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WTF parenting

I love dogs's picture

I was at Wal-Mart this afternoon grabbing a few beauty products and went to the self checkout line. The register was not scanning an item so I was waiting for the attendant. At the entrance of the line, a dad, mom and little girl about 3 years old are checking out. The kid is LAYING ON THE FLOOR on her belly playing with a toy and a person is at the front of the line trying to get past the girl to get to an open register and what is mom doing?

Watching her child block the poor person waiting and just stared at the person and turns around!! Dad was checking out not paying attention to the kid. They were younger parents but damn! Am I the only one that gets pissed off by this? And people that let their kids roll around the for anywhere but home drive me nuts. I work in a hospital and kids are always on the floor.

If I see a little one roaming around a store, park, whatever, I ask him/her where mom/dad is and wait with the child until the parent shows up. I've told kids to go back to their parent when they're walking around a restaurant or wherever and I can't see the parent. I've worked as a busser and server and it's not fun having kids as obstacles when you have a tray of drinks or hot food!

SD used to pull that running away/ climb under restaurant table crap when she was younger and that was shut down real quick. I just can't with some people some days.

Comments

strugglingSM's picture

My mother would get so mad at us when we would try to run off and hide in stores. She made it clear early on that she had neither the time nor the tolerance for that type of behavior. When I was older, I told her how I remembered getting lost in a store once as a small child. She replied, "well, you must not have been with me, because I didn't let you wander off when you were with me."

When I was 3, I really, really wanted something and my mother told me I couldn't have it, I threw myself down on the floor at the check out line to have a tantrum. She stepped over me to pay quickly for her things, picked me up and carried me under her arm like I was a package and not a child and walked out of the store. I think she's still a little bit annoyed with me, all these years later.

She also was super strict about not taking up too much public space or using common amenities too long. I still rush in and out of public bathrooms, because all I heard growing up was "you need to be quick because other people are waiting."

So, yeah, I was well trained to not do something like this kid was doing and if I ever have my own children, they won't either.

I love dogs's picture

Please tell her thank you! I got away from my mom when I was about 5 and it scared the crap out of me having to have her name called over the speaker system so I never strayed again. And I can't agree more with not allowing my own kids to act like that.

Daisymazy2's picture

Why would anyone allow their child to lay on that nasty floor? I understand it frustrates me too. I actually do the grocery pick up now so I do not have to go in the store.

I was in Walmart with my son, he was about 17 years old at the time and he has high functioning autism. A little girl around the age of 4 was walking with her mom holding on to the shopping cart. The little girl makes a mad dash and runs away from her mom. Her mother catches her and tells her if she does it again, she was in BIG TROUBLE. Well, apparently that was the key words for her to run off again. My son says out loud. "OH MY GOSH, She (little girl) was going to die" (his word for being in big trouble). The mom grabs the little girl again and says you better stay right her or else. Of course, she runs off again. My son says "Man, that is just BAD parenting". I agree and we continue shopping.

I raised 3 boys. My youngest has the high functioning autism. Each of my kids knew what was expected of them while we were shopping. My boys knew that if they misbehaved in the store that there would be consequences. They also knew that they were to be respectful of others and move out of the way.

Thumper's picture

Isnt it crazy to watch parents with their kids. For what ever the reason I have found that Walmart is by far the worst.

Parents shopping and their kids are running the store, riding bikes, playing with balls. To read your experience grossed me out. Awful parenting. Eww, goodness who knows where everyone's shoes have been.

Our bio's together knew if you acted UP in public---out the door we went.

Now I could tell you a story about Dh's kids in public but nahhhhhh. Wont go there.

queensway's picture

You are so very right Walmart is by far the worst. To be honest sometimes if I go to Walmart I feel like I am in the twilight zone. It is like crazy on top of crazy. And don't even think about going there late at night it is freaky.

Pharlap's picture

Can confirm. Worked there for 5 years. I'm amazed I went on to have a child because working there was the strongest form of birth control I have ever encountered Biggrin Blum 3

DaniAM73's picture

"New parenting style" is what I call it. As a child I knew the deal in public and at home for that matter. I didn't lay on the floor in public. If I was in an adults way I knew to say excuse me and move.

I know exactly how you feel. It annoys me to know end. Your child is in my way and you don't blink an eye.

Cover1W's picture

One of my coworkers has lunch every so often with his wife and son in the lunchroom. I have to leave when they are there...horrible kid and parents do nothing to correct him! Sticking his face over people's food, making rude gestures behind their backs (!), talking back to people or making fun of them. Just awful.

The wife asked if they could sit at my table. Clearly not done with my lunch I packed up and said, "I have things to do anyway..." Kid responded, after plopping down uninvited, " Good!" Mother didn't correct to "Thank you" but I vowed next time....

Acratopotes's picture

Why did you leave, why not simply say NO.... your child is rude and has no manners and you are not doing a thing about it, I do not share my table with pigs.

Cover1W's picture

HAHA. Because I couldn't even be in that room with him. It's pretty small and he would have been there anyway. Another co-worker left because of it just a few min before.

I promise I'll not be so nice the third time.

DaniAM73's picture

I know you were hot!!! That child is rude. That type of behavior is not cute. Rude children make rude adults.

secret's picture

I would have just given them a "look"... but if I was with my mom, she would have said something along the lines of "why are you allowing your child to behave like an animal? what's wrong with you? take some parenting classes! Godd@mn kids theses days....*as she keeps muttering to herself and walks away*"

I love dogs's picture

Yes! Kids need to be taught to move out of the way when people are trying to get by and say "excuse me" when they are trying to get by someone else. SD and my niece try to squeeze past people instead of just saying excuse me and they got a lesson on how to use your words to get what you want instead of just pushing past people. What bothers me even more is ADULTS who squeeze past you when they could've used their words to get by after you move.

I wasn't close enough to the lady in the check out area but had she looked at me she would've gotten the look of disgust and disapproval. What happened to parenting? Is it laziness? Fear that your child will stop loving you if they are disciplined? Do some parents just not care or don't know any better? These kids are our future, people!

moeilijk's picture

Option 1: Live and let live.
Option 2: to the 3 year old, "It's time to move out of the way now, other people need to get by."
Option 3: to the parents, "Excuse me, is that your child blocking the way?"

Easier said than done, of course.