More annoying: The parents or their children?

[ButImAGoodAP]

Equally loud response: "It might have stung a bit, but not *nearly* as painful as feeling as though I can't breathe because he just broke my inhaler you just kicked away. Let's see... Blood glucose meter, inhaler, sunglasses... Your son just cost me $X in important medical equipment."

Then, from all the stress, you go into a panic/asthma attack, falling on her in the process.

OK. I'll admit this: Even with all the essential med stuff, I was most worried about my sunglasses! Ha ha!

Oh, and by the way, in case anyone's wondering (and because I feel compelled to make sure this is clear!), I never actually touched the kid. Mostly I just yanked my bag out of his reach and shooshed his thieving mitts away by waving my hand at him. ... although... :twisted: My evil inner self wishes I'd realized what was happening and yanked the zipper closed on the prying little paw...

[DisneyMom]

OK. I'll admit this: Even with all the essential med stuff, I was most worried about my sunglasses! Ha ha!

Oh, and by the way, in case anyone's wondering (and because I feel compelled to make sure this is clear!), I never actually touched the kid. Mostly I just yanked my bag out of his reach and shooshed his thieving mitts away by waving my hand at him. ... although... :twisted: My evil inner self wishes I'd realized what was happening and yanked the zipper closed on the prying little paw...

Even if you HAD swatted him, it would have been a good lesson for him....
Someday someone might end up shooting him when he's trying to snatch an old lady's purse! (heard a LOT of stories of Crazy old seniors packing heat!)

His Useless Mother sure isn't going to teach him anything! :mad:

One time I had a Home Care patient complain because I had to remove her dog's nose from my butt and nicely asked her to please put the dogs away

[joanna71985]

First of all, I just want to say that I'm horrified by what I see idiot parents let their kids do/say/climb on/grab/push/lick/sit on/kick/etc. My son is 16 now and has always been well-mannered. I raised him to know what the rule were and the consequences of not following them. Go figure.

So, my annoying kid/annoying parent experience from earlier this evening:

I was waiting in line at Cosmic Ray's (Don't even get me started about why families of SEVEN need to ALL stand in line together... or why they stand BESIDE their strollers, completely blocking the "exit" aisle people must negotiate while carrying trays laden with food and drinks...).

Anyhoo, there I was, patiently waiting, when I feel this strange tugging behind my left shoulder. And I hear a little "plop" near my foot. I turn to look and see that cute little Johnny has unzipped my backpack and is pulling things out and tossing them on the floor. Expensive sunglasses? Plop. Blood glucose monitor? Plop. Bottle of Tylenol? Rattle, rattle...plop. Wallet? Plop. Asthma inhaler? Plop. All in the three seconds it took my mind to register that this kind of behavior was really, actually happening. In the real, actual world.

I swat his hand away, yank the backback forward, and stoop down to gather my things. As I'm frantically shoving my things back in the bag, trying rather unsuccessfully not to get in the way of the previously-mentioned tray-balancers, I look up at Mommy dearest, expecting to see her at least pretend to admonish adorable little Johnny for this ridiculously unacceptable behavior.

Now I must take a several deep breaths for fear of bursting into flames...

Because, what this woman -- this hideous and inexplicable creature obviously from another dimension, an alternate universe -- did was to glare at me, hug her child to her indignant self, and shout, loudly, "Oh, Johnny, did that mean lady HURT you?" -- and then kick my asthma inhaler out of reach.

True story.

Wow! I would have called security. What a witch!

[felinefan]

Reminds me of the time I was working the train at Knott's and I ended up getting attacked by a guest. She and her two goons with her admitted to the cops they were looking to start something with park employees. This Medusa sounds like she was also scouting for trouble, though with another guest. I don't understand how/why people do things like that. Must be too proud to get an actual job, so they figure they can sue for money.

May I make a suggestion? Depending on your backpack's configuration, you could try fastening the zipper with a safety pin--if it's a double zipper, on on each side, put the pin through the holes in the top of the pulls, then fasten through the fabric of the backpack. That way, if Johnny makes a go for the backpack, his having to undo the safety pin will give you some warning. Or if you don't do so already, you can get a waistpurse, like a fannypack but meant to be worn in front. Pickpockets and pursesnatchers hate them. Put your sunglasses, wallet, monitor, inhaler, etc. in it and keep the pouch in front. Keep zippers closed until/unless you're actually getting something in or out.

You didn't say how old the little thief was, or if he was in a mommy pouch or what. I once worked as a security guard, with some of my posts being in a retail environment, and usually kids under 5 years are unaware of the difference between what's theirs and what belongs to others. They see it, they want it, they grab it. After that, peer pressure starts to kick in. Though I remember being told there were parents who actually taught their kids to steal, because the kid would get away with a light punishment. The parents would then put on an act about how little Timmy or Tammy was a good kid, blah, blah, blah.

[Ms. Matterhorn]

I remember being told there were parents who actually taught their kids to steal, because the kid would get away with a light punishment. The parents would then put on an act about how little Timmy or Tammy was a good kid, blah, blah, blah.

The Artful Dodger!

[Big Wallaby]

This actually mad me spit water all over my laptop. :hysteria:

Hmm... I need to find the post where Zazu explains the coffee. It gets funnier...


Here it is:
http://www.stupidguesttricks.com/showthread.php?t=1985

[ButImAGoodAP]

May I make a suggestion? Depending on your backpack's configuration, you could try fastening the zipper with a safety pin--if it's a double zipper, on on each side, put the pin through the holes in the top of the pulls, then fasten through the fabric of the backpack. That way, if Johnny makes a go for the backpack, his having to undo the safety pin will give you some warning.

Thanks for the safety pin suggestion, that's a great idea. :) I actually keep one zipper clipped down inside a pocket, then the other tucked in beside it. It's not theft proof, but it does mean Junior had to work pretty hard to get the bag open! I realize now that I felt it happening, but I just thought it was his head bumping into my bag or something -- he'd been bouncing around like a maniac moments earlier.

You didn't say how old the little thief was, or if he was in a mommy pouch or what. I once worked as a security guard, with some of my posts being in a retail environment, and usually kids under 5 years are unaware of the difference between what's theirs and what belongs to others. They see it, they want it, they grab it. After that, peer pressure starts to kick in. Though I remember being told there were parents who actually taught their kids to steal, because the kid would get away with a light punishment. The parents would then put on an act about how little Timmy or Tammy was a good kid, blah, blah, blah.

He was around 5 or 6 or so. You're correct, of course, about kids not having all their social skills by that age. However, don't forget that Mommy was right there. Ostensibly, *she* has learned by now that you can't just grab things that aren't yours! And if she isn't going to teach her kid right from wrong, she should at least stop him when he does something wrong -- rather than GIGGLING about it while he does it!! Outrageous.

A few people here have suggested that perhaps she was "training" him to steal. While I suppose that is possible (and I'm sure it does happen!), I don't actually suspect that in this particular case the child was encouraged to steal, or that she is intentionally teaching him to do so; but I am absolutely sure that she isn't teaching him *not* to, and she's just doing a miserable job teaching him to behave in general. :(

[Elena (aka: Bubble Lady)]

Hmm... I need to find the post where Zazu explains the coffee. It gets funnier...


Here it is:
http://www.stupidguesttricks.com/showthread.php?t=1985

[font="Palatino Linotype"]this was SO good...no, not good...it was GREAT! wish i had been there to see it happen :hysteria:
zazu always has the best stories [/font]

[thomaskr]

Parents for sure! I was hanging out with a friend who was working a P&P Party rope for the fireworks by the storytime garden. THis guy comes up with his daughter dressed as Belle to him and demands ot know why they haven't been able to see Belle all night (this was at 9:20pm). He rants about how he's been everywhere and has been denied Belle "I went to toontown, they said she had a previous engagement, went to another place, they said she wasnt there, sent me to toontown again, etc. When is belle getting here?" he replied 10:10, the next show, to which the man replied "How is it that at a princess party for kids the first time they can see belle is at 10:10? Kids are tired!" ...uhh the first show was at 7:30 sir. "Well you better know I am the first in line here and if anyone gets in front of me, you better call security because belle is gonna meat the beast!" His kid started to cry, he blamed it on the CM.

You KNOW that the kid isnt crying because she didnt see belle. she's crying because she has to sit there waiting for an hour, missing the fireworks and everything because her dad is being an ass to the cast. If belle is your priority, check the times and go see her. Then again, I didn't get a map when I entered the park for the party. :mad:

Sounds more like daddy has a thing for French country wenches...

[thomaskr]

Oh, and by the way, in case anyone's wondering (and because I feel compelled to make sure this is clear!), I never actually touched the kid. Mostly I just yanked my bag out of his reach and shooshed his thieving mitts away by waving my hand at him. ... although... :twisted: My evil inner self wishes I'd realized what was happening and yanked the zipper closed on the prying little paw...

You know, my favorite method of dealing with idiots in line who either get too close, put their skis on the back of your snowboard etc. is to pretend to not be looking and do something innocent, like swing the bag around my legs or kick my legs (you know, to get the blood pumping). Then you have the satisfaction of saying "oh sorry! Did I accidentally knock your front tooth out darling? OMG, were you STEALING FROM ME?". Your mileage may vary.