So there I was, Saturday evening, in the grocery store

[GoddessOfGuinness]

and I was horrified.

In the "seasonal" aisle were 3 kids around age 10-12 or so, playing with hula hoops and bouncing playground balls around as if it was their personal playroom. No parents in sight anywhere.

As I left the store, 4 other kids, about the same age, were taking a joyride on one of the motorized carts designed for elderly and handicapped people...yes, all four of them at the same time, and once again, not a parent to be seen.

WTF is with people, leaving their kids unattended? :grr:

[BrklynLiberal]

1. and where was the store manager or security?

[GoddessOfGuinness]

7. Also nowhere to be seen.

Maybe they were busy escorting kids from the premesis.

[KitchenWitch]

2. I am a parent and I find that kind of thing outrageous

These are the same parents who yell at other adults for chastising their children, "How dare you tell my child how to behave..." My response, "Well you sure are not doing it. Why don't you do your job and discipline your child, so I would not have to chastise him/her."

[GoddessOfGuinness]

9. I'm a parent, too...

I tend to use the poor behavior of ther kids to teach mine how not to act. "I'm glad you're so helpful and considerate, and not like that rude boy over there," etc... What a shame there are such rotten kids to compare with.

[KitchenWitch]

12. I was at a movie once

and a boy of about 6 years old spent the entire time kicking the back of my seat. I kept turning around and asking him to stop. After the movie, his mother got in my face telling me that I was the rudest person she had ever encountered, these are just children after all. I replied by saying something to the effect of how are kids going to learn how to behave unless we tell them how, and that if she did not like me turning around to scold her kid, then she should have done it herself. I also told her I spend good money to see this movie, and should not have had to put up with her ill mannered and rude child.

[fishnfla]

3. I was horrified on 9/11

a bunch of kids just playing around on a saturday night hardly qualifies as horrifying, imo

[GoddessOfGuinness]

8. Is it horrifying when unsupervised kids are kidnapped?

That's what their parents were asking for by leaving them unattended.

Would it be horrifying if some frail elderly person was run over while they were "playing around"?

Less horrifying perhaps is the cost of your groceries, which goes up anytime one of these fancy carts is broken....or when the glassware that's in the same aisle as the hoola hoops and playground balls gets smashed.

Sorry, but leaving immature kids unsupervised like that is the first step to creating the next 9/11.

[Rabrrrrrr]

13. Yay! Way to take things out of context!

WOO HOO!!

:7

[tishaLA]

4. Don't get me started

you must have missed the debates about disruptive children in GD a couple weeks ago. I still have scars.

[Coventina]

5. The parents think the world is their kids' playground

I see it all the time.
The parents send their kids to the toy aisle of the store to wreak havok so they don't have to deal with their spawn while they shop.

But if their little angel were to get hurt, of course they'd sue for bazillions of dollars.

It happens in restaurants a lot as well. They let their kids run around and climb into all the booths while they sit and eat their meal.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. People take birthing classes all the time...

Maybe we need to start pushing parenting classes. I know as well as anyone that there are times when it's difficult to bring your kid shopping. But if I'm not up to keeping him amused at the same time I'm shopping, I'll take him for a playdate at a friend's house, and return the favor at another time.

I have to admit, though, that the store shouldn't have those motorized carts anywhere near where kids can get at them. That's just plain stupid.

[fudge stripe cookays]

6. Argh. Misbehaving kids are my pet peeve.....

I was at the library on Saturday (a fruitless search; I was frustrated)

I decided to hop by Zuzu for some yummy Mexican food, and it was so nice and quiet and relaxing! I had the whole place to myself!

And then, this giant Lexus land yacht pulls up outside, and this woman comes in with her kid-- hopping around out of control, with one of those grating screamy voices that melts steel and makes your head hurt.

I was holding it in-- I was fine; convincing myself I'd just ignore them.

The entire freaking restaurant is EMPTY, and GUESS where she decided to sit???????? DIRECTLY BEHIND ME!!!!!!!!!!

I lost it. "The entire restaurant and you have to sit RIGHT BEHIND ME??"

I grabbed my crap and stalked outside, cold as it was. It was more peaceful. I am so tired of having my meals and shopping ruined by misbehaving brats.

[JVS]

11. They need to put these kids in some kind of lockdown