Reach your kids some fucking consideration! [ranty]

[someonestolemynick]

This has been inspired by the mummy who let her two charming kids scoot around Tesco. But it also goes out to the geniuses who keep their little darlings watch Peppa Pig on the bus or the pub. The parent who doesn't think it necessary to teach their kids that the appropriate response to bumping into another human is to apologise.
I have noticed this more and more: children (being children) act loud, entitled or aggressive and the accompanying adult smiles indulgently rather than correcting behaviour that infringes on others.

Ianbu

someonestolemynick maybe you could just use headphones instead if its such a big issue for you? (I mean that In the nicest possible way) My child is not special, many children can't wear headphones and children 2 and under aren't supposed to. I never allow what he is watching to be louder than speaking volume and never anything remotely offensive so I'm sorry but thats the rules of public transport.

Yes, he would be arrested. And once your child is over ten, HE will be arrested, unless you learn to control him now. If you never become able to control him, and he has a massive meltdown because someone (like my child) shouts at him to stop his incessant noise, and becomes aggressive, or violent, HE will be arrested. He won't be small forever. One day he may be just like my looming teen, going fucking nuts on a bus because some selfish bitch thinks her child's right to watch TV trumps his right to not be disturbed beyond reason.

Because just as my child does not trump yours, yours does not trump mine. Today me, tomorrow you. Consider your decisions carefully, Athena, and do not think for a moment that your child is immune to other people.

Really NannyOgg? You'd say to a three year old that they had to push their scooter all the way to the park before they could get on? Bear in mind they'd spend half the time tripping over it...

If there isn't a park nearby, and they have a tiny or non-existent garden, then no scootering for them! Or bike-riding, presumably, since a tiny child can't really ride on the road...

EvilDoctorBallerinaDuck Well that's good that you're considerate, because that means if someone does complain about the noise from the tablet, you'll be polite and do something about it.

@somonestolemynick Because they get ripped straight off..

Had our first encounter with a scooter in the supermarket yesterday, dd1 (7) was outraged couldn't believe "that boy is doing that, its dangerous isn't it mummy?"
I have resorted to peppa on very low volume for dd2 if we are waiting for food for a long time, she can't stand headphones (or anything on her head or in her ears) because of migraines and headaches but equally for the same reason hates loud noise so the volume really is low, dd1 will usually say she can't hear what her sister is watching.

YANBU all this shit is getting too much for me. I want to move somewhere where there are no people. None. I've seen the smiling indulgent parenting shit loads of times. Perhaps because we live in a big city and go to lots of tourist attractions.

I used to be a lovely person. Friendly, helpful etc. Now I'm a complete bellend because every last ounce of tolerance has been spent on keeping my patience when children scoot over my foot, scream and cause chaos in shops, talk at the theatre, use mobiles in the cinema, I've told a parent on a National Express before to turn a full blast episode of peppa cunting pig down before.

My children have Sen. But they do not behave badly. They Sen sometimes, but they've been brought up not to behave badly.

Scooters are not just for parks. That is daft.
They are for getting around. Its fine to use them on pavements if done considerately and it IS possible for kids to use them considerately.
No going miles ahead.
No going up behind people or towards them in a manic manner.
Get off and push if the pavement is narrow
Stop well before the kerb so you don't scare approaching drivers witless as they think you are going to career into the road.
Taking kids out on scooters is a very good way of them learning how to be considerate and mindful of the needs of others.

I love kids. If I am getting annoyed by the behaviour of kids in public you can be pretty sure they are being a pita. My tolerance levels are very high.

and children 2 and under aren't supposed to
They aren't supposed to watch tv either.

That isn't a dig.

@kiwipie well, surely you are then parent enough to say: "Ok, if you can't keep your headphones on you have to put your tablet on silent". Or interact with your child. Or give them a non-noisy toy.
I have made many public transport journeys with an array of toffers with or without special needs and have kept them entertained without infringing on everyone. It can be done.

I want to move somewhere there are no people

I think we all feel like that at times.

The thing is, children are people. Very small children are awkward and can be loud. They do weird stuff and parents have to come up with ways to navigate life with children in tow (since we live in a society where children must, for many reasons, always be supervised).

I get that some parents are crap and ineffective. I'd argue that has always been the case.

But can we stop with the 'these days' and 'kids now'? These are horrible generalisations. Modern life has quite a few different hurdles from a childhood in the 60s or 70s. People do some things differently because life is different, but most of us are trying our best. We're not all inconsiderate twats.

Yes to headphones but kids on a bus don't necessarily need an iPad anyway. I get that it's hard but they can be entertained looking out of the window or just being given some (quiet) attention. They shouldn't need to be 'plugged in' all the time and need to learn that sometimes they just have to wait.

TheFirstMrsDV actually they changed their mind about that

YADNBU 'they wanted to' or 'they like it' seems to excuse any behaviour these days, children aren't told 'no' nearly enough.

Athena I don't want to give you a ha4d time. I know bringing up a child with SN it's tough- and you don't need me to tell you this.

Look, so what gets you through the day. As I said upthread - I don't think most kids need to have a tablet with the sound up for a journey. But maybe your child does. I don't know - I don't nlknow him or your situation. But be aware there are other people around with different needs. Some of them will be mildly irritated, some (including me) will be very irritated and some you will cause genuine suffering because of their own special needs. You know the situation best and you know how you can get your son and yourself through the day limiting the impact on others.

Oh, and this thread is not intended as a "kids/ parents these days" thread. Every generation complains of the next generation. It's a general rant.

A young teenage boy ran through a splash pool completely drenching my 1 year old who was in the quiet end by the side with me. I asked the boy to not splash the little ones and his dad started fighting his battles calling me a gobby bitch in front of loads of kids. Apparently it's 'a free country he can do what he likes' Courtesy and consideration are clearly optional extras.

OP I believe you didn't mean it as a 'kids/parents these days' attack... but many have taken it that way! Just look at Excited101 's nice little contribution!

'Nice little contribution' what it is to add to a thread with your own opinion...

As a wobbly disabled person on crutches, kids on heelys and scooters are the bane of my life sometimes. It can be a bit scary but there are some parents who are sadly oblivious.

To clarify excited I was referring to your vague generalisation about 'these days'. It's unpleasant. There have always been more effective and less effective parents. Despairing of the current generation and labelling them like this is a pattern as old as time.

someonestolemynick mildly irritated is nothing compared to what you would be without. Besides no matter if there is reason or not everyone is well within their rights to do so.

I started a thread somewhere else. I saw last week a parent allow their two children to play with a priceless trunk in the Queens Collection at Holyrood Palace. They opened the trunk and let their kids play in it and both of them sit in it together and they broke the latch on it.

The parents didnt get it.

Do not most museums have cloakrooms for storage? So why don't they refuse entry to scooters like they do with oversized bags? I think I might take my bike to the next museum I visit, I'll get round so much more quickly!

I see your point Venice but it's a common phrase (as you say 'a pattern as old as time'), rather than particularly unpleasant- because we can only compare with what we know from our own experiences and upbringing. Besides, the main example of phones/iPads is limited to 'these days' with there not really a historical equivalent. Of course there are good and bad variations of parenting but there can be a general trend, I think the tendency of it 'taking a village' to raise a child was far more predominant in my upbringing, whereas you now hear a so many parents up in arms if anyone else dares to say 'no' to their PFB.