<p>Is it just me? Maybe it’s the age I am (49) or maybe it’s the fact that I work with elementary children every day and need a break from them outside of the work day. I’m tired of going out to dinner or to the movies and having young children run around, squealing, throwing things, kicking the back of my seat, etc. We went to a movie the other night and a couple, who arrived more than ten minutes after the movie started, brought their child who looked to be three or possibly four in with them. The child talked, not whispered, almost non-stop during the next 20-30 minutes. They were four rows in front of us and finally, at one point, I did the “ssshhhhh” thing because his parents were doing nothing. The mother finally got up and took the child out after numerous people made a point of turning and staring at them. I guess I just don’t get it. When DD (23) was younger, we expected her to stay quiet during a movie. We expected her to stay in her seat and use a fork (not her hands) when out to dinner. We expected her to say “please” and “thank you”. I don’t think it’s asking too much to have a child behave when out in public. </p>
<p>I had so much more patience for children when DD was younger. My sister-in-law is 42, her husband 48 and they have an eight-year-old who does not know how to socialize because his head is in a video game all the time. If he doesn’t have his video game, or if it runs out of power when we’re out to dinner, he sulks and even cries until my SIL hands him her phone to play a game. She has an eight-month-old who is a delight and such a happy baby. He rarely cries and is sweet as can be but, after holding him for short periods of time, I am happy to hand him back over to her or anyone else. DH feels exactly the same as me … we just don’t have the patience for younger children anymore but are hopeful we’ll feel differently once grandchildren come along. There’s no rush for that, though, especially since DD doesn’t even have a steady BF right now.</p>
<p>So, are DH and I just grumpy middle-aged people or do others feel the same as us?</p>
<p>I am 2 years older than you. I used to feel like you do, but now I miss having little kids around, so I think I am ready for grandchildren. But I have to say that I have no patience for misbehaving kids. </p>
<p>I don’t understand why parents bring little kids to adult movies, other than the fact that they don’t want to pay for a babysitter, but it doesn’t give them the right to ruin other people’s time at the movies.</p>
<p>Oh, I am just taking a much-needed break until the grand-children come along!</p>
<p>Of course, I really do not KNOW I will have any, but if I do, I will make a huge effort to wake up my love of babies, toddlers, teens (sort of love LOL) for them- my mother, sad to say, really never got it back for her 9 grand-children, which was very sad.</p>
<p>^^^I so agree. Haven’t gone to a movies in years because I hate to hear kids or adults talking…kids running around…or phones ringing. We only took son to children movies. And yes he tried to talk but was quickly quieted. Once he got older, we would drop him off with a group or he would go with my H.</p>
<p>But this issue is bigger than this…it seems like wherever you go, everyone feels like they have the right to be loud and to use their phones. I hate going out to dinner with people (or son) who will text while talking to me. Is it REALLY that important?</p>
<p>Me, too. I think by the time I have grandchildren, I will feel differently but for right now, I’m so over the little kid thing. </p>
<p>I have no patience for people who bring their young kids into adult movies or nice restaurants and then proceed to let them run amok. We never took son to these venues when he was that young. A lot of 3 and 4 year old kids simply aren’t able to sit quietly for extended periods of time.</p>
<p>That’s why God created babysitters. I had to sit next to a 5 yr old last night at a professional production of The Tempest. Not exactly child friendly. The kid talked the whole time, or sighed heavily. For the price of the ticket, those parents could have easily gotten a babysitter.</p>
<p>^^^On the other hand, last week I sat at the ballet next to a full grown man who spent the whole evening checking sport scores on his Iphone. Bad behavior is not the sole purview of small children. I am guessing what really bothers you people who misbehave. Both my kids have gone to the symphony and the ballet since they were very young, even opera from the time they were about 8. They both understood how to behave and more than once have commented on “older” people who misbehave: they know to turn off their phones as soon as they are seated, they know not eat candy, talk or get up and down duirng the performance. They know not to wear sunglasses and ear buds to the opera. And they both know to respect other people in the audience.</p>
<p>Agree that it’s not just little kids who don’t behave. Tonight we went to a restaurant to celebrate my son’s b’day. A man walked in with his family, lifted his teeshirt to show his belly, and scratched it the whole time he was being shown to his table. Ick. I really didn’t need to see that.</p>
<p>I’m so over it also. Our entire neighborhood just snickers at the guy down the block who divorced and married a very young number 2 and promptly started another family. His original children were all grown. Now he’s got one wrapped around each leg every time he’s outside, not to mention he’ll be in his 70s before they even go to college. Nah, I don’t miss having young kids at all. It was a great period of time while we were going through it but just like I don’t want to do high school over I don’t want to do little kids over.</p>
<p>I’m over poor parenting and rude adults. Way over!</p>
<p>As others have said, I’ve seen adults do what my then nine year old knew not to do the first time we took him to an opera. Plus I cannot help it, I feel sorry for those children who are being raised with no manners because I think the end result of that is adults who have very few friends.</p>
<p>We raised two children who are far from perfect but who were expected NOT to ruin other peoples enjoyment in life.
They learned to whisper in movie theatres and to listen quietly in concert halls.
We could bring them anywhere. Though we chose not to bring them to adult films…DH and I enjoy all those horrible ‘Kill Bill’ type and slasher movies (sad I know) and would never subject kids to sitting through inappropriate trash just cause we like it.</p>
<p>DD has special needs and was more than the usual challenge at times…but if things were not going well, one of us always left the venue with the misbehaving child. Why don’t some parents seem to care that their children are messing with other folks happiness and peace??</p>
<p>I am sooo with you. Kids are almost 23 and 21, and 15. For the most part, I like this stage. My sister is 40 and has a 3 and 1 year old. I am so happy it is not me! I do wonder though…if I had had kids late and not already been through the “little kid” stage, then maybe I would like it more?</p>
<p>Like some of the above posters, one of my biggest pet peeves is unruly, misbehaving kids. As bad and annoying as they are, I really want to smack down their parents, because almost inevitably they are sitting there not giving a damn nor making <em>any</em> attempts to control their children. ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHH</p>
<p>My kids think I was strict and mean when they were little, but they knew how to behave in public from a young age. We often rec’d compliments, especially about how well the older 2 got along and how well they took care of their little sister. Now they thank me and vow their own kids will not be hellions! (redemption is so nice )</p>
<p>Grandma here. Grandchildren definitely will change your mind. Of course, your grandchildren will be angels compared to everyone elses. Other people’s grandchildren are nowhere near as cute as yours.</p>
<p>You hit on the key point with me. Many people think that their kids are simply adorable running around a restaurant or talking through a movie. These parents often look around to make sure others notice the cuteness of their kids. I always got that no one thought my kids were that cute except me, so I made sure they didn’t bother others. On a flight a couple of weeks ago, it was clear that the mom behind me thought her 6 or so year old son was absolutely precious when he kept slamming the tray table against my back.</p>
<p>I am not sick of little kids yet. Hoping that will happen, so I can get rid of baby urges once and for all. I really wish that storks existed. My husband is so totally done, but I would have more. A lot more. And I have never minded hyper, annoying kids (or adults) either. I get why other people do, but I am sort of OK with it. I’m not sure why. I think really wild kids are funny, and I have huge amounts of sympathy for their parents. I also have a lot of sympathy for the high maintenance little ones, because until they calm down the world is going to be a lot harder on them then on more docile sorts.</p>
<p>How very sad for you all that you cannot be happy for this man who has found such a blessing in later life. Maybe he is truly happy for the first time in his life and doesn’t really care what his neighbors think.</p>
<p>^Yes, since I might just be that Dad. If my youngest (DS14) finishes college in four years, I’ll be turning 72 when he graduates. These two kids are the lights of my life and are truly a blessing. I feel truly sorry for people who are so jaded that they can’t understand that other people can derive happiness in different ways than their own.</p>
<p>I was quite stern when our kids were growing up. I am looking forward to spoil my grandchildren. Our girls said they want to send their kids to my boot camp so they would know how to behave. I told them, “No, no, no. I am going to be the most beloved grandparent.” They are going to eat whatever they want, stay up to watch TV, and have lots of toys at grandma’s house.</p>
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