So we just returned from our local public playground park and I’m soooo angry. We got to the park early and set up camp. It’s difficult getting to and from the park with three kids and all their toys, but we’ve got a system now and it works. We had to leave the park earlier than I anticipated because I was so annoyed with this little boy that I didn’t want to beat up a six year old and get arrested. Every time we go to the park we bring our choo choo wagon, a play wagon, two buckets, three shovels, two cars, and a rake. I let everyone and anyone play with our stuff as long as we are not using it. There have been times when other kids will try and rip our toys out of our hands and I have to say “hey those are ours!”. But most times other kids are respectful. And most times parents will step in if their kids are taking our toys out of our hands.
Today we had set up camp in the sand pit in the precious shade and were playing very nicely with other kids. Mostly we were keeping to ourselves (except Cole…but he’s Mr. Social at the park). Then this boy comes out of nowhere (no parental supervision in sight) and plunks down next to us with the coolest trucks and cars. Of course Drew and Cole go bezerk because there’s no way this boy can play with ALL the toys he brought. So whatever he wasn’t playing with, my boys would try and borrow. Then the boy would get mad and rip his toys out of our hands and say “no, don’t touch that…MINE”. Okay…if you’re not going to share…get your sorry butt out of our area. And where’s his mom to encourage him to share? Then the brat started purposefully pushing his trucks and cars in front of my kids to taunt them. I almost kicked him. I said very loudly hoping a parent would step in “guys…just ignore this kid. He’s not nice. He doesn’t know how to share”. I almost asked him to move away from us, but it’s a public park and I couldn’t do that. So after Cole and Drew both started throwing fits because the boy wouldn’t share his multitude of toys, we packed up and came home. How fair is that? Note to other parents: don’t drop your kids off at the park and go to Starbucks. Step in if your kid is being a brat. Encourage sharing. Stay home if you don’t want to share. Maybe I don’t know proper park etiquette. Maybe you’re not supposed to share or play together. Maybe I’m too involved. Maybe I should just sit on my butt and quit being a Mama Bear protecting her cubs. I’m just annoyed right now.
Note to Eric: we need to go shopping for sand toys. That way we won’t have to yearn for other kids’ stuff. Yes…I’m going to need a trailer hitch to tote all the toys back and forth to the park everyday.
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What a BRAT! I cannot believe that this little rugrat did not have any parental supervision!
Sorry you had to come home early, and I agree- you’re going to have to buy more sand toys. That way, next time you see this little monster, your kids can show off their super cool new toys. That’ll show him!
Note to self: We are going to need a bigger car to transport all that crap.
What a BRAT is right !!
I would have been like…Look little boy, you better get outta here or else !!!!!
Tell Drew baby & Cole they can come play with H’s toys anytime….
He is a good sharer (is that a word?)
i can’t stand brats…. mom is probably a brat too, maybe it is a good thing you didn’t see her.
We have the same “choo choo” wagon as you. when we went to get a third car for the new baby, someone at the store told me they foudn 2 at a consignment shop, the day before, that they might still be there. i bought both of them, and so glad i did, 1 for each kid, and 1 for all the crap you tote with them.
Let’s see, where do I start? We don’t usually bring toys to the park because of this very reason. Other children, and their bad attitudes, and parents that either don’t care, or let’s see, don’t care. We run into a lot of them, which is why we got a nice swingset for our own yard, and a tugboat sandbox-no more park visits without Daddy. Mom is probably a self-absorbed yuppy princess you didn’t need to meet anway!I feel for you, parents these days just don’t care. Life is all about THEM
I met some parents who see that they kids are getting in an argument but they think that they should fend for themselves, as the ‘manly’ thing to do. My Julia met one of this kids once, he was older, bigger and he taunted her by keeping a toy for himself without letting her use it (it was in a store, not his own toy). My daughter cried and I did not know what to do, I could not leave because I was paying for something and his parents were nowhere to be seen. Then Julia got so mad that she pushed the boy and he fell down. At that point the boy’s dad (he was right there!) intervened. He gave us an approving look and said ‘wow! she put him down!’. Then he took his crying son away. Not only this idiot was teaching his son to bully, but he was also, in a way, validating my daughter’s pushing, which did not make me happy at all.
To avoid feeling so angry at the brat, try to think of this. Maybe his parents just divorced and he’s hurting inside…it is useful to remember how fragile children’s psyche are and to detach them from their parents behavior.
You have better park etiquette than I would have, as I would’ve wanted to throw sand in the little brat’s eyes, that way he woulda ran away screaming and that would have been my opportunity to head in, scoop up his toys, and be outta there!
Let me guess, you live in Scottsdale.