To want to shout at this bloody child..

[Wilberforce2]

Not sure if I'm being a bit precious but this is driving me mental.

Every Tuesday my ds does rugby 4-5 and as they are only reception and year 1 all of the parents stay. I like staying and enjoy watching him but one of the little girls of another parent is doing my head in. I have a 4 month old dd and every week this little girl does not leave her alone, constantly plays with the hood on the pram (pushing it backwards and forwards), putting her fingers in the babies mouth, kissing her on the lips, takes her toys/muslin off of her, pokes her eyes it just goes on and on. Last week this girl had a heavy cold and was constantly wiping snot around her face then walked over to dd in her pram (I dared to take my eyes off of her for a second) and stuck her fingers in her mouth, Friday my dd gets an awful cold. The mum just laughs and says "oh she is so motherly" or "she just loves babies" but I want her to tell her to leave her alone for one fricking second. Today I told the girl no a few times and had a couple of looks from the mum who then said "oh *** come over here darling I don't think you are wanted" but I can't just watch her prod and poke her for an hour, she was trying to put a pine cone in her mouth then whipped her with a muslin!

Am I being precious or would you keep telling the girl no? Little girl is 2 years old. Older brother is in my ds's class so I don't want to cause an argument.

I think it wouldn't make me feel so uneasy if I didn't get the feeling that some of you enjoy telling young children off and actually quite strongly dislike them. Just baffles me when small children are probably the least hate-able people in the world!

"Just baffles me when small children are probably the least hate-able people in the world"

Oh good heavens, this is getting silly! In fact, there's a tone of hysteria creeping in. That is your opinion. It's one you're perfectly entitled to hold but surely you aren't daft enough not to know that's all^ it is.

Not everyone likes small children at all. Some people aren't keen on others' children and only like their own. Where's the crime?

no crime, just find it really odd. as you say, that's my opinion. I don't 'get' people who have kids but don't like kids.

am I in the minority for caring about the feelings of a toddler

Oh God, yes - absolutely the minority. The rest of us hate them - in fact, we eat them for breakfast. It's actually a well known fact - the more kids you have, the more you hate kids. I have 3 kids, so therefore loathe children. Especially snotty ones.

just as I thought, sir.

Urgh! How vile! YANBU. The 2 years old Mother sounds bloody thick!! This would drive me nuts. Chances are she would have a stupid hissy fit if you spoke to her about it.

I know that's what you thought

especially the breakfast bit.

I love kids I work with snotty toddlers but if a toddler is poking A baby and being a bit annoying cos they can be a bit annoying they need to be moved away especially if the parents are ignoring them a 2 yr doesnt know they are not allowed to poke a baby so itsup to an adult to tell them, and if the parent isnt going to do it then it has to be up to another,

indeed, mrs, I just don't think there is any need to suggest raised voices and being 'rude' or 'blunt'..as you say, she doesn't know she's doing anything wrong.

It's true. Kids on toast (snot removed, natch) is how I start my mornings. They put up a bit of a fight sometimes, but a firm "NO" soon sorts that out

I would never eat a child, I like them. DOGS, on the other hand... actually, I'm not going there.

Glad to see you back OP!
Keep on with the good work. You were quite right it tell the child to go back to her mum and then to take her over. Just keep saying "no" and she'll learn. Her mum might even learn to keep a better eye on her daughter.

If other people are happy to let random tots come over and start poking their baby that's fine for them. It isn't fine for you and at best this child is a distraction.

My wordsof choice through gritted teeth sometimes be gentle I must say it a million times a day toddlers are hasy bashy and have rubbish personal space they neef to be told no,

The point where they need to be told that their behaviour is going to have negative consequences that they do not intend is the point where I stop having more concern for their feelings than concern for what I as the grown up can foresee happening. I have complete respect for their nature and stage of development and therefore realise that I as the grown up need to step in regardless of their feelings and protect them from themselves occasionally.

I love small children and therefore I do not want to get to the point where I am resentful or furious with them for hurting another child or baby, causing damage to a toy or other property, or losing something precious. I don't want to get to the point where I see a particular child and shudder or want to run in the opposite direction, or shout at him or her.

I love them to the point where I had five of my own. In order for us all to live peacefully together I realised that saying No and meaning it every single time they needed to hear it was a Good Thing. They all learned that hearing a good, solid No and feeling thwarted wasn't the end of the world, and that there were some things they could not do.

Result -- a home that didn't look like a bear pit, all my makeup and jewellery and perfume out and safe on my dressing table from 1990 til now, and four teen girls who didn't take each other's clothes or other stuff. Plus children who have lots of friends and parents of other children who know their children are safe and well supervised when in my house.

Another result is children who are resilient enough to deal with the direct speech of teachers, coaches and employers and not take things personally or be too crushed by criticism to learn. Resilience and the ability to take criticism on board are extremely important qualities in a student.

Usual are you bored?

Get to your room and write out 'I must not be a goadypants' 200 times.....

fair enough math, it's just that when you said you didn't care about 2yos, I thought you hated children, turns out you think they're alright...

YANBU. Have a quiet word with the child's mother. If it persists, lie through your teeth and make conversation with the mother dropping in sweetly how tired you are since you up at night dealing with your baby's persistent diarrhoea.

And how did your brain get from "didn't care" to "you hate"?!

how tired you are since you up at night dealing with your baby's persistent diarrhoea

Now that is the perfect response - love it!

well if I hate someone, I don't care about their feelings. Unless I want them to feel really miserable, obviously.

Laughing at the mother having a face on her saying the child is only "interested". You were acting as free time giver for the mother and shes annoyed you won't watch her child anymore Oh yes to dropping into the conversation about your childs explosive poos.....it's going around I hear.