling, giggling, play-dates, slamming the doors, drama, fashion disasters, tears, homework.
But until this weekend I’ve never had to deal with other kids. Kids that I don’t even know. Kids that did something wrong. Kids who went home and got their mom to talk to me – ‘The Mean Lady’ – you know me. They don’t know me.
It was a place I never wanted to be, but as a mother I felt that I had no choice. It was unfamiliar, uncomfortable and slightly awful. But it brings up the question…what’s really my role in this as mother – when I’m not their mother. What are my boundaries and what responsibility do we have to raise good kids as a community?
And did I totally mess it up.
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We had our yearly block party on Saturday night. I watched as three kids, all about 7-9 years old that I had never seen before and did not live on our street, walk up to the table and help themselves to some food and then walk towards the other end of the street – near my house. I asked a neighbor if she knew the kids as I knew they did not live near. As we were chatting, two of the kids got on my kid’s scooters and took off around the corner. I ran down the street and the kids were long-gone so I asked the little guy left behind(collateral!) where they were going on our scooters. He said that they were going to the grocery store about four blocks away, which is also across two very busy streets.
In the meantime, Eloise ran over to me and asked who those kids were who just took their scooters. She said that the girl came over to her and her friends and asked them who had the two purple scooters, so Eloise told the girl that they belonged to us. Then the girl asked if they could ride their scooters ‘for a few minutes.’ Eloise assumed that maybe they were just new kids down the block and figured that they would just ride the scooters up and down the block as the kids had been doing all during the party.
So I sat and waited for 30 minutes(with collateral!) until these two kids came back with our scooters. I stopped them and asked who they were. They would not tell me their names. I asked who gave them permission to take our scooters and why they would even take a stranger’s scooter at all. They said that one of my kids told them they could ride them. I asked “to the grocery store” and they said “no.” And then I said that when I saw them take-off with the scooters without permission, and since they were kids I had never seen before in my life, I thought they were stealing them and my first instinct was to call the police…because what they did was kind of like stealing. And then I said “and what if you had gotten hit by a car crossing one of the busy streets while riding something that was MY property or what if one of the scooters was stolen while you left them outside the store when you went in to get a movie?”
I was angry. And while I purposely did not raise my voice, I wanted them to know that this was not okay. So then I asked them for their names – which they refused to give me again, and asked for their address because I would either follow them home now or would come talk to their parents later. After giving me their address they both took-off. About 30 minutes later they were walking back with their mom.
And the mom’s first words to me were “Did you threaten to call the cops on my kids?” and I said “Oh yes I did.” It turns out they went home and told their mom that they had permission to ride the scooters to the store and yet I was angry at them. So after the mom heard the whole story she called it a ‘big miscommunication’ and I told her that no, it wasn’t a ‘big miscommunication’ – but that her children ages 7-9 were walking 1/2 a mile in the city to the store by themselves, came upon a block party and helped themselves to some food without asking permission or saying please or thank you, and then took something from a complete stranger without permission, and thought absolutely nothing was wrong with it to even offer up an apology. And thinking back now, maybe I really should’ve called the cops because I truly do believe that they still don’t think they did something wrong.
And then she said “Well you really scared them and I need to you know that you should not have scared them.” And I said “Well believe it or not, I’m glad they are now scared.”
******
So yes, big deal – a $40 scooter. But in my eyes – that’s really not the point. Is helping yourself to a $40 scooter when you’re 8 the same as helping yourself to a car when you’re 15? Is taking food without asking permission when you’re 9 leading to shoplifting when you are 12?
I don’t know the answer to that – but for now I won’t feel bad for scaring a few kids so that if there is a next time – maybe they’ll remember that the mean lady on the next block is watching.
What would you have done?
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Isn’t it about time you like Sellabit Mum on Facebook? I’ll pay you in cute puppies. Maybe. Or kittens if you go that way. Because I go that way.
What a crazy story! I can’t believe kids that age would be so disrespectful and would just crash a party like that? And going 1/2 a mile away? Yikes! I think you did the right thing.
anna see recently posted..Long-ish Recap of the Crapiversary Weekend With Photos to Hold Your Attention?
I know – and then I felt all over-protective as I would NEVER let my 7 and 9 year old walk to that store by themselves.
Sounds like she is one crazy momma and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. I think you did exactly the right thing–though I think calling the police would have been equally effective. When I’m in public places (parks/germ pit playlands/swimming pools etc) and kids are being jerks and no one is reeling them in I have no problem letting my inner teacher out and calling them on it. I’ve never had a parent call me out on it yet.
Robbie recently posted..Storming In
I wish I could be more like you as I’m always afraid to let other kids know of their bad behavior as I think the mom will come beat the crap out of me.
I guess I throw on my super teacher cape and think i’m untouchable! There’s been more than once Hubs was trying to shush me up–afraid I’ll get in a fight.
Robbie recently posted..Storming In
You are very nice, much nicer than I.
What a rude, lying, manipulative little bunch of beggars. Seriously walking into a party uninvited and helping yourself to food, and then some other’s child property? that’s pretty ballsy for that age. And I think you were completely right to tell their mother exactly what was up. She needs to know how rude and disrespectful her offspring are. Not that she’d likely care since it is plainly clear she never taught them any manners in the first place.
People like this need to be called out on their horrible behaviour. Otherwise, they go on thinking they can treat people like crap.
RoryBore recently posted..Monday Listicles: Beware the Bride!
I guess that was my feeling – the fact that they are evidently not being taught basic manners and community?
oh my gosh, now you know why I have no friends in this small town.
NO FRIENDS.
I am the cop calling lady.
LOVE YOU DEARLY.
Alexandra recently posted..I Say It’s Endearing
Oh we are twinsies because I am almost always THAT cop calling lady!
I totally think you did the right thing!!! I can’t decide if I am most disturbed by the children’s or the mother’s behavior?!! They rode “borrowed” scooters 1/2 a mile to the store, crossing busy streets & the mom only comes out to tell you that YOU scared her kids? Something is really wrong with that picture!! It makes me very sad for the children that no one has taken the time to teach them manners, respect & right from wrong.
I know – as angry as I was at the kids – I was even more infuriated with the mom.
I want you in my neighborhood. xo
Alison recently posted..I Don’t Sleep
I want to be in your neighborhood!
It was a big deal. A VERY big deal.
I would have done the same thing you did.
Tracie recently posted..Can You Spell Miscellaneous?
So glad to hear I’m not alone. I have a hard time when it comes to what my boundaries are when disciplining other people’s kids.
That is a tough line for sure. I think there is an important checklist that will point you (and ME, and all of us) in the right direction: don’t raise your voice, don’t reach out and touch or grab the child, stay calm, explain why it was wrong. Looking at your story, you did all of those things.
The variable you can’t control? The crazy mom. Her attitude was sad, and honestly a little scary when I think what messages those kids are learning.
Tracie recently posted..Recipe For A Great Morning
You absolutely did the right thing. And I’m pretty impressed you didn’t raise your voice. Those kids! All I can say is that Mama has some teaching to do!
Have you read Blessing of a Skinned Knee? About parents who step in to rescue their kids and can’t believe THEIR kid would do something wrong? Hmmm… it’s the beginning of disfunction in so many areas. (Good read BTW). xoxo
Cath recently posted..Fairy Festival
I know – and I’m a ‘yeller’ too. I am buying that book to read!
I’m afraid I would have called the cops as soon as they rode away. Obviously they didn’t have permission to take the scooters and then to have the nerve to lie like it was no big deal. You can pretty it up and call it borrowing, but it is still stealing. They could easily have not come back for the third kid, then what?
The apple does not fall far from the tree and this would have been a good opportunity for their mother to teach them the lesson about not taking what is not theirs, but I’m thinking she doesn’t understand that point herself. It’s only the beginning of delinquent behavior.
I know and it makes me so sad. And I kind of felt weird watching the little one they left behind to make sure he stayed around as their ‘collateral’ – weird.
We had a kind of similar situation with some kids that lived in the apartments near us. They thought the neighborhood was a free for all and helped themselves to our kids’ bikes in our garage. Without asking, they “borrowed” them and to be honest, I really do think they did mean to borrow them and not steal. I think they thought they could take them- I don’t think they really knew it was wrong- or if they did they did it anyway. In the past we have been nice and let them ride our kids’ old bikes but these were brand new and had only been ridden like once! So immediately we assumed they had been stolen and DID call the police. Only later did we figure out who took them. I got them back- http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/2012/03/stolen-sunshine.html
And when we saw the kids again we told them that what they did caused us to call the police and that we would call the police again if they take any of our property without our permission. That seemed to scare them. I didn’t like being the mean lady but they seemed clueless and now they knew…
Steph
Stephanie Precourt recently posted..Where Ivy Sleeps
I remember that post and at the time thinking ‘how can kids not know that isn’t okay?’ – But now I do as in this case their mother seriously did not think they did anything wrong and was just angry at me for scaring her kids. It makes me really sad.
What I find disturbing is that a mother of kids at that age just lets them roam freely-they were obviously gone for quite some time and she had no clue where they were?
There are some children in our neighborhood, actually across our very busy street, who seem to have no adult supervision either-I see them roaming on their own all of the time. It makes me very sad for them.
You absolutely did the right thing, the mother’s initial reaction tells us everything we need to know about how that family works.
maybaby recently posted..silver bells
I honestly cannot imagine sitting at home while not knowing what my little kids were doing for two hours.
I think that you did the right thing. Those kids obviously need the fear of God put into them! I will admit that I let my 6 and 8-year-olds semi-roam in our neighborhood, but they stay away from the busy streets. I DO think that it’s important for them to learn some independence, BUT crossing busy streets is still a no-no, as is taking someone’s property. I think it’s SO uppity taking food from someone else’s party and then not giving you their names!
And if their mother is SO worried about them being scared, then maybe she should keep them at home.
I hope somebody – maybe the kids, maybe the mom – learned something from this. But probably not.
I think I would have done the same. Though as someone who’s had the police called on her (for allegedly letting my kids run all over the place and not knowing where they were. not true. knew where they were. watched them walk to their friends house 5 houses down. anyways..) I may not have called the cops and just talked to the parents. Then again, we have neighbors who let there 3rd/4th graders run around after dark playing ding dong ditch and well, we soon found out talking to them was pointless. Same people, by the way, that called the police on me. Go figure.
They obviously have had the police called on them a time or two for their own kids, so I bet they thought they’d return the favor and tattle on someone else. (guilty response? who knows).
This is what is wrong with the world!
OK, now that I have that out of the way. I would have called the cops. Stealing is stealing. Period. Especially when dealing with parents like that. They need to learn that you must teach your children to respect what is not theirs. (and what is theirs too)
If it was just the food, I could have shrugged it off as hungry kids (in my hood that is a reality) and I can understand four blocks and busy streets for some kids (I did it all the time in my home town to get to school) but not the stealing. 40 bucks x 2 scooters – This will end up on your permanent record.
Amelia Sprout recently posted..Medium
I know – ‘back in the day’ we could roam the neighborhoods too BUT we never helped ourselves to anyone’s food or property. I’m glad I did not call the cops – but next time I will…
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Nope. You did the right thing. It makes me sad that their mom thinks what they did was OK. “Miscommunicating” over whether they could take the scooters was not the issue. Maybe, maybe? the mom realizes that too and was just embarrased? I don’t know. It baffles me. Someone I follow on Twitter often says, “Mom to one, mom to all” when talking about stepping in for other’s people’s kids. It’s a fine line, for sure, but if it were MY kids, I’d want to know about it. (although where I would have been that entire time is beyond me!)
Krista recently posted..The move update
“Mom to one, Mom to all” – I love that.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I am not about disciplining other people’s kids but you did THE RIGHT THING. I would be hopping mad.
Lady Jennie recently posted..French Scalloped Potatoes
You absolutely did the right thing. Like you surmised, when they’re 15 and ‘borrowing’ a car, I’m pretty sure it would be considered stealing, not borrowing.
I probably would have done exactly what you did – let them know they were wrong and that you were going to call the cops, but didn’t…this time. But next time? Oh yeah. And that mom? Just shows the ‘why’ they are the way they are – I’d be keeping an eye out for them in the future – you never know what they’ll decide to do next, because I’m sure they won’t be scared for long with a mom like that. ((HUGZ!!))
Stacy Uncorked recently posted..Jambalaya Wanted Fake I.D. to Party Like Cowboyz – but Don’t You Worry Child, Take These Things To Heart remembering Ronan
Although yes, I am disheartened that the children helped themselves to food, then took property without asking permission from an adult, what floors me is the mom’s response. This is all too common in our area because children go home, tell a “child’s” version of an occurrence, parents get all bloated with I’ma kick some ass, and never settle down long enough to find out what really happened. I am glad you did not back down. I am glad you explained why you said what you did and why you are NOT the over protective, panicky where are my kids? where are my kids? where are my kids! lady. But. I also think you’re right; who would have learned something from that? Not the already rude kids and certainly not their already ignorant mama. Yes, different people have different ideas of what’s safe for their kids to do alone and at what age; we aren’t all going to agree that someone isn’t being over protective. But, this is so much more than that. So much more.
Arnebya recently posted..Writer’s Workshop: Listening
Yes, in the end it was the mom’s attitude that irked me. And now it will just perpetuate in them to help mold our future community. Goody.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
You did exactly the right thing, and your reasoning is totally sound. Your kids saying its okay to ride the scooters is sharing, those girls taking off with them is stealing, even if they brought them back.
Also? In my household, a $40 scooter is a big deal financially, so I’d have been livid on top of all the heavier issues.
Cameron recently posted..Cheeky Brat
I agree – $40 is a big deal and my girls would’ve had to wait for us to buy new ones.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Um I am also “that mom” and after an altercation with the neighbor kids’ mom almost two years ago, I firmly stand behind letting someone know when kids are way out of line (and I don’t mean the basics of backyard play). I had a mom march up to my door and yell at me for not letting her 3 and 5 year old play with my then 7 and 8 year old. I politely explained that her children would not obey rules in my yard and that while she might be comfortable letting her children ride bikes in the street and cross the street without permission, my children, even though older, weren’t. I also explained my girls were not a free babysitting service so she could get things done – they are kids who are outside to play and not work. She yelled and screamed and I was scared to death this former Marine was going to kick my ass, but two years later she has upped her parenting game and her children are starting to show signs of basic manners and a few rules. So it can be worth it. You totally did the right thing and next time, call the cops!!
Good for you. I wish you were my neighbor!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
In what world is it socially acceptable to stand and yell on someone’s (your neighbor even!) front porch and argue with them about how your kids won’t play with their kids? Sounds to me like this woman doesn’t have a clue how ridiculous she is. I would have called the cops on her for her own rude behavior, but then at least you know where the kids are getting their attitude from. No surprises there.
And I’m pretty sure it’s still allowed in this country to not play with whoever you want to (especially when they don’t follow the rules and/or teach my kids some unsavory behaviors). I can’t imagine trying to intimidate someone into friendship.
I’m proud of you for not yelling, and you had every right to say something to them. It was something out of the norm, and struck you as odd! It sounds like a scenario out of that show What Would You Do? on ABC. You said something! You stood up for not just your family, but the other families on the block! I don’t know if I would have been able to hold back my frustrations over a mother that didn’t see anything wrong with it.
I guess just seeing the mother’s ‘non-reaction’ made me realize that these kids really had no idea they did something wrong. Sad.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I would have done the exact same thing. I might have even stepped in earlier, at the food stealing, because we don’t know if that kid has an allergy, etc. You were absolutely within your rights to say what you said. I’m a firm believer that a good scare goes a LONG way. Sorry you scared that lady’s kids, but they stole your kids’ scooters. Last week I was in the mall with my sticky-fingered 5 year old. As we approached Claire’s we saw two young teenage girls getting busted for shoplifting. I sat us down on the fountain several yards away and let her watch the big girls getting walked away in handcuffs and told her exactly why. Drastic? Absolutely, but I also think my daughter would rather die than to be escorted away by cops.
Ali recently posted..Things They Can’t Say: My Suitcase Full of Tricks
Oh wow – she will NEVER forget that lesson. This parenting gig is hard.
Does anyone else feel like this kind scenario is too common now-a-days? If I went home & told my mom that someone threatened to call the cops on me b/c I “borrowed” a scooter, she surely wouldn’t have marched over except for to make me apologize. I know too many parents (some are even friends of mine) that don’t realize that their kids aren’t always right!
I need to become this person. I think I need to learn how to tell people off especially when it comes to advocating for my kid.
lyz recently posted..“Live Bold!” Contest: Knock Something Off Your Bucket List
Me too my friend…so much more!
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I don’t even let my kids play outside by themselves yet, let alone cruise the neighborhood and go to stores
Not a Perfect Mom recently posted..I Shit You Not
Nice work Tracy! Seriously I can’t believe the mom was more worried about them knowing you are “sorry” you scared them, rather than them actually being scared that they stole scooters and wandered across busy streets at their ages. That is completely CRAZY! My kids would be more scared of being grounded or doing extra chores when the real story came out. You definitely did the right thing!
I know – I talked to my kids about the whole thing afterwards and made it very clear the complete and awful trouble they would be in if they ever, ever did something like that.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Wow. Just wow. I would have been so mad, I’m not sure I would have been able to handle the situation as calmly and rationally as you did.
I find disciplining other people’s children difficult and awkward, but believe there are definitely times when it is necessary. This was one of those times!
I think you did fine, it’s so hard. People have different standards, see things in different ways, are raised by poor parents themselves. I have to say though that I would never actually call the cops (or CYS) (versus threatening) on a family unless I saw an immediate danger that could be stopped. It causes so much trouble and grief and you never know; maybe that mom has cancer, maybe Dad died in Afghanistan last year. The story is everything.
anymommy recently posted..Life goes on
I agree and had no intention to call the cops. I know the grief. I just hope that maybe they were scared enough to never do something like this again.xo
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I’m starting to face issues like this too – watching kids engage in APPALLING, likely illegal behavior and the parents are 1) no where to be found or 2) don’t care.
It’s maddening. Makes me feel like a salmon swimming upstream.
You did the right thing.
Missy | Literal Mom recently posted..Privacy, Defined by a 10 Year Old
This is just going to get harder as our kids get older, right? Hold me.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I think in order to understand the kids’ (non)reaction to what they did, you need only look to the mother’s. If she truly did not think they did anything wrong, then of course they wouldn’t either. And if I had to guess, this is probably a common thread in their parent-child dynamic – she probably has the same reaction to their teachers, physicians, other parents and any other adult who attempts to exert authority over her children. The kids simply sound like they are routinely coddled and never held to any accountability, while the mom sounds like the overly-defensive, “not MY child!” type. And it’s parents like this that are leading to our society being overrun by a bunch of entitled brats.
I wouldn’t have called the cops, but I wouldn’t have apologized for threatening to do it, either. And I would have hammered home to that mother exactly why it’s important that they understand that what they did was highly inappropriate, disrespectful, dangerous, and just plan wrong.
Kristin @ What She Said recently posted..Getaway
Yes, I explained it all to her – why I almost called the cops and that I wasn’t sorry about it at all – and how what they did was completely wrong…and still…still..no apology. WTF
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I would have done the same, or rather gotten my husband (the former cop!) to do it. (I’m very anti-confrontational, sometimes to my detriment). My kids, who are 10 and 6, aren’t even allowed to leave the culdesac. Let alone walk to a store.
If the mom didn’t care that they were walking to the store, I doubt she really cared what you said (despite her attitude). That’s really sad. These kids have obviously been raised with the belief that they can do anything without fear of being punished.
Andrea recently posted..Picture {not perfect}
For disciplining other kids at my house, I’ve had to tell kids if they don’t stop xyz, they will have to leave and it will be at least a week before they will be allowed to play with my kids again. Some never come back to play and others stop and learn that their behavior is not tolerated in my home.
Andrea recently posted..Picture {not perfect}
HI WONDERFUL!AMAZING!@Sekkabut Num, I would have so done the same thing to those kids. u told them right girl, and that Mom she needs to be put in jail for child endangerment and Not training her kids to be good kind considerate people. YOU DID THE RIGHT THING!!! MY KIND, FRIEND!
Thank you! xo
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
your actions were exactly right. It’s the parents who defend bad behavior who wring their hands later. I vividly recall neighbors hiding their boys from the police for vandalism then five years later wondering why their kids were doing heroin.
Michelle Lehnardt recently posted..eighteen months
That is really pathetic! That mom needs to open her eyes and be ready to accept the truth (as told from another mother who had no reason to lie)!
All that said, as a tween/teen, if I did anything wrong and knew it (though clearly not this wrong), I would have totally told my mom you scared me too. And my mom always had my back. It makes me giggle now. Little brat.
Amy ~ Eat. Live. Laugh. Shop. recently posted..Dog Shaming.
It’s interesting to think about really – when it’s right to have our kid’s backs..but when it’s really not?
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
So she never made them apologize?!? Oh, I would be SO mad!!!! If my kids had pulled a stunt like that, they’d be grounded for a while AND would be helping you with yard work (you know, if you wanted them to…)
Glad you scared ‘em a little…
Elaine recently posted..Taking a Step Back
I know – no apology. Crazy.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Clearly the parents aren’t teaching them that it’s not ok to take things that don’t belong to them.
Sad that you had to step in and do it, but maybe the kids have learned a lesson. I think you did great!
dysfunctional mom recently posted..Happy Fragments
I used your story tonight to teach my kids about respect. We live in a community where it’s easy to “share” belongings and we discussed the importance of always asking permission and respecting boundaries. It was a perfect illustration for the point. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you, Deneal for the very kind comment. This parenting stuff is so hard sometimes. xo
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I have to say that I find it *possible* that kids ages 7-9 might have thought by asking your kids if they could ride the scooters and being told yes, that they thought it really was okay for them to ride them a few blocks away. I’m not saying they weren’t little brats or that the mom had a right to confront you like that, but I do think they *might* have really thought they had permission. Also, I can imagine that if kids walking through the neighborhood saw a block party happening that they might have thought it okay to take some of the food that looked available for public consumption.
I don’t think you necessarily over-reacted, but I did happen to read this a little differently than them ‘stealing’ the scooters or the food. They definitely overstepped the bounds that they should have, but it just didn’t seem malicious to me based on the facts you gave.
I completely agree with you that I don’t think they did any of this maliciously at all. But, I don’t think any of it was right – especially not even wanting to tell me their names after I asked them. And I view their mom calling this a ‘big miscommunication’ the wrong thing – as she needs her kids to know that – malicious or not – it’s not cool to take a stranger’s food or belongings. Ever.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I applaude you and you totally did the right thing!! I would have been mortified if those were my kids after hearing the true story of what happened. Someone has to make them realize there are consequences for their actions and it is obvious their parents don’t feel it is important!
That’s what I kept going back to – if this were my children and they did something like this I would have NO issue with some other mom calling the cops on them.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
I am super bossy. I would have done the same thing you did, and I would have told their mother the same exact thing.
Jennifer recently posted..Yummy, Healthy Snacks
You did the right thing. Anyone who believes everything their child tells them (like it’s always someone else’s fault) is in for trouble each year their children get older.
Jessica recently posted..Surprise Vacation, Day 5
Seriously – I fear for the children’s adolescence.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
What kind of mother sends her young children to rent a movie at a store a 1/2 mile away crossing busy city streets? I would have reported her for child endangerment! The children obviously haven’t been taught how to respect their neighbors property. That mother needs a good kick in the rear!
Tracy~I think you were 100% right. It IS a big deal, and without somebody teaching them these lessons (because it sounds like mom’s an enabler who believes everything the kids tell her), where are they going to stop? How will they ever learn the difference between right and wrong if they’re not called on the carpet/talked to about it.
I say bravo to you, and kudos to you, also, for staying level headed when dealing with all of the.
“them” (not “the”
Kudos to you. One thing that I realized (this trait of mine becomes glaringly obvious at chaotic places like bouncy houses and playgrounds) is that some people really haven’t taught their children manners. I am hoping (and doubting) that the other mother was ashamed of her lack of parenting (a 7 year old that far from home, eating strangers food and joyriding??) and took it out on you instead. You did good, Momma:)
My neck got all hot and itchy reading this.
Dude, you did the right thing. They bring their mom to tattle on you but not to the store or around a strange neighborhood?
GRARG!
moosh in indy. recently posted..catty matchy rawr.
I know – seriously. Where was their mom for the two hours they were messing around the neighborhood.
tracy@sellabitmum recently posted..Dirty Laundry
Living in NYC, I’m still amazed when people even let their children walk on the streets alone. I have no idea at what age that becomes appropriate!
Mommy Shorts recently posted..What People Say to a Pregnant Woman Vs. What a Pregnant Woman Hears
I know – it’s scary to think about that. I don’t let my kids(7&9) go down the street by themselves yet.
OK – old school Chinese Tiger Mom in me is starting to come out. Reading this made me angry mostly I believe because of both the kids’ non-reaction (and seriously not realizing that there was anything wrong with what they did) and the mother’s non-reaction. We coddle and protect our kids so much and in a way that I often feel breeds a sense of entitlement to do whatever they please without regard to right or wrong. I don’t think that the kids were malicious per se but it’s the distinction between right and wrong that’s worrisome to me. And apparently the mother doesn’t want to scare the kids by teaching that.
Sorry, end rant. That being said, I don’t know if I would have had the courage to say something.
Christine @ Love, Life, Surf recently posted..It’s Fitbloggin’ time!
Anybody read the article about the mom in Texas who was arrested and in jail for 18hrs because a neighbor called the cops on her while her kids were playing outside (supposedly unsupervised) alone?
http://current.com/1l8egkc
hmmm, texas?
[...] In the Interest of Community In this post, Tracy at Sellabitmum brings up some tough questions. What’s our role as parents when we’re not their parent? “What are my boundaries and what responsibility do we have to raise good kids as a community?” It’s a question that I often wonder about. What do you think? [...]
As someone who was and hopes to be again a teacher, it is always hard for me to bite my tongue around misbehaving kids.
And as a teacher, you deal with a lot of parents who are reactionary rather than proactive like those kids’ mother. This is why they think they can do things like that because they are only taught something after the fact and then it is usually an excuse for their behavior.
So, no, these kids need a mean lady in their lives. It would be better if it was someeone like a teacher. That would be the only chance to hope that they will turn into responsible people.
Duffy recently posted..I Throw a Little Dirt on the Fire