https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 01 Jun 2026 11:52:37 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082954 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:40:06 +0000 mamimami 1082954@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would do what @JerricaBenton said. </p> <p>Having said that, I am surprised how many people think it's not OK to ever correct someone else's kids. I totally disagree with that. I understand this was not the situation, but for example if I see kids playing ball in Wal-Mart (this happened) with no parents around, I absolutely tell them to cut it out. Absolutely. In this situation if they kids HAD been rowdy and out of control, I would probably tell them to please keep it down. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082828 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:07:09 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1082828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have walked over and asked what he was doing to talking to my children? Thanked him for his concern, but tell him (and thus the children by earshot) the children were behaving well.</p> <p>Hopefully, he would have excused himself at that point. If not, I would get a little ugly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082787 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:57:16 +0000 SugarplumsMom 1082787@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would be fuming if I witness it all. If I came and saw the end of it, when the old man came up to their table, I'd ask him what seems to be the trouble. Then I'd ask my kids to apologize. After they do it, I'd tell them to wait one minute and ask the elderly gentleman to step outside for a minute. Once outside, I'd make it perfectly clear that it's 2013 and children have rights - it is NOT all right to talk that way to someone elses children, especially if all they did was sit there IN A PUBLIC place and talk, regardless if it was a little too loud for him. As an adult, he's welcome to get his ass up and sit at another table or leave. He's not the only paying customer.</p> <p>I have no problem giving a piece of my mind to complete strangers. I turn chickenshit once I know the person :( </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082782 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:55:43 +0000 Pepper 1082782@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have flipped. I would have told him not to talk to my children, and that he can address me instead. </p> <p>I can remember my brother and I were arguing over a toy in a store (normal kid behavior, nothing loud or ridiculous) and some woman came up and yelled at us to stop arguing. My mom lost it, haha. My dad had to steer her out of the store, because she was ready to remind that woman who the parent was (to put it nicely, lol). You don't yell at other people's kids when they're not being disrespectful or putting themselves or others in danger. Just my opinion! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082764 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:51:42 +0000 Arden 1082764@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: Maybe "require" would be a better word. I don't expect people to treat my children respectfully, I require it.</p> <p>Either they treat my child respectfully, or I don't allow them to interact with my child at all. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082761 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:51:12 +0000 sunny 1082761@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think I would have been too non confrontational and shocked to respond so I probably would have left or apologized and then explained to the kids later on. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082751 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:48:01 +0000 runsyellowlites 1082751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: &lt;&lt;but I also expect others to treat my kids with respect.&gt;&gt;</p> <p>I think that may be the difference. I don't really expect anything of others (strangers).. if anything I expect them to act like a fool &amp; just love them in spite of their ignorance &amp; ugliness. lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082749 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:47:10 +0000 Mrsbells 1082749@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If I didnt witness what happened and the other person didnt acknowlege me or offer an explanation I wouldnt acknowlege them either, I would loudly ask my child what was going on and decide how to proceed and ignore the other person. They should respect me as the parent first </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082740 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:44:32 +0000 Arden 1082740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jmarionsmith: THIS. I expect my kids to treat others with respect, but I also expect others to treat my kids with respect. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082736 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:43:48 +0000 runsyellowlites 1082736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: Lol. That's true. I think I'd still apologize.. "Oh I'm sorry that bothered you, you might feel more comfortable over there *points far far away*... I'm allowed to do this here though *smile*" lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082735 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:43:23 +0000 jmarionsmith 1082735@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: that's different though. your husband might have accidentally said something that hurt your feelings and it is appropriate for him to apologize. that old grump didn't accidentally yell at kids that weren't doing anything wrong. he knew exactly what he was doing.</p> <p>i can think of a million things that might bother someone else that i would absolutely never apologize for. and honestly, if someone wants respect they need to show it as well. his behavior was in no way respectful of the kids, their parents, or anyone in the establishment that witnessed his actions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082730 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:41:43 +0000 Arden 1082730@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: I guess it's my "educate the world" mentality. I would never apologize to someone who was offended by my breastfeeding in public, I would politely tell them that it was my right to do so.<br /> You know what I mean? I want that person to learn that what they said was inappropriate. I can be nice and polite without apologizing. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082722 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:39:46 +0000 bunnylove08 1082722@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have asked "Is there a problem?" just to see what the reason reason for him yelling at my kids, depending on his answer I would have him address me if there are any issues instead of speaking to my children that way.</p> <p>If I saw this happen I would go to the mother and tell her the issue so she can handle it the way she saw fit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082718 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:38:31 +0000 runsyellowlites 1082718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think apologizing even when you weren't "wrong" is still appropriate &amp; the most respectful response if you/your kids bothered someone... I mean sometimes DH unintentionally hurts my feelings &amp; he apologizes.. the apology is just saying he acknowledges how *I* was hurt/bothered, not that he was "wrong".</p> <p>Idk.. I can't think of any other respectful/appropriate response though. Some people are just jerks.. doesn't mean I'm not going to be polite &amp; act nicely. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082716 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:38:20 +0000 Arden 1082716@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: I almost said something myself to the guy (the kids looked terrified) but I had no idea what I WOULD say, so I just sat there giving him the evil eye. Lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082714 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:37:51 +0000 travelgirl1 1082714@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have been really annoyed with that guy actually. Especially the way he spoke to the kids, if he'd have been more polite about it I would maybe feel different. If I was the mum I would go over and say "excuse me!" In my best 'back away from my child' voice, lol. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082709 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:35:46 +0000 chopsuey 1082709@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Arden: yeah I'm not sure how I'd handle it either to be honest. If it ever happens I'll let you know! Haha.<br /> My kids are pretty wild so it might happen one of these days.. :P </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082704 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:34:32 +0000 Arden 1082704@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@chopsuey: Yeah I agree, I wouldn't apologize in that situation. I want my children to (respectfully) stand up for themselves, and see me doing the same.</p> <p>I just don't know how to respectfully respond to someone like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082703 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:33:56 +0000 Boheme 1082703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@jmarionsmith: Same! I'd have trouble holding it together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082697 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:31:06 +0000 jmarionsmith 1082697@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>hmm y'all are a lot calmer than me because if i ever heard anyone talking to my kid like that i would lay into them. i know that's not setting the best example for my child but i would explain to them later that i lost my cool. but i would not be apologetic, in any sense of the word, toward that ahole, that is for sure! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082696 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:30:54 +0000 chopsuey 1082696@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't apologize if my kids were playing quietly. I'd actually be really annoyed if I saw someone approach my kids and speak to them like that. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082688 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:28:35 +0000 HLK208 1082688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@runsyellowlites: same!!</p> <p>I don't ever tell anyone else's children what to do! How odd. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082680 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:26:15 +0000 runsyellowlites 1082680@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmmm as an onlooker I'd feel bad for the kids.. mean people just stink. :(</p> <p>If it was a scenario with G &amp; I saw it happen..<br /> 1. I would intercede &amp; let the man know he could back off a bit... probably a "Oh I'm sorry I told him/them they could play quietly, didn't realize that would bother you.. we'll try &amp; keep it down *smile smile smile* (we'd probably leave shortly after or sit elsewhere)"</p> <p>2. Thank the kids for being respectful despite the guy being out of line &amp; let them know they were following my instruction &amp; he was just being grumpy.... maybe he was having a bad day. G definitely doesn't need to *obey* a stranger when I've okayed something (and he knows this) but he still has to act respectfully regardless of anothers actions.</p> <p>Hope that guy got ungrumpy after some coffee! lol </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082677 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:25:43 +0000 JerricaBenton 1082677@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Hmm that's tough. I hope I would have the wherewithal to say something like, 'oh they're just playing, but we'll try and keep it down.' And make sure the kids know they didn't do anything wrong and the guy was just a grump. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082672 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:24:12 +0000 pui 1082672@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I would have told that guy to let me parent my own kids, thanks. If he started trying to tell me my kids were out of line I would calmly tell him they were not and to please go back to his table now.</p> <p>I think I would have expected my kids to be respectful of the guy (even though he is out of line) but I would have made sure they saw me handle it with him so that they understand 1) how to deal with busybody jerks like that and 2) that they were in no way doing anything wrong. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/what-would-you-do-in-this-situation-1#post-1082657 Thu, 12 Sep 2013 13:19:53 +0000 Arden 1082657@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>This is the scenario I witnessed this morning:</p> <p>Mom and two kids (6 and 8, maybe?) walk into a coffee shop. Mom has the kids sit down at a table while she goes to order her coffee. The kids start playing Rock Paper Scissors, at a reasonable noise level and not being rowdy or anything. </p> <p>From across the restaurant, an older man hisses "stop that! Sit still!" The kids don't hear him, so he gets up and walks over and says "Did you hear me?! I told you to stop it!" </p> <p>The mother didn't notice, but it got me wondering - if I had been the parent in this situation and I HAD noticed, what would I have done?</p> <p>I want to teach my children to be respectful to all adults, but NOT that they have to obey any adult (that could be quite dangerous actually), only ones that I have specifically put in charge (babysitters, teachers, grandparents).</p> <p>So as a parent, how would I react to someone bossing my kids around? Tell him "I'm their mother and I'll handle the parenting, thank you."? Or...?</p> <p>And what would I say to my kids about the conversation? Obviously I don't have to worry about this for awhile (DD's only 5 months), but it got me thinking. </p>