Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Have you ever had to do it? I go over my friend's house (she's the Godmother of Christopher) quite often and her little brother (her parents had him very late) is unruly and he's never EVER corrected for his behavior. He's always in Christopher's face and poking him and prodding him and asking him nicely just doesn't do the trick. It's gotten to the point where I avoid going over there now for fear of snapping at him. I just feel so rude correcting somebody else's child, but his parents aren't doing anything about it. Have you ever had to do it? What would you do in my situation?

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

I have but in a very gentle way like "Please don't get that close to the baby it scares her, you can touch her gently." I would never "discipline" someone else's child but I will always protect my own child if that makes sense.

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

I am about 2 weeks from being a mom myself so I don't have a child, yet. I might get flamed for this, but here goes.

I think it is beyond rude when someone lets their child become so unruly that they are poking at other children to the point of hurting them. I would say to the parent "Eighter you are going to tell your kid to stop or I will". Honestly I would not care if that parent thought I was rude. I see this all the time in stores, supermarkets, basically any public place.

As a matter of fact Dh & I went out for pizza tonight and this woman shows up with four boys ages 6-12 or so. All of them wearing roller skate sneaker things in the pizza place. One bumps into me (I am 38 weeks preggo) and did not say anything. So I loudly say "excuse you" and the mom was like "it was an accident" and the kids was laughing. I told her the kids should not be wearing those things in here, I am 38 weeks preggo, and her kids should have more respect. She told me to "calm down, when you have your baby you will understand". The the owner of the pizzeria told the lady that her kids should not be wearing those in the restaurant. She just gave him a dirty look. Like her kids have some right to terrorize everyone else in the world. DH was fuming but I told him not to say anything.

Bottom line, if the parent is a moron I have no problem saying something.

Message edited 5/7/2006 9:37:30 PM.

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Posted by dandr10199

I am about 2 weeks from being a mom myself so I don't have a child, yet. I might get flamed for this, but here goes.

I think it is beyond rude when someone lets their child become so unruly that they are poking at other children to the point of hurting them. I would say to the parent "Eighter you are going to tell your kid to stop or I will". Honestly I would not care if that parent thought I was rude. I see this all the time in stores, supermarkets, basically any public place.

As a matter of fact Dh & I went out for pizza tonight and this woman shows up with four boys ages 6-12 or so. All of them wearing roller skate sneaker things in the pizza place. One bumps into me (I am 38 weeks preggo) and did not say anything. So I loudly say "excuse you" and the mom was like "it was an accident" and the kids was laughing. I told her the kids should not be wearing those things in here, I am 38 weeks preggo, and her kids should have more respect. She told me to "calm down, when you have your baby you will understand". The the owner of the pizzeria told the lady that her kids should not be wearing those in the restaurant. She just gave him a dirty look. Like her kids have some right to terrorize everyone else in the world. DH was fuming but I told him not to say anything.

Bottom line, if the parent is a moron I have no problem saying something.

Message edited 5/7/2006 9:46:52 PM.

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

I have never really been in this situation (unless I was at work- which really is a totally different situation)

But when it comes to MY child, I dont care who it is or how often I see them- I would never be rude- but Id make sure that child was acting appropriately towards my child....

On a side note- my boss' daughter is extremely disrespectful to her, and to be quite honest to other adults as well (once she grabbed my pocketbook off my desk and asked "do you have a dollar" and started going through my wallet.) I cringe at the way she speaks to her mother, and feel horrible for my boss, because I know she must be embarassed... but I NEVER get involved....


So I guess what Im trying to say is- If it dosent pertain to my child- I stay out of it...but when it does, Its a different story....



Dandr- I think that woman was very rude, and very wrong. 1st off I think those rollerskate things should be banned in ALL public places.... They are dangerous for the person wearing them, and those surrounding him/her. She is teaching her child poor manners, and Im glad you said something! No flaming here!

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Posted by dandr10199

Posted by Princessmaris


Dandr- I think that woman was very rude, and very wrong. 1st off I think those rollerskate things should be banned in ALL public places.... They are dangerous for the person wearing them, and those surrounding him/her. She is teaching her child poor manners, and Im glad you said something! No flaming here!

Thank You
I agree about those roller skate sneaker things too. Tonight was the second time someone's rude kid bumped into me with those things on. The first time happened in the supermarket. I don't understand how someone can let their child wear those things, I just don't get it.

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Posted by SoinLove

Posted by dandr10199

I am about 2 weeks from being a mom myself so I don't have a child, yet. I might get flamed for this, but here goes.

I think it is beyond rude when someone lets their child become so unruly that they are poking at other children to the point of hurting them. I would say to the parent "Eighter you are going to tell your kid to stop or I will". Honestly I would not care if that parent thought I was rude. I see this all the time in stores, supermarkets, basically any public place.

As a matter of fact Dh & I went out for pizza tonight and this woman shows up with four boys ages 6-12 or so. All of them wearing roller skate sneaker things in the pizza place. One bumps into me (I am 38 weeks preggo) and did not say anything. So I loudly say "excuse you" and the mom was like "it was an accident" and the kids was laughing. I told her the kids should not be wearing those things in here, I am 38 weeks preggo, and her kids should have more respect. She told me to "calm down, when you have your baby you will understand". The the owner of the pizzeria told the lady that her kids should not be wearing those in the restaurant. She just gave him a dirty look. Like her kids have some right to terrorize everyone else in the world. DH was fuming but I told him not to say anything.

Bottom line, if the parent is a moron I have no problem saying something.

I agree with what you're saying. The problem is though, these aren't people I'm seeing once in the supermarket and I'm never going to see again. I see this family at least once every other week. I have been friendly with the family for over 10 years (Long before their son was even born). My friend's mother is like a mother to me. It would just be so akward to be like: "Listen, you need to control your child." The main problem is they seem to see NOTHING wrong with his behavior. He gets in Christopher's face, I ask him nicely to give Christopher a little space, and he puts his "cute" smile on and says "I can't help getting so close. He's so cute!" His parents laugh and think it's adorable, despite the fact that I'm clearly frustrated over it.

ETA: By the way, he is nearly 8 years old. He knows the difference between wrong and right. The problem is that his parents spoil him, let him do whatever he wants, and never utter the word "no".

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Posted by Princessmaris

Posted by SoinLove

Posted by dandr10199

I am about 2 weeks from being a mom myself so I don't have a child, yet. I might get flamed for this, but here goes.

I think it is beyond rude when someone lets their child become so unruly that they are poking at other children to the point of hurting them. I would say to the parent "Eighter you are going to tell your kid to stop or I will". Honestly I would not care if that parent thought I was rude. I see this all the time in stores, supermarkets, basically any public place.

As a matter of fact Dh & I went out for pizza tonight and this woman shows up with four boys ages 6-12 or so. All of them wearing roller skate sneaker things in the pizza place. One bumps into me (I am 38 weeks preggo) and did not say anything. So I loudly say "excuse you" and the mom was like "it was an accident" and the kids was laughing. I told her the kids should not be wearing those things in here, I am 38 weeks preggo, and her kids should have more respect. She told me to "calm down, when you have your baby you will understand". The the owner of the pizzeria told the lady that her kids should not be wearing those in the restaurant. She just gave him a dirty look. Like her kids have some right to terrorize everyone else in the world. DH was fuming but I told him not to say anything.

Bottom line, if the parent is a moron I have no problem saying something.

I agree with what you're saying. The problem is though, these aren't people I'm seeing once in the supermarket and I'm never going to see again. I see this family at least once every other week. I have been friendly with the family for over 10 years (Long before their son was even born). My friend's mother is like a mother to me. It would just be so akward to be like: "Listen, you need to control your child." The main problem is they seem to see NOTHING wrong with his behavior. He gets in Christopher's face, I ask him nicely to give Christopher a little space, and he puts his "cute" smile on and says "I can't help getting so close. He's so cute!" His parents laugh and think it's adorable, despite the fact that I'm clearly frustrated over it.

ETA: By the way, he is nearly 8 years old. He knows the difference between wrong and right. The problem is that his parents spoil him, let him do whatever he wants, and never utter the word "no".

I wouldnt say anything to the parents... I would just continue to correct the child- If it bothers the parents- then they'll start taking care of (controlling) their own child-

If not- then it obviously dosent bother them- and just continue to tell him to cut it out! You dont have to be nasty or anything..

I wanna say sometimes, parents who have no control over their child appreciate someone who will correct them. (well @ least Ive noticed that with my mom and brother...)

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

I don't see a problem at all with you being the one to correct him, especially if he might possibly (unintentionally) hurt your son. You aren't so much correcting someone else's child as you are protecting your own. Nothing wrong with that.

Also, you never know, but because you are so close with them, they might be completely okay with you correcting their child in this situation, especially since they don't seem to do it alot. They might be expecting you to tell him to stop when you feel it's time.

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

I look at it this way, people have every right to be jerks as long as it doesn't infringe on other people's rights.

If it's someone I see a lot, say for example my girlfriend's daughter - I correct her almost as if she were my own if her mom isn't around. I've given her a time out to calm herself down at my house.

If his mom is there, I just say "Please tell him not to xyz." or I would say to the little boy, "I'm sorry but you need to give Christopher some space."

Re: Correcting other people's children... (poll)

Thanks for your responses everyone! I'm just going to continue correcting him. As many of you said, if her parents had a problem with me correcting him, they would've said something by now. Thanks again!