I hate rainy summer days. Here in Columbus there are far more outdoor places for kids than indoor places to play. And so, needing to get Cordelia out of the house to run out some energy, we went to the mall.
It was packed, and the play area looked like a science lesson: atoms (kids) racing around at high speeds, occasionally colliding into each other. Pure chaos. My friend Lisa and I turned our two toddlers loose into the fray.
Going to the mall is always a good excuse to people-watch, and sadly I always find people that I shake my head at. Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure some of them are just having bad days, and I’ve had my share of bad days when people probably thought I was an awful parent. But there are things I still shake my head at. Today’s examples:
– Moms so wrapped up chatting with their friends about going out drinking the other night that they don’t keep an eye on their kids, as they wander out of the play area, hit other kids, or dig through diaper bags and strollers that don’t belong to them.
– Children who throw food at other kids as they pass by their stroller in a store. And the mom who simply says, “Honey, don’t do that,” as she continues shopping and doesn’t look at the child.
– Kids fishing money out of the mall fountain, pocketing anything larger than a penny and then throwing the pennies back, all while the mom watched. I’m not making this up. The money in that fountain goes to a local charity, and these kids clearly believed they were deserving of charity money. The mom thought it was hilarious. One kid was even counting his loot to see if he had enough to get the toy he wanted at KB Toys (the family already had bags of stuff they bought, so they clearly weren’t too poor to shop).
My kid may throw tantrums in the middle of Bath & Body Works, scream her way through the bookstore, and knock things off the racks as we walk by, but at least she doesn’t act like those kids. And I’m a little scared what these kids will turn into, with parents like that.
That was me and my youngest son that was throwing food. No, not really but if you’ve ever seen him eat a meal you wouldn’t be surprised to see food being slapped from the table at the speed of light!
Ever play “molecules” in the elevator?
Malls are fabulous for people-watching. They can make you see your seemingly devilish child in a whole new angelic light.
I can’t believe there are people out there who let their kids take money out of fountains!!
i’m positively AFRAID of the kids you described, not to mention the moms! gah!
hehe I always feel better about my parenting after watching some moms at the mall!!!
Whaaaat? Moms letting their kids take money out of a fountain. That’s pretty bad. Having a kid throw a tantrum in B&BW doesn’t even touch that one.
Some people just dont have a clue do they? Sometimes I think they just dont care. It bugs me that you need a license to drive a car, own a dog, have a gun etc etc but any idiot can have children….
Ahhh, Bath & Body Works… I just ran out of my last hand soap. Time for a bit of cross-border shopping.
I can’t stand it when I see moms like that not paying attention to their kids. I think that is partly why those kids act that way and it’s sad.
My youngest takes screaming fits in every store we go to. He’s not that into shopping. LOL!
I’m so with you on the first one. I wrote a post not too long ago about moms who ignore their kids. I’m bot saying you have to be on top of their every move but at least be aware that they are not in your general vicinity at least. Chances are if they’ve wondered away they are causing trouble somewhere.
Amen sista! On everything! Great post!
I’d have to say throwing temper tantrums is normal. Stealing money from a charity and laughing is NOT.
It drives me crazy when parents don’t monitor their kids. I always feel lost when they start picking on my kid and I have to step in because their mom is no where to be seen.
I always get s so mad in those play areas.
I’d say maybe 30% actually watch their kids and DO SOMETHING when they child is behaving inappropriately.
Even worse though are the people who drop their too-big kids (7-10 yrs old) off at the play area and then LEAVE to go shop. HELLO????? WTF?
Oh….sore subject with me!
I work in a restaurant and am AMAZED by how the parents act toward their children’s behavior.
We have a bocce ball court on our terrace. I have seen many parents allow their children to play there unsupervised until their dinner arrives. I even had one parent ask me to retrieve her children. The parents are inside and the kids are outside. Uggh.
Running up and down the aisles of the restaurant is another big pet peeve of mine. Being out of their seat unsupervised in general upsets me. I had a girl literally run into me while I was carrying a tray full of wine, which I subsequently dropped. The mother had the nerve to scold me for not watching what I was doing.
All of those kids make me nervous….they are the ones who will care for us in the nursing homes.
I always see mall play areas as also a contamination zone….as if I can see the germs and fungi crawling on everything my kid’s touching.
But people watching is fun and it’s what keeps us sane, no?
I love to people watch. It puts my life into perspective.
How about the parents that just sit on their cell phones while their children run wild, hurt other children, etc. so that suddenly you are forced to parent THEM as well as your own. It pisses me off – like I came to the f-ing mall to babysit the lazy parent’s kids?! But if I don’t do it, they will bully, grab, push, etc. What a drag. Hey! Get off the phone!!
Sadly, those kids will probably turn into parents just like that. You’ve heard of the circle of life? This is the circle of jerks.
I always find it “amusing” when the parents that you just described give ME weird looks for wearing Nicholas in stores, at the park, etc. I just want to say, “Uhm, my kid isn’t screaming or harassing other children or adults. So, what’s your excuse?”
GAH.
Happy wander parents drive me insane! I try so hard to keep my kids in check while allowing them some fun. Who the heck are all these parents talking to on their cell phones????