https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Tue, 26 May 2026 11:39:47 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480586 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 19:00:17 +0000 Raindrop 2480586@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bluestriped bee: You totally said what I thought when I put myself in her shoes. :)</p> <p>@SweetiePie: We go to a gymobree class that has tons of toys and balls that all the kids go after all the time. I normally have a ball in my pocket if a kid takes my kid's ball, I just offer my kid the ball in my pocket or I offer the ball to the other kid if my kid takes their ball. I guess I'm avoid-er of conflict! Yeah I'm totally like you I'm not sure what I would do if there was only ONE ball. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480581 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:56:16 +0000 SweetiePie 2480581@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you did anything wrong. And it's possible the mom didn't say anything because she was embarrassed. </p> <p>And on a separate but related note, when we are in a class or the playground and someone takes a ball from my son I never know if it's the time to teach the other kid about taking turns or teach my kid about sharing. I feel like if I say "Little sweetiepie was playing with that ball, you have to wait your turn" some mom will be like "well maybe your kid needs to share!"<br /> So I get the feeling of guilt/second guessing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480553 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:22:22 +0000 BSB 2480553@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have done the same thing you did, but probably would have said something to the mom to explain. Like mom to mom, 'Hey, sorry, I made him cry, but he took one of the skee balls and my LO wanted to finish the game.' I know I tend to apologize too much, but I would rather be over sympathetic than under sympathetic. That's just me. I apologize way too much and I know some people take advantage of me because I'm way too nice and try to be a people pleaser. I would think a little bit of explaining would clear up any misunderstandings. I would hope (at least). </p> <p>I guess I would think if I was in her situation. She came up trying to find her son and here he was crying. </p> <p>I do wonder if the 3-4 year old had a part of it. He probably ran up to his mom and said 'Some lady is yelling at (brother)'. Maybe he didn't have the chance to explain that the brother took the ball. I'm sure if everyone knew what was going on, it wouldn't have caused quite the fuss. </p> <p>I would have vented about the situation just like you did. It's okay, I'm sure the mom has gotten over it.</p> <p>ETA: I'm a twin mom. I'll probably realize very soon that I won't have the time to sit and chat with every mom explaining every situation. :wink: I probably have to keep my eye on the other twin! So yeah... ignore my answer... you did nothing wrong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480550 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:20:10 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2480550@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: oh, I know, but some of the other commenters seemed aghast. Just wanted to say it's so hard in a situation like that. And I wouldn't have given you a dirty look, but I could see my frustration at the escape artist/game-ruining toddler coming off as such.</p> <p>ETA I would have done the same as you in that situation, too! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480546 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:17:49 +0000 Greentea 2480546@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think you did anything wrong. In the spirit of brainstorming, what about saying hi to the mom, or saying, "sorry about that, we needed the last ball." (Not that I think you have a reason to be sorry.) She was probably just frustrated or bummed out at the moment. Or what about looking for the mom instead of trying to take the ball (or maybe you did). These are just ideas! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480542 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:13:13 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2480542@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm sure in the moment this was really cringe-inducing, but your story sounds so cute. I don't think you could have done anything else, but perhaps coaxed him into giving back the ball or suggesting he play with you and your son for at least one round. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480541 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:11:42 +0000 Raindrop 2480541@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Yoyo: Right! I'm not sure if you noticed I am not saying anything negative about the other mom (other than the possible dirty look - again probably all in my head). Things happen! I'm not sure what her situation was. I just want to know if there was anything I could have done better. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480531 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 18:01:33 +0000 Mrs. Yoyo 2480531@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just want to say that if it was a place like Chuck E Cheese, I had to take my 4- and 2-year-old for a birthday party not long ago and it was PACKED. It was impossible to keep them both in my line of sight for long, and while I went after the little one first when he got too far, he definitely got away a few times and had me searching. And yeah, he totally loves to ruin skee-ball games. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480527 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:56:11 +0000 nana87 2480527@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>where the f was the other mom?? my daughter is 23 months and I'd never let her wander off! so if she tried to take a ball from someone else (which it's def possible that she would do at this developmental stage) I would be there to intervene and make her give it back </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480526 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:53:54 +0000 Torchwood 2480526@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: Not sure! Probably time out, yeah. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480477 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:17:16 +0000 Raindrop 2480477@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@catomd00: Haha it's true I "reflect" on my life too much. DH says similar things to me. </p> <p>I do truly want to know if I could have handled this situation better but I couldn't think of a better way which is why I asked here. </p> <p>I think "thinking" the mom gave me a dirty look is the reason this is staying with me. She may have not and just had a look of being annoyed with her son which is possible too! Haha. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480475 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:16:05 +0000 HLK208 2480475@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Ugh, I hate that feeling! You didn't do anything wrong. The parent should have been watching their toddler. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480466 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 17:07:50 +0000 Raindrop 2480466@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Torchwood: Oh so the game would still be okay without all the balls? That's very interesting. </p> <p>Right so if my kid's game still have one less ball... how would that game "end"? I'm guessing timing out? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480352 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:07:14 +0000 Torchwood 2480352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Though now that I think about it that would still have left your kid with one too few. It just wouldn't have screwed up future games.</p> <p>Not that that answers your actual question anyway. 😄 </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480350 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 16:06:16 +0000 catomd00 2480350@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you're reading way too much into it. You didn't make her kid cry. I'd just move on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480340 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:59:26 +0000 Torchwood 2480340@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Raindrop: I'm not certain, but every time I've played there have been uneven numbers of balls in the machines, and it just returned the same ones for the appropriate number of times. I mean, I've done so badly that it jumped the divider and went up a different one, so they're going to get messed up. (For the record, that was at a Dave and Busters with no kids, alcohol was involved.) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480302 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:33:49 +0000 Adira 2480302@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>You didn't do anything wrong! I would've done the same (and probably been more forceful taking the ball back from the toddler). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480299 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:32:03 +0000 snowjewelz 2480299@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Nothing you could have done if she was to misinterpret the situation. But how is that 1.5-2.5 year old unsupervised?! That's the biggest issue! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480298 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:31:54 +0000 Umbreon 2480298@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't think there was anything else you could do. I would have done the same thing. I might have asked him if he wanted to try the game, after he wouldn't give the ball back. I would not have felt right scolding him though, so I think you did the right thing. </p> <p>I'm surprised that the mom acted that way and didn't apologize. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480295 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:29:00 +0000 deerylou 2480295@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have no problem gently prompting or correcting other children, in public. And I will speak firmly if another kid is compromising my child's safety. In this case, I wouldn't have yanked the ball if the toddler wasn't letting go, so I probably would have done exactly what you did. If his mom gave you a nasty stare down, that's on her. Should have been watching her young son, more closely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480291 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:25:54 +0000 MrsLilybugg 2480291@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I agree with @pwnstar: - she shouldn't have let her toddler wander around! I probably wouldn't have handled it any differently than you did! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480286 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:23:50 +0000 Raindrop 2480286@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@pwnstar: Thanks! Thinking about this a lot recently. I am kind of thinking about it and the only other option I have is ... I could have just let him have the ball and walked away from the game but then that might have ruined the game for everyone since you need all the balls for the game to finish. </p> <p>I think what bothers me the most is that he had a major tantrum and I felt super bad for the little guy! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480271 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:17:25 +0000 pwnstar 2480271@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Yeah, this isn't your fault at all. (Who lets their young toddler wander around at an arcade?) It's the parent's fault for not keeping a better eye on their kiddo. You shouldn't have to parent other people's children!</p> <p>Eta: To answer your question, I too would have taken the ball away from the toddler and told him that it wasn't his turn/didn't belong to him or something along those lines. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/at-arcade-wwyd#post-2480265 Tue, 01 Mar 2016 15:13:14 +0000 Raindrop 2480265@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We took our older son to an arcade recently. We were playing skee ball (the game where you roll a ball down an alley way and it jumps into holes). This 1.5-2.5 year old came by and took one of the balls. </p> <p>I didn’t know what the right thing was to do. At gym class I would totally just let him have the ball but I didn’t think we could finish the game without the ball so I tried to gently take it back from him and he was not having it, he held it really tight… I didn’t want to forcefully take it because it wasn’t my kid. </p> <p>I was at a lost… then his 4-5 year old brother came and took the ball from him and gave it to me. Then the 1.5-2.5 year old fell to the ground and had a major tantrum! I was totally at a lost!! I had no idea how to comfort him.</p> <p>The 4-5 year old ran off! At the time I was like oh my he left me with his younger brother. But it turned out he went to get their mom who showed up a few minutes later. She took her little one and walked away without saying anything to me. This is all me but I think she might have given me a dirty look! Which I would understand… I think I made her kid cry. </p> <p>Luckily LO didn’t want to play skee ball anymore after that game and we moved on to a different arcade game.</p> <p>Could I have done something differently? I kind of feel bad about the whole situation even though I will probably never see that family again but I do want to know if there is a better way if this happens again. What would you have done? </p>