Correcting Other People's Kids

You did the right thing the play zone is for the younger kiddos getting them out of there way to go!!

you did right. you asked the children first to stop and when they didn't, you found out they were there without supervision. then got management. good for you. if the parents were there and i knew that those kids were theirs, i would have went to the parents first and asked them to talk to their kids. i think most parents would be embarrassed and stop it quickly. although there's probably a few that may have flipped you off for it. then you have the choice to ethier leave or get management I just don't like it when strange adults yell at other peoples kids in places like that when the parents are right there and can take care of it with just a few gentle words from the offended adult. most times parents have more than one kid with them and in the process of trying to take care of one, they don't see what the other may be doing at that moment and it only takes a moment for a kid to do something wrong in other peoples eyes. anyway, good job mom!!!

You were completely in the right. The fact that they had the gall to continue after you first approached them is unacceptable. I would definitely want my kids confronted if they were misbehaving that way.

You did the right thing.

You were wondering if your speaking to them would have any impact. I remember when I was a kid and I was "being cool" with my friends. I don't remember what I was doing or saying, but a stranger called me on it. I remember being upset and embarrassed when I thought I was being cool. My parents sensed something was wrong when I came home, and I talked with them about it. They told me that when I was little, they told other people to cool it so I didn't grow up hearing or seeing things that I didn't need to.

I forgot what I did, but the impact that stranger made on me many years ago still is with me. You did the right thing.

I think you should have. My husband has told upper teens to watch their mouths and pointed out that we had small kids in the area that didn't need to hear it. If it is in an area such as the play area of a restaraunt then someone should tell them to cool it. If they wouldn't I would have then turned around and gotten the manager to have them removed.

You absolutly did the right thing!!!

As a business owner I can tell you that having something like that brought to our attention is appreciated. If we dont know about it we can not stop it. However if we dont stop it, others like you will take their kids and leave. The customers that we want to serve will feel like we provide a bad environment for the family and may not come back.

Those kids were testing their limits, believing that being there by themselves meant being able to do what ever they want without having to answer for it. You taught them that even if they dont care about the way they behave. other people will not put up with it. You also taught them that business owners have the right to establish certain rules and enforce them. Kudos to you!!

If they were only flipping people off, I would have ignored it, because the younger kids probably wouldn't get it or even notice and by saying something you would just be drawing attention to it.

But, considering the situation, you definitely did the right thing. I'm a teacher, so I'm used to correcting kids all the time. I hate doing it in public, but I will when it is necessary. Luckily, they've always listened and I've never needed to get a manager or others, (the teacher voice and evil eyeball work like magic), but I wouldn't hesitate to in the situation you described.

A few months ago there were two LITTLE boys trying to start a fire in the woods right behind my fence with a lighter. I saw them and stopped them. The younger one (about 4 or 5) was actually mouthing off a little and was refusing to tell me where his parents were...all I had to say was..."You can show me where your parents are, or I'd be happy to call the police and let them find your parents." The older kid managed to shut his brother up very quickly with that. Hopefully mentioning the police scared them a bit too, because I haven't seen them out roaming since this incident.(I just handed the lighter to their dad, told him what they were doing with it, and left it at that. He thanked me.)

You did the right thing.I would of did the same

I would have done the same thing. Why should your kids or any kid for that matter have to leave because of their lack of supervision and rude behavior.

I've said something to a group of teens before. They were at a play ground, while they weren't being too rude they did cuss a few times. I spoke up and said "hey please watch your language there are kids that can hear you" They were actually really nice about and apologized.

I agree with your actions...there is no reason for you to allow other children...especially unsupervised ones to act that way around your children. I think it gave a very positive message to your children that you do not allow that type of action to go unchallenged. And bringing the manager in was the perfect way to go when they didn't seem to be responding to you!!!

Good for you!!!. I think you handled it perfectly.

Today's kids need to see more adults like you in their lives!!!

I think you did perfect by finding out if their parents were there or not and then alerting the manager.

You did exactly what I would have done. Good for you!

Good for you! You did the right thing. S.

I think you did the right thing! I would not want my child (only 2 now) behaving that way either, and I certainly would try to avoid or stop that behavior in his presence. I'm only sad it seems like you were the only adult there who cared enough to do anything. What about the other little kids' parents???

Yes, you did the right thing. Unfortunately, these kids might come from homes where either they see this type of thing (rude language, hand gestures) from adults regularly - or are never spoken to about appropriate behavior. A few months ago, my son (4) was riding his bike around at the park. My mom was walking around with him. Another little boy was being very rude and trying to jump in front of him and stop him from riding, saying mean things. My mom asked the little boy to stop. This little boy's mom was sitting on a bench nearby (I've since noticed this is her regular perch, never keeps close to her little ones at the park). She heard my mom ask her son to stop his behavior and yelled at my mom for telling her son what to do, then in front of my son - told her son that he should stay away from the mean little boy. I was boiling when I heard about it because I've seen how she is with her kids. Her daughter is about 2-3 and was playing in the sandbox with us once at the park and asked if she could come home with us...she didn't want to go home with her mom. Really heartbreaking. As a teacher turned stay at home mom, it definitely concerns me that there are so many children who receive little to no positive adult role model/guidance at home. Where I taught school, we were trying to teach the kids morals and values, respect, etc at school along with regular lessons - they just weren't getting it at home.

I think you handled it perfectly. If you had just left, your kids would have been punished for the other kids' bad behavior. I am so often appalled at the disrespectful behavior of other kids, and it's usually tween boys. I think they are just pushing their limits to see what they can get away with. My theory is they subconsciously want you to say something to them. I'm probably wrong, but I'm sticking to that. Anyway, kudos.

Correcting or confronting other people's children (when they misbehave and their parents are not around) used to be appreciated and expected by parents when I was growing up. (I'm 55.) Today, it's likely that doing so will result in the offender's parent yelling at you for correcting their ill-behaved child. (Just ask a teacher.) I commend you and the restaurant manager for your actions. 7-11 year olds would not be allowed at a public pool without supervision, the same should be true for a McDonald's, especially when their behavior is unacceptable.

You did the right thing. Unfortunately in our society today, so many children are being raised by children themselves who have so sense of dignity or manners. Keep on the alert and don't shy away from calling out these little hoodlums!

yes you did the right thing.

Good Morning S., you did the right thing by getting the manager. If they were doing this, and continued to step it up a notch when you told them to stop, they wouldn't of listened to you S..

Now the manager if at all possible should of gotten their names, and possibly called the parents to let them know their child was unsupervised, harassing customers with vulgar language, gestures, was asked to leave!

I would of wanted to know if it had been my kid-o. Man they would of eaten soap for days.

Yes I have confronted kids in situations where things have gotten a tad bit more rowdy then was necessary. Reminded them there were small children around and if one got hurt because of them, their parents would not be happy campers.

God Bless you S. for taking the right action.
K. Nana of 5

You go mom!!! Great job. First off I commend you for having the courage to confront the kids and then find out who they are with. Then I commend you for going to the manager and telling him that the kids are misbehaving and unsupervised. We have to do all we can to protect our kids and unfortunately these kids' parents don't care or they'd been there too. So you go girl and don't stop! God Bless You!!!

If they had no adults there with them, they should not have been in there. I would have gone to the manager if there were no parents (probably on my way out the door).

K.

You did exactly the right thing. I wouldn't have any regrets at all.

It used to be that children were afraid of other adults and always (for the most part) listened when another adult told them to do something. Then somewhere in our society, now you have to think twice before you correct an unruley kid, all because nobody wants to offend anyone anymore. I would have done exactly what you did even if the kids parents were around. Keep it up, kids need to learn to respect ALL adults around them and not just their parents(which alot don't respect).

As a mom of a 4yr old and 6yr old I applaud you, i'd have done the same thing. You did a great job! I feel sad for those kids because they obviously don't have good role models. What has our culture come to that we are even having to talk about this and ask if your behavior was appropriate. Of course you did the right thing and we all appreciate you and other parents who teach their children to be respectful! :0)

S., sadly in this day and age I am wary of correcting other peoples children unless what I observe is something that I feel is an immediate risk to themselves or other children. I think by going to the management you did the right thing. I am often saddened by the behavior/language I observe/hear when I take my children to the park. About the best you can do is use this as a time to teach your children, and pray for the the offending children. As you suspect and I do as well the atmosphere these other kids are being raised in must be lacking somehow and approaching them or the parents probably won't accomplish much...I do think prayer can only help though = )
B.

I think what you did was absolutely the right thing to do. You are probably correct in your statement that they probably hear those words a lot and it's obvious they're not taught respect at home. More important than that was what your children saw you do and that was stand up for people, not only them but complete strangers as well. They've probably been to that McDonalds a number of times without retribution and figured they'd keep it up until something changed. Kudo's to you! I would definitely want someone to say something to my child, although my 7 year old wouldn't be at McDonald's without me.

You absolutely did the right thing!!!!We need more people like you to do just that! That includes correcting adults when they act like that around your children. You did a great service to your kids.....they see that mom just does not have lip service for what is right but is also willing to DO the right thing. What a great example you were to ALL involved!! The manager, the other adults besides your own kids. They will remember this and I'm sure they are proud....even they don't say so just yet!!! Good for you!! Don't second guess yourself.

Go girl! It probably didn't impact them any, but I'm sure it made a difference for the other kids ( and an impression on yours!)

You are second guessing your first instinct because our world has allowed this behavior to exist without standing up for decency. Whether it made a difference to those kids that were made to leave will be a mystery to you for your lifetime---however your children will have that memory of their mother standing up for her values their entire life.I would hope that those made to leave would get the message that even if their parents and friends use offensive language and gestures, there are still people and places that will not allow usage in their presence. If nothing more, they may realize they have to be selective in their foul communications. sue

You absolutely did the right thing--for the sake of the other kids that were in there as well as your own. I would have done the same thing!

As others said, and I agree, you did the right thing. Im sure there were other moms there that were quite relieved by what you did. Why should you have to punish YOUR children and make them leave because other children cannot behave. I am just wondering where these kids parents were? If they dont have parents that teach them right from wrong, someone is going to have to give them guidance, sadly, even if it is a complete stranger!

As a kindrid spirit I applaude what you did and would have hoped that if they were my kids someone would have stepped up just like you. It's a pity kids are left alone like this in today's world but perhaps your showing that you cared enought to say something would eventually mean something to them. Frankly, I'm GLAD you didn't pack up your kids and slink out the door...I'm tired of feeling like I have to do that with my kids when others aren't behaving well...my kids KNOW what is expected of them even when other kids aren't behaving well. You were an excellent roll model for your kids and KUDOS to you!!!

You did the RIGHT thing, S....

Alejandra

I commend you! Great job! You absolutely did the right thing especially if they were there without any parental supervision. It's definately okay to hold people accountable for their actions regardless of their age. Maybe if society held people accountable more often instead of turning a blind eye then we wouldn't be in some of the messes that we're currently in here in america. How they were acting was totally inappropriate especially inside of a mcdonald's play area where there are smaller ears listening and eyes watching their behavior. I'm glad the manager made them leave! They obviously had no respect for themselves or others around them.

Personally, i would not let 7-11 year old(s) go to mcdonald's by themself but there are parents out there who just don't give a rip so...look at the source...wonder if their parents even knew where they were or would even suspect that they would be cussing and acting like that.

If the parents would have been there then that would have been their responsibility and if they wouldn't have stepped in than i still would have gotten the manager.

The saying goes..."it take a village to raise children!"

I think you handled the situation very well. I would have done the same. Packing up your kids and leaving isn't the right message you want to send--walking away when something offensive comes your way. "it takes a village" is SO true, considering many parents these days are NOT teaching their children appropriate behaviors...since they were asked to leave, they might think twice before behaving that way again.
A few months ago, I caught teenagers pushing over a port-a-potty on the lot of a home being built. I made them (I was very stern, but did not yell) push it back up, and proceeded to walk them home. I told their mother, who responded with, "so?". Subsequently, I went and told the builder and took him to their home--suddenly, they had a bill for cleaning of the port-a-potty... $100 bucks MIGHT have taught them. *a week later, my trees were toilet papered...which I collected in a bag and placed on the front porch (neighbor saw the girls doing it) of the girls home with a note, next time, I'm calling the cops. Never again did I see them!

S., Good For You!! My only concern is what the confrontation would have been like if you'd actually located the parents, with that kind of behavior you never know!!! I'm glad you got the manangement involved. I can't believe kiddos that age using that language and the bird, amazing!! What kind of a home life do these kids have????

I'm glad you stood up for yourself and your kids.

M.

Honestly I don't think it would have done any good talking to the kids. Obviously their parents don't care about their child or their behavior by allowing them to go unsupervised and obviously does not correct their behavior at home. you did the right thing by getting the manager to make them leave before their behavior got worse. It is possible that if they had not been made to leave their behavior could have escalated untill someone got hurt. so good job at getting the situation under control.

I think you did the right thing, as long as you were showing more respect (while correcting them) than they were showing you. Kids like that have low self-esteem, so what you did probably won't have any real effect on them. It takes so much more than one incident to build it up. But, it is good for the other kids to see them experiencing the consequences of their actions, and good for your kids too.

I think you handled it appropriately. You were a role model to your kids. You demonstrated with your actions that you do not like inappropriate language or rude gestures. You gave the kids a chance. They chose to ignore you. I am sure there were other parents there who were glad that someone did something. It is good for the restaurant to know as well. If they didn't take care of the situation, they would lose patrons.

That's a tough one nowadays. But, I applaud you for your actions. You have the right to protect your children. That's air pollution in my opinion, and if you ask me, we tolerate it way too much in our society today.

It's a real shame that those kids were unsupervised. Unfortunately this happens a lot. Since you reported this to a mgr. and nothing seemed to happen, I would call or write to the owner of the restaurant. Let them know that the management wasn't too caring of your concerns.
I doubt that I would have confronted the unruly kids, you never know how they would retaliated.
I only hope that MY children would never do such a thing!