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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:
Bozza · 12/08/2006 14:35

I do to a degree. And I think it is a bit variable. DS is only 5 and usually with no more than two other friends. They tend to spend more time picking up the ball and arguing than actually kicking it. Hence why we quite often take them a ball each. But honestly he really is obsessed. I think it has probably been worse than usual this summer because the world cup hype has got them all going.

AvaLou · 12/08/2006 14:37

I get annoyed by this in the park, but it's mainly groups of men , complete with group of blonde girlfriends and multipack of Stella who are that inconsiderate as to kick a ball towards a family having a picnic.
I always find children who do so look mortified when they do it accidentally.

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 14:38

have no problems with football

or boys for that matter

but cannot understand WHY a parent would organise a football game with 10 kids in the middle of a load of families, all picnicking, when they were in the heart of a huge valley site with loads of space elsewhere

also throwing beach balls around in pools (not the sea) is a total PITA

OP posts:
gingernut · 12/08/2006 14:43

So isn't it the parents who are the problem, not the boys?

Jimjams2 · 12/08/2006 14:47

We've never actually taken a ball to a park/beach so I can't really comment other than to say it doesn't really bother me, I kind of see open space as a free for all. overcrowded country and all that.
i get paranoid/annoyed by those big kite things that pull trucks on beaches as they always look a nightmare to control, and ds1 has no concept of not standing where he'll get hit by the lines. And they take up a whole beach.

Bozza · 12/08/2006 14:51

Oh yes I see your point there Enid. I think you are really talking about older children than my 5yo. I will start having to control him more soon. I don't think I have really been all that awful with him.

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 14:54

yes older kids 9 or so

dd1 has been known to join a football game on the beach(nowhere near grumpy mum obv)

OP posts:
sdwsunshine · 12/08/2006 14:58

i am really surprised by this posting. the only people i come across who are so intolerant of kids are people with no kids. my 3yo loves kicking a ball about and actively goes looking for other kids to play with. this has helped learn how to share as well. we have no garden as we live in a flat so the nearby park is vital for letting off some steam a couple of times a day. in our park people eat, throw balls, kick balls, feed kids, sunbathe, meet people and make friends. I like to think of it as a big communal back garden. i am hoping his new found footie skills will help me to retire when he is playing for Celtic/Spurs/England/Scotland!!!!!!!!!

AvaLou · 12/08/2006 15:00

It's true people do worse
Hampstead Heath is often full of women sunbathing topless on hot days, sometimes topless and walking around in a thong bikini pant.
I'm no prude but I just wouldn't in a city park!
Leave that for the beach please!

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 15:00

well boys with balls are a pita when they kick them too near me or hit me with them. I HATE it, think it is utterly bad mannered and very very annoying -

and i have three children

admittedly I am very intolerant though

OP posts:
WideWebWitch · 12/08/2006 15:02

But enid, boys DO like to play football, where are they supposed to play? I don't see the problem on the beach or in the park or swimming pools tbh. OK, you do have to be considerate and not actually kick it AT people but mostly boys aren't trying to kick balls at people, they're trying to get it in a goal (even if it's just 2 jumpers set apart to make one). And it's really not going to hurt that much if a beach ball or football hits you is it?

I suppose if there was a game going on RIGHT in front of loads of people sitting eating but there was a lot of other space they could have used without the children being out of sight then maybe it would be irritating but mostly I think you are a curmudgeon

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2006 15:05

And lucky for you if you have 3 girls who like colouring and kittens and don't want to play football but honestly, football is a Good Thing for boys in my world.

Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 15:06

god yes am total curmudgeon

dh too

we agreed this after trip to Moors Valley yesterday, both of us HATE otehr people we have decided

but what annoys me is that eg dd1 loves playing netball but I wouldnt dream of encouraging them to play near other people. weird IMO to have an obsession that cannot be controlled (thats obv not true though, parents just cant be bothered)

and yes its horrible getting hit by a ball, no it doesnt hurt but if you are feeding a baby its bloody annoying and puts me on edge

dd1 and dd2 got hit in the face by a ball in the swimming pool (I know unlucky but ehre you go), I complaineda nd now balls are banned from the kdis sessions

OP posts:
Original poster
Enid · 12/08/2006 15:07

ah its not abbout having girls sitting quietly colouring

dd1 couldnt be futher from that stereotype (ok she lvoes kittens and colouring its true) she is tremenedously sporty and very active, much more so that some boys we know

but it is possible to harness it a bit you know

OP posts:
Jbck · 12/08/2006 15:10

Enid I'm with you whole-heartedly. I'll gladly be counted as a moany old bag & yes it does hurt when you are hit by a football. My cousin was knocked out by one hitting her on the back of the head kicked by an 10/11 year old not a wannabee Wayne Rooney with his own adoring WAG.
I live next to a playpark which is clearly for under fives from the equipment but night after night teenagers insisted in playing football in it despite there being enormous empty playing fields round the corner. Quite a few of them had to pass the fields to play in this park in the midst of 4 family homes with small children playing in the gardens. DH ended up hoarse forever shouting at them but he is even more intolerant than I

WideWebWitch · 12/08/2006 15:14

Oh I agree there shouldn't be any football in a playpark with v little ones there, absolutely. And I do think boys should be considerate about where they play.

But football is a good thing imo - it's exercise, it's teamwork, it's fun AND boys/men bond over it, quite good to watch - i.e. ds in a park in an area where we didn't know anyone when he was 4 but he kicked a ball to another child who was the same age and they played for ages.

And there were people sitting eating in bits of the park but it was a PARK, it didn't say no ball games.

UrsulatheSeawitch · 12/08/2006 15:16

I think the bane of your life in this instance is really one thoughtless/selfish dad rather than boys and balls - agree he should have taken his little gang further away.

lol at the idea of little girls having a netball tossaround in the park (jumpers for goalposts)

mummy115 · 12/08/2006 18:35

i dont mind boys or girls playing frisbee or ball on a beach or park as its a public area(theres usually a space away from picnickers)but i once lived in a house where gangs of lads played football right outside my window and all the time id hear thud against my door or window pane and id just had a baby. i asked them to move outside their own house and got a load of lip. i think its down to the parents to be responsible.i have 2 lads and they dont annoy anyone else when they play(not as yet anyway!)

justamum · 13/08/2006 00:56

i was on the beach not so long ago on a windy day when a group of adults started to play frisbee next to where we were with our toddler and baby, after i had to move my 2 year old ds twice and their frisbee nearly hit the pushchair where dd was sleeping i think they got the hint and moved - i wouldn't have minded kids so much as they just wouldn't think, although i would have expected their parents to have told them to move. i think its common courtesy not to disturb other people whenever possible, although it does pmo when people get narky about childrens noise or high spirits-why go somewhere like the park or beach where there are bound to be kids if you don't like their behaviour- have i just totally contradicted myself?

MamaMaiasaura · 13/08/2006 01:22

Enid, this wasnt at a forest edge campsite was it? We had a football match going on till near on 10pm and got really pissed off with them and went and had a word with their parents. I have a ds and fine to have a bit of a kick around but has to show consideration for others.

Panboy · 13/08/2006 01:50

Enid - are you on drugs?

Original poster
Enid · 13/08/2006 11:53

I wish

OP posts:
cat64 · 13/08/2006 12:37

This reply has been deleted

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giraffeski · 13/08/2006 13:03

Message withdrawn

FourJays · 13/08/2006 22:11

We went camping a bit ago and kids were playing near our tent all weekend. Fine.
Then they started kicking ball into our tent and just wandering in and helping themselves without saying "sorry", or "excuse me" or "please can I get my ball".
It's about manners and consideration really isn't it?

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