1 child families + holidays + I don’t want to watch your kids

Unfortunately we all have to be responsible for lost and abandoned children. It's just part of living in society. The only thing we can hope is that the police/lifeguard/social services intervene and give the parents enough of a roasting to stop their behaviour before the children come to harm.

Another adult having to take a child to a lifeguard is that adult having to be responsible though. Also, life guards are not child minders or missing child services.

But he wasn't "left" responsible? For all he knows the parent wasn't even there. He could have immediately taken the kid to the lifeguard.

Yes of course it's horrific parenting to leave your kid unattended at a pool. I just don't think it's the tragedy that some poster are making it out to be to find a responsible adult for them.

Of course you shouldn't be left in that position.

I was out with a friend when we found a toddler playing in an isolated area next to a lake. Very far away from the playground and other people, so had clearly toddled there all by themselves. They could have drowned or wandered onto the road in that time.

We picked up the child and, not being able to find anyone responsible, called the police. The person we spoke to told us they could be there in about three hours and expected us to stay with the child. How unfair is that? I told them I had to pick up my own child from preschool in an hour, so couldn't wait, but with their permission I could put the child in my car seat in my car and drop them at the police station on my way to get my own child. You can't abandon a child when it would place them in such danger. At that point I was trying to think about what I could actually do because I couldn't abandon my own child and I couldn't hang around. I was at the point where I wondered if I might have to go and abandon the child involuntarily on the cafe staff (also not fair but I was feeling a bit desperate at this point and was thinking of my child). Luckily, at that moment, some poor excuse for a parent came and claimed their child.

They're out there!

Shouldn't have been left responsible for another person's child. It's fairly obvious. 🫣

There are some dreadful adults out there and unfortunately some of them have kids. They don't particularly annoy me, I just feel sorry for the kids.

But I wouldn't put a nearby parent supervising from a sunbed or park bench into that category. If they're ready to intervene if necessary, there's no need for them to actively entertain their children. Kids will find entertainment if left to it. And yes, that might be other children/adults, especially if the adults are putting on a show, but you can always tell them to buzz off and find something else to do. When did we become so precious around kids?

Shouldn't have been put in what position?

Having to walk 10 metres and say 1 sentence to the lifeguard?

Hardly a holiday ruiner is it?

Goodness me some of you are really precious

That’s not an only child thing. That’s an attitude that some parents take regardless of how many kids they have.
The people I know who are the worst for stuff like this have five kids.

I don’t think it’s the size of the family the child comes from that determines this behaviour, it’s poor parenting. As someone further up thread said, would you be happy to let your child wander off into a pool with people you don’t know, turn over on your sunbed, and have a nap?
I don’t know anyone who would.

But my DB encountered this on holiday with DN, and when they were ready to get out of the pool, what do you do? Leave the 3 or 4 year old on their own in the pool? Obviously that child is not your responsibility, but as a human being, it’s hard to walk away and leave them in the water. But DB didn’t even know which of the adults napping / reading by the pool said child belonged to. In the end he found a lifeguard and said “just letting you know, there’s an unsupervised child on their own there” but he should never have even been put in that position.

Some people’s piss poor parenting beggars belief.

We're on holiday at the mo and another kid has just started calling me mom 😳

I was playing pool with my son last night and she butted in and asked if she could play.

I gave my daughter money to change for the pool table. This girl took it and spent it.

She's been patting my husband on the head and grabbing his legs.

She has 0 boundaries and we're just hoping dd falls out with her ASAP 😂😂

We have an only child by choice she's 10 and we absolutely love spending time with her. She often makes friends on holiday, in beer gardens, at play areas etc ... Often who end up sitting with us.
I have no issue if she is happy and they and their parents are. I don't see why it is such a big deal however if you are that bothered just speak to them and their parents and let them know that you don't want their child near you or your children as it is upsetting/inconveniencing you and be done with it.

But that's not a problem applying a bit of common sense surely?

If you're at a playground/swimming-pool/beach and you come across an unaccompanied child who looks like they might be at risk, standard procedure is to try to locate their parents. If they can't be found, you inform reception/the management where relevant and call the police.

And that's all fair enough, but none of it has anything to do with only children.

Crap parents are crap parents regardless of the family structure.

It’s really a mystery why social anxiety is growing among young people…

I think the issue is that some parents will use it to their advantage and use it as an excuse to crash out on their sunbeds or clear off to the bar. What would parents reaction be if something happened to that child whilst playing with your child, or if they got injured? Or the child accused you or your children of something that didn't happen? I was always very wary of other children being with us without a parent nearby.

My dc although a big age difference, just enjoy each other's company. One is a toddler and my older one plays with her so well. It's really annoying when another child joins in, as my older doesn't really like it.
This past weekend we were at the park and all four of us (dh)were enjoying a few games, and a child ran up to us and asked to join in. They probably saw dh playing too, as their parents who were sitting near by were glued to their phones. I felt sorry for the child but then she got really annoying and started blocking my toddlers way and pushing, so I said you need to go back now because we are done. I think the parents called heard because the mum looked over and called her. We got up and moved a little bit away and saw us started playing again but she didn't come over.
My dc would never go ask to join in anywhere so I don't expect others to do that, and I'm very happy to tell them that.

The mother was still there but reading.

Presumably if someone shouted because there was a problem then she'd be there to deal with it.

Mine were/are always very sociable and I'm glad about that.

A bad parent is a bad parent, whether they have one or more children, and you have every right to be cross if you feel they’ve surrendered the care of their child(ren) to you, but then you should address it with them, the adult(s).

To be sour about children looking for friends on holiday is nasty though. Have a chat with yourself.

You aren't watching them-you decided to assume that responsibility, when it wasn't sought. Kids will play together!

So they sat near you on the beach and were near enough to keep an eye on their child who then had the audacity to play with your children! You aren't better than someone because you've had more children 🤣 which is the vibe this is giving off

I don't have a problem with other people's kids joining in with mine. Only thing I have a problem with is if the parents bugger off or fall asleep and I don't want to in effect do free childcare. I can't ignore that child, it's just not in me.

I have two and have never really thought about it - both of mine are pretty sociable and tend to make friends on holiday. I am an only child myself (I hated it) which I think has made me more sociable as I always liked to make friends on holiday - I would hope we have enough self realisation to notice if we were outstaying our welcome!

I agree completely. I have 4 of my own (who play together quite well on holiday). I don't need another one hanging around.

Just don't look after them or watch them. Concentrate on your own kids and let their parents watch them.

If all the kids are happy then what's the issue.

If your 17 year old doesn't want to throw another child in the pool then he just needs to say so and that's the end of that.

My kids have played with others on holiday before and others with mine but it's never once been an issue.

Its nice for kids to make friends on holiday, I always did when I was a kid and there were 4 of us.

Nobody wants to do anything these days
You don't want your kids to make friends and deal with potential difficulties
And that mum doesn't want to parent her child 😂
What a boring world
Life is messy
My daughter was an only child and I was the mum looking after so many kids in my backgarden because my daughter liked it
It was hard
But life is hard regardless
When I was tired
I simply told them to go home