Sigh. I have so many more stories like these. And sadly, I really like all of the parents of these children. But I can’t take their rude kids. I can rationalize that the kids are this way because their parents always indulge them and never say no. I can easily figure out that they watch too much violent TV or play too many violent video games, making them hyper—or that they have too much sugar in their diets, etc. But whatever it is, I can’t handle it anymore.
Clearly, my son is living vicariously through them because I don’t put up with it from him. I never have. Plenty of my friends actually suggest that I’m too strict. So be it—if it ensures he won’t become a little monster. Have any of you experienced this? It’s absolutely depressing to think about how many unruly children there are these days. I sound like a cliché, but when I was growing up, you’d get in trouble if you didn’t say “yes, ma’am.” If you dared to talk back to an adult, you’d be in BIG trouble.
Not so much today. I did tell the moms about their children’s behavior—I figured I owed them that much. One rolled her eyes and just said, “Oh, Craigy (name changed), you know better than that.” But she said it to her son in sing-song voice like she was amused and that was the end of it.
Another mom made her son write an apology note and made him apologize to my face later as well. I was very impressed. One mom just cried as she said her son had been acting out at home and on other playdates. It’s sad, isn’t it? I just don’t know where the sass is coming from and clearly, many parents are confused as well. In the meantime, regardless of how fond I am of these kids’ parents, I’ll try to keep the playdates to a minimum and make sure my son realizes their behavior is absolutely not acceptable.
