Let’s Try Parenting
Am I overly crazy because I expect other people’s kids to adhere to some form of decorum? You know, I thought living on an Army post that the kids would have some basic manners and self control. I was sorely mistaken. Some of the same kids who my husband just reprimanded a few weeks ago for throwing apples were knocking and running over the weekend. Not only did they knock and run once, but they were dumb enough to wait for me to turn off my porch light and do it again. Little did they know I was lying in wait on the other side of the door ready to chase them down – which I did. Then I made them do the walk of shame to their parents.
All the parents had to say was “It was all in good fun,” and “Did you apologize?” Seriously? That’s it? Maybe I’m from a different time, but if a neighbor brought me home, there were consequences. Not only that, but they don’t know who’s on the other side of that door. I have anxiety issues about stuff like that because in high school I’d get these phone calls from a familiar voice I couldn’t quite place saying all kinds of nasty things to me or detailing what I wore to school that day. They even would talk about watching me walk home from school. When we got caller ID to see who it was, it turned out to be the next door neighbors’ 20-something son who still lived at home. So excuse me if I’m a little jumpy, especially with a husband in the field for the weekend. Not to mention I had a 3yo trying to get to sleep. Are they going to deal with my child when he can’t sleep because their kids are little assholes?
What really appalls me is it’s not the teens in our neighborhood. It’s the kids in the 8-12 range that have this sense of entitlement, attitude issues, and general lack of respect for others. What are these kids going to be like as they get older? Of course I suppose I shouldn’t really expect much from people who can’t even keep their cats and dogs where they belong. If people can’t even follow leash laws, then why would they pay attention to their kids’ whereabouts too?
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Oh, we have those too… I feel sorry for the older kids here because we have a teeny base and there is very little for them to do, but man, some of the stuff they come up with! We also have the ones that hold the door open and carry packages if they see you need help, so I try to think of them when I start getting crochety.
Yes, that's why I said in my post it's not the older kids. It's that 8-12 age set that seems to have no respect for others. I've not seen any of them hold a door or any other RAK.
I think kids in general are becoming less caring and more self-centered. Perhaps it is due to lack of time on the part of working parents – but it's still a disturbing trend. I am sorry to hear it is happening on base…and happening to you with the knock and run.
I see both sides to the issue. As I remember being about 12 and doing the "ding dong ditch" at the time I thought it was the funniest thing ever. HOWEVER now as an adult it's the kind of stuff that just plain pisses me off lol. I guess I've gotten "old".
Kas
We've had a bunch of kids in the neighbor hood driving around in a NEV (it's an electric vehical sort-of like a golf cart, but they are under age) causing trouble by making noise and stealing pumpkins. They even took one from our haunted trail downtown.
I want to know where their parents are!!
AMEN Sister!! I thought I was the only parent left on Earth who teaches her children how NOT to be little turd-heads. You know, I really try hard not to make MY (and my childrens) existence on this Earth a particularly miserable experience for others. Is it too much to ask that the same courtesy be afforded to me?