Friday, February 1, 2008

The boy who spit

Today I was at the mall letting my little kiddies play in the play area there. I was just minding my own business, when Sagie came up to me. She had something on her face that somewhat resembled snot, and she is a little sick, so I wiped it off and sent her on her way. Well, a couple next to me then informed me that one of the boys (who was too tall to be there anyway! ) had spit on my baby girls face!!! Well, because I hadn't seen it, I was a little wary to believe, but when I looked over at him, he proceeded to do the same thing to another little girl. "What the crap!" I thought. I began watching the kid like a hawk. And where was his parent? No kid alive is going to spit in my baby girls face and get away with it. Finally at one point the mom of the other spit victim found the gaurdian...looked like a granpa, and told him. He brushed it off with an annoyed look on his face. By this point I was steaming! So here comes little gray shirt boy over to my baby Sage again, and proceedes to hit (not hard) her. So what did I do? I grabbed the abnoxious kids arm and told his as forcefully as I could without yelling that he is NOT to hit other kids, especially babies, and that spitting was completly innapropriate. Then I told him that I would be watching him. He proceeded to stick his tounge out at me and mumble something unitelligible, but behaved the rest of our stay, and even offered Sage his toy he had been holding onto. I apologized to the mom next to me, because seriously, it's not okay to dicipline other kids right? Or is it? I felt bad for this little boy. Where was his mom? Did he have anyone around his life that cared enough to set rules for him? Was everyone in his life too selfish, so he has to revert to spitting on other kids for attention? My next thought was....I am SO grateful for my son, and the good boy that he is becoming. Sure he's crazy, but he knows right from wrong, and respects that. I just hugged and kissed him, after I'd washed their hands and faces and told him that I loved him. I am so blessed to have their sweet little spirits in my home. Sometimes you just need a good spitting in the face to realize how blessed you are!

15 comments:

janine said...

YAY! I wish I could have seen it! I would have been your number one fan!! There is nothing that bugs me more than overgrown bullies in the play area who just seems to bull doze the kids who are actually within the heighth requirement and are show up unsupervised or worse, the parent who just doesn't care!

Becky said...

If some kid intentially hurts my kid you better believe that I will do something if their parents dont. I dont care if Im not liked. If you dont like other people to punish your kid, then do it so they dont have to.
Last time I was there, one girl (older sister) was letting her little sister play on the toys with wet pee pee pants. She had wet her pants while playing and big sister let her continue to slide down the mountain and rub her nasty pants all over everything. I thought maybe sis hadnt noticed, so I nicely pointed it out. "So, her mom isnt here, what am I supposed to do" followed by an eye roll. Yeah, needless to say I told her what she was supposed to do.
Im kinda relieved that Andrew and Kate are both too big to play in there now. It just made me cranky.

Bridget said...

Some kid punched Ethan in the kids club at the gym. I know that feeling. I am so sorry.

The play area at the mall is such a prime location for children and parental behavioral studies. I had an opposite but equally as annoying encounter there last time.

Ethan was playing with another kid and they were chasing each other. At one point they had run into each other and fell down. There were no tears from either of the kids. I gave Ethan a hug and just told him to settle down and not run so fast. This other woman near me took it upon herself to grab this other child and hysterically announce that she had been hit down REALLY hard and where is her mom???!!! Shesh lady calm down, I'm thinking. Accidents happen. Kids are kids. Get a grip!

I am like you though- I would NOT let any kid spit on my child. That is sick and wrong.

Anonymous said...

I think you completly did the right thing. Unfortunately their are parents out their that are "too busy" to discipline their children. I see it all the time in our apartment complex. Most of the time I feel sad for the kids who have been given no boundaires or shown the correct way to treat others by the adults that are responsible for them.

Thanks for being a good mom and teaching your kids the right way to behave.

Mirm said...

I treasure the fact that my kids believe that I am a meaner mom than their friends moms. I grew up thinking the exact same thing, and turned out just fine. I can't stand that some of the youth now adays have no respect for the elderly. And since I consider myself more on the elderly side I understand and appreciate the things my parents taught me, and in return am doing the same favor to my kids.

brenda said...

I'm all for reprimanding other people's kids. It takes a village... as the proverb says.

mahina said...

that is so disgusting! i think you did the right thing by telling the boy what was and was not okay, since nobody else was telling him!

Darilyn said...

If no one else was going to correct this boy's behavior you had every right and responsibility to do so. Like Brenda said, It takes a village. This is so true. So many children do not have someone, as you said, to set guidelines for them and pay attention to them. It is very sad. I'm glad my children are too old to play at these types of things because I too have had opportunities to correct other people's children and I don't care for that. As my children get older I'm finding myself dealing with bullying girls in Middle School. That's not fun either.

Sarah said...

Eeew! I'm one of those people who don't like to discipline other peoples kids, but I will if I have to. I won't let my kids get run down because of it. I think you did the right thing!

Elizabeth Dimit said...

Good going, Stephanie! I would have done the same thing, too!

Elizabeth Dimit said...

Good going, Stephanie! I would have done the same thing, too!

THE REBER FAMILY said...

I have no problem "appropriately scolding" other people's kids if they hit, bite, kick, or such. You weren't mean, just firm. And to be honest if someone tells my kid not to hit if I didn't see it happen I really don't mind. And if my kid did that I'd be glad the other mom told me so I could talk to my child about it.
on the other hand you are right that a lot of times those kids don't have parents who care. The times I've experienced this I have gone away feeling so sad for those kids and wishing that they had someone to hug and kiss them and laugh at their jokes.

Mrs. Misses said...

How horrible! As a teacher, I am all about disciplining other people's children and really have to restrain myself when it comes to play areas, parks and playgrounds. My biggest thing is when kids climb UP the slides. Don't let your kids do this, people! Anyway, I wish I could have been there with you because I would have been all over that poor kid. I mean, disciplining him nicely and helping to redirect his horrible behavior. We are Momma Bears!!

Mike Raddatz said...

I discipline other kids all the time. Usually it is minor. Other times I let the parent know. Even in this case, when the behavior is so extreme. That boy could be reaching out for attention, even if it is negative. Good job. We should never tollerate this behavior from others. Tollerance is a major issue with me lately since a woman said to me last week that we should tollerate everyone! So I guess I shouldn't be so surprised I am blogging this. Anyway, I am figuring that we should love everyone and respect their ultimate choices, but tollerance. I can't say. Wow. Is this the longest comment? Happy Birthday Sweet Sage!

JackieSue said...

DISGUSTING!!!! That's so gross. I wonder if he'd ever been disciplined for that before. Pathetic! Yeah I know what you mean about discipling other peoples kids, but if it's at the expense of your daughter if you don't, then I guess you do!! And good for you!! I would have let the parent have it if they were there I think. Eek!