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Original poster

Boys and Balls - the bane of my life

57 replies

Enid · 12/08/2006 11:38

why why why do groups of boys, ok, children but its mainly boys, have to play football in a) picnic areas b) on the beach next to me and my family c) in swimming pools?

JUST DON't DO IT

stop the football madness or bugger off and play where there are no people trying to eat/feed a baby/relax

there I feel better now

OP posts:
southeastastra · 12/08/2006 11:39

you misery

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 11:48

ok so I am going to let my dds cycle round between picnickers in future

or maybe let them throw stones on the beach

its the same difference

OP posts:
UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 11:52

Would the car park be a better spot, or the road, Enid?

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 11:57

what about a football pitch
or a park with no people sitting eating a picnic

is it beyond the realms of possibility

where is it written that boys can kick balls about wherever they like

ironic too that the children in question playing football in the middle of a field of picnickers were nowhere to be seen when we went walking on the walking/cycling trails, so don't tell me they needed to burn energy

OP posts:
southeastastra · 12/08/2006 11:59

they can't help themselves, they see a ball and have to play with it! boys (and men. did you ask them to move away? although i think it's sad to see 'no ball game' signs. (i have two boys and the eldest ones latest 'game' is to try and kick the ball over the house. argh

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 12:01

well they need to learn to control themselves then.

I moved in the end but another dad with another family told them to bugger off (yay him)

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 12:02

If that football had come near me one more time I was all set to throw it in the lake

OP posts:
UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 12:05

But what if they have come to the picnic site/beach/swimming pool with their families, and there isn't a designated football pitch, or area empty of picnickers?

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 12:06

er

then don't play

run around instead, it won't kill you

OP posts:
UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 12:09

What, just run around, randomly, like a dog?

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 12:16

what on earth do you think children that DONT have balls do?

a 'no ball games' sign sets my heart a-leaping

OP posts:
UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 12:19

Remind me, Enid - I've forgotten!

(What do adolescent girls do on picnics btw?)

dmo · 12/08/2006 12:37

i've two boys 9 and 10
10 yr old alway kicking ball 9 yr old too busy catching spiders bugs etc
ball games bug me in picnic areas and swimming pools so i dont let mine play
(where are the parents of these children normally hiden away)
my 10yr old kicked football at church opp our house last week and smashed stain glass window going to cost £££££££££

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 12:52

no idea what adolescents do

dont have any

mine eat then run around seemingly randomly

OP posts:
dmo · 12/08/2006 12:54

the girls prob watch the boys play football

SoupDragon · 12/08/2006 13:04

You should have gone to eat/feed a baby/relax in the eat/feed a baby/relaxing area and left them to it. I hate people who eat/feed a baby/relax in places and stop my children playing and being, er, children.

Miseryguts

(having said that, I do make sure they stay away from others people when playing)

UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 13:06

I know you don't, but you will - then you might wish for boys and footballs

ledodgyrobespierre · 12/08/2006 13:34

Be glad you don't live in an end terrace like me where all you can here is thud thud thud against your wall!

Bozza · 12/08/2006 13:44

Some boys just can't seem to help it. My DS is as we speak kicking a football around the garden alone. He absolutely loves it, and believe me, it is not because he is any good. I have banned him from using a leather football in the garden, mind you. We save those for proper football pitches. I also have a DD and she also loves balls. Every time we go in a toy shop she drifts towards the basket of balls. In fact displaying 2yo tendencies this morning she was adamantly wanting "my ball". Got out the little mermaid one, then the disney princesses one, but apparently "my ball" is a small size Barcelona football club ball. Argh!

So whenever we go for a picnic we take 2 balls with us. And if we go with friends we take at least 2 balls.

TwoToTango · 12/08/2006 14:00

If we go to the park etc. and take a football I try and find a spot without too many people but he does like to play football - which I am pleased about because it is good exercise, also very often other children will come and join in. When we go swimming he like to take a beach ball and is more than happy to share it with other children (boys and girls) who like to throw it to each other so hes exercising and socialising. Obviously if there was a small baby I would not let him play too close in case it got hit. But likewise when we are in a busy park filled with boisterous toddlers/young children who like to run about/ride bikes/play football if it was me I would choose a different spot to eat or feed a baby.
If we go to a new place park/campsite whatever I always check if there are "no ball games" signs and tbh if there aren't I would see no reason to stop him playing football as long as he wasn't doing any harm. I think it is an inbuilt thing with boys.

Bozza · 12/08/2006 14:03

I do actually try and counter DS's obsession with football but sometimes it is easier to just let him play on his own than get involved in a cricket game etc. DH and DS had a great time kicking a ball around at Chatsworth last week.

Jimjams2 · 12/08/2006 14:05

was there a sign saying picnics only? Surely a free for all space is a.... er .... free for all. Especially beaches!

DS2 "hates" football (we think he's gay ) but ds3 came out kicking a ball, as soon as he sees one he can't help himself. ds1 was given ball "therapy" so whenever he sees one he runs up to it and "geegeen" (kicking) and attempts to belt it.

Bozza · 12/08/2006 14:08

Enid are your girls quite "girly" girls? DD is apart from this ball obsession.

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 14:31

dd1 is not at all girly

in fact is a tomboy

so you are all saying that its an inbuilt boy thing?

what about common courtesy does that not apply?

I certainly won't sit in the car to feed baby and wouldn't have a picnic in the middle of a football pitch either!

Genuinely cant understand why paretns dont encourage boys to play where there are no people -otherwise its like a load of kids standing behind you thrwoning stones because sooner or later that ball is going to hit someone

OP posts:
southeastastra · 12/08/2006 14:34

i would certainly tell my boys off if i could see they were annoying people!

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