Is that how I look?

[Tinker Bell]

Let me just start by saying that I'm a parent, so my views in this maybe a little messed up. Has any of you CM gotten a different perspective in parenting since working at WDW? I feel a little abnormal because my perspective has changed so drastically since working here that sometimes it scares me. I'm constantly analyzing everything I do and say with my kids in public because I'm in fear of looking like 'that parent'.

Maybe I was never a normal parent, I always stood up as the different one among my friends. But Good Lord the things you see! Like today this mom grabbed her daughter by the pig tails on her hair and pushed her out. Good God man kids are human too, can you at least treat her with a little respect?

More and more I see parents with absolutely no patience just pushing and shoving the kids to either get to a ride, see a character, or simply because the kid is crying. The amount of parents that are bullies to their own children scares me. They fool the kids into doing things they don't want to do or make fun of them merciless; then they moan and complaint when the kid doesn't trust them. Well what the hell did you expect?! I love the ones that see a temper tantrum come and are more concern about not being bother than the child's problem. Look as a parent you can't tell me you don't know what triggers in your child a temper tantrum. And if you don't know, then it's start to get cracking and find it. Pay attention it's not that hard. Then God forbid you suggest anything, after all they know it all and 'you don't tell me what to do.' Sure because I don't work here 5 days a week and don't see this often, right? Pfftt!

Another thing I hate is that they don't follow directions and then go around and want the kids to listen to them. Dude, if you don't follow directions, guess what? Junior ain't going to follow your directions either. Get in your head that children learn by example, and yours is not very good.

No joke about it I wish we could give the parents a page or a phone and keep the kids. Tell them we'll call you when we're done. Parents sometimes scare me and the sad part is I am a parent.

[Freak]

Not just in themeparks, but in general, parents are becoming more and more like you just described. Its actually kinda sad.

[turkeyham]

You are doing fine. I am not a parent, but an aunt. I watch my sisters and brother with their kids. I watched my brother and his wife with their son.
My nephew is 13. He likes to crawl on chairs and his parents. Once in a while they will tell him to stop and grow up. My other 3 sisters don't have this problem. Their daughters are better behaved. I am guessing they are more strict.

As for me, I do people watch and noticed that the parents do get cranky and blame it out on the kids. Why is it when the mom's get cranky and blame the cast members for something that they did not do. I will now explain what happened a few days ago. I was just coming back from my lunch to my cart in Frontierland. In QSR-vending, they have us cast members switch out the money with the reliefs. I came back and my relief explained that the line was going to have a minor shut down because the vendor came back from a meal and will be with the SG in a minute. I put my cash in the register and locked up the remaining cash on the side. I then took orders. The lady blew a hissy fit in front of me saying that her and her kids waited over 10 minutes for me to help her. Excuse me? When I was approaching my cart, there was 5 guests in line. The lady told her kids to get my name so she could report me to city hall and have me fired. The kids rolled their eyes at mom and told her no! The son told her that they did not even wait more than a few minutes. That is a honest kid.

[mapo]

In QSR-vending, they have us cast members switch out the money with the reliefs. I came back and my relief explained that the line was going to have a minor shut down because the vendor came back from a meal and will be with the SG in a minute. I put my cash in the register and locked up the remaining cash on the side. I then took orders. The lady blew a hissy fit in front of me saying that her and her kids waited over 10 minutes for me to help her. Excuse me? When I was approaching my cart, there was 5 guests in line. The lady told her kids to get my name so she could report me to city hall and have me fired. The kids rolled their eyes at mom and told her no! The son told her that they did not even wait more than a few minutes. That is a honest kid.

People SUCK.

I am so fed up with *ss-holes that keep threatening to get me fired. You know what, some days lately I think I could use the time off. UGH... Thank goodness there is a strict process in place to protect me from the ranting of all those lunatics.

You want my name? On the tag...M-A-P-O....nope, no last name. Yes, let me get you a Guest Communications card so you can tell them how I suck.

Oh, want a manager? Sure..should be here in an hour....have a seat.

Yeah, I really tell them this..yeah I hate the holidays and the freaking heat.

Got soaked to the skin early in my day today dealing with an emergency...you know what, being that wet all day still beats the hell out of the heat we have had this week.

Did you know we had an actual heat warning Wednesday? Temperatures well over 100 degrees....

Sorry..having a moment there....lol

MAPO

[DragonFox98]

MAPO, so sorry you're dealing with the heat. That is one reason we haven't moved to FL - I don't think I could handle it (I am a Yankee afterall). And I'm sorry you guys are having people threaten to get you in trouble; I don't think that should be something you should have to deal with everyday at work (although, it does happen to me from time to time too if that makes you feel better!).

And sorry to all three of you for having to deal with these people (mainly moms, I agree). I've seen it too. And I may have been one parent who firmly grasped my son's neck to lead him away from an area while his sister got her meet and greet. But I would never hurt him or embaress him in public - that's sticks and, like TinkerBell said, I would rather my children trust me and love me than fear me. I admit, I am a strict mom; my hubby, not so strict (he forgets the kids are on punishment all the time!:rolleyes :) . My children know how to behave and, if they're not, we're going back to our lodgings and taking a break for awhile - no fun for you. And I will admit, there are times I can feel myself getting frustrated and overheated. When that comes, I ask my hubby to take the kids to a store or a ride (not a meet & greet - I want to be there for those) and I find a seat in the shade and just meditate for a few mintues.

The mentality of bullying your children is just horrible. Sorry you guys are exposed to it.

[LadySiren]

You are doing fine. I am not a parent, but an aunt. I watch my sisters and brother with their kids. I watched my brother and his wife with their son.
My nephew is 13. He likes to crawl on chairs and his parents. Once in a while they will tell him to stop and grow up. My other 3 sisters don't have this problem. Their daughters are better behaved. I am guessing they are more strict.

You just described my BIL/SIL to a tee. I was horrified at WDW by the antics they let their DS get away with but every time I opened my mouth, I was scolded...loudly. I thought for sure that they'd be getting an invitation to explore other non-WDW vacation opportunities by the CMs, the way it was going.

I'm sure DH and I seem like ogres, given how much we do NOT let the kids get away with, but I'm not going to have my child be an obnoxious little beast. Kids are kids, I realize, but that doesn't mean that parents shouldn't try to teach them to be polite and civilized. I think DH and I do a pretty good job of helping the kids be independent AND decent human beings at the same time.

[Buggy]

I tell this story every time it becomes relevant. We did a family outing to WDW and we were all in line for the Snow White Ride. My brother was trying to psyche out his very young daughter by telling her it was a really scary ride and trying to scare her. You can guess where this is going.

Well, when we all got off the ride, my niece was in hysterics, and my brother had the nerve to yell at the CMs there for allowing it to be such as scary ride and scare his daughter.

Sigh.

[hobie16]

I tell this story every time it becomes relevant. We did a family outing to WDW and we were all in line for the Snow White Ride. My brother was trying to psyche out his very young daughter by telling her it was a really scary ride and trying to scare her. You can guess where this is going.

Well, when we all got off the ride, my niece was in hysterics, and my brother had the nerve to yell at the CMs there for allowing it to be such as scary ride and scare his daughter.

Sigh.

Is his name Dick?

[darph nader]

Is his name Dick?

No Shit huh? You need to bitch slap your bro Buggy. :mad:

[kurtisnelson]

Oh, want a manager? Sure..should be here in an hour....have a seat.

Aren't you a manager? I guess that would make it take forever to get your manager.