parents and their children

United States
May 13, 2007 12:47pm CST
I was in Wal-mart yesterday, and on Saturdays, it is very crowded. I happen to go to one aisle as I needed something. A man was standing in asile with his basket in the middle of the aisle, and his daughter was sitting in the middle of the aisle with a book. There was no way of getting around her, without hitting her. I said excuse me, and the father looks at me with a blank look. I again said, excuse me, and then he says to his daughter, get out of the way. The child still didn't move much, and I still would have hit her with the basket. I had to walk around her carefully, and tried to get what I needed. I then had to backup out of the aisle. Have you ever run into this situation, and if so, how? Any suggestions what I could have done other then getting into a fist fight, LOL, with the father?
5 people like this
9 responses
• United States
14 May 07
I have had it happen a hundred times. As a perent of a young child I want you all to know that not all of us are that careless of other people. I try to keep my kids under control when we leave the house and try to stay out of peoples ways. There have ben times it was my kid in the middle of the isle but I have apologised and moved my child and probibly apologised again. There is no excuse for being inconsiderate.
• United States
15 May 07
I agree, consideration has seem to go to the way side. People don't concerns themselves with others. Thank God for the ones who still care and are considerate. They just stand out more.
1 person likes this
• Canada
14 May 07
I agree wholeheartedly! I have young kids as well and I sometimes feel that all I do is apologize for them. One thing I've learned is, in places like Walmart, you have to take peoples actions and words with a grain of salt. And there is no aisle wide enough to get away from toxic people. Since the guy under reacted to the situation, I would have overdone my gratitude, You know, "Oh thank you so very much! You know, you really didn't have to go out of your way like that. You are above and beyond! An exemplary citizen and role model." I would have coupled that with a sickeningly sweet smile. The guy would have probably thought I was crazy and moved well out of the way. Or.... ....fist fight lol!
1 person likes this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
13 May 07
Well this is what it is like now some Parents just do not care anymore If that would have been my Daughter and she would not have moved after the second time I asked I would have picked her up and moved her That is why Children do not have Manners anymore
2 people like this
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
14 May 07
Yes they do and it is so sad
1 person likes this
• United States
13 May 07
I agree. It is amazing how often I am out, and it is the kids telling the parents what to do, rather then the parents telling them what to do. And even when the parents do tell them to do something, they mouth off.
2 people like this
@Tanya8 (1733)
• Canada
13 May 07
How annoying. I've sometimes asked parents if they mind if I physically move their child or stop their child from doing something like kicking my chair, after I've politely asked them to let me get by or stop. If the parent still does nothing or makes an ineffective attempt, I speak nicely to the child, but help them move or stop. So far no fist fights yet, but what an awkward situation to be put into.
2 people like this
• United States
13 May 07
Yeah, I know. I know one time my mother was in the store, and these kids were tearing clothes off the hanger, and running in the aisles, my mom said something to the parent, and they did nothing. My mom then said to the child, and said stop it!!!, and the child stopped, but the look on their face was like they weren't use to that. It was pretty funny.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
14 May 07
Basically if that was the case then you better not get your cart in there, second, I would have said something to them, not just excuse me, but you know "move it" or something like that. Or like I was saying, you could just leave your cart somewhere and go there by yourself. Basically, all you can do is tell them to move and if they don't then you tell them "I'm not responsible for what happens" Hehehe, okay so you get into a fight, wait for them to move, or just go in without your basket/cart. That should help a little, right? Pablo
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
15 May 07
Hahaha, yea basically it would be their fault because they didn't want to move out of the way, you know? Pablo
• United States
14 May 07
LOL, say oops you cause me to fall, it will be on you.
1 person likes this
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
19 May 07
Wow, thank you for the best response, that was very nice of you :) Pablo
• United States
14 May 07
You did absolutely the correct thing - back up and go around. Sometimes no matter how much we expect people to behavior in a certain (courteous) manner - it just isn't going to happen!
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 07
LOL, that was obviously happening to me. Argh. Hopefully someone will return the favor to him.
1 person likes this
@mickidmw (992)
• United States
15 May 07
Repeat this.... Grant me patience ... NOW!!! repeatedly! It really sucks that people are so rude about things like that! I hate that so much! There is not a lot you can do about idiot people other to ignore them and go on with whatever you were doing!
1 person likes this
• United States
15 May 07
I hate rude people too. I will have to say that nice and loud, next time I am in Walmart.
1 person likes this
@MsTickle (25180)
• Australia
14 May 07
I find this sort of situation and attitude deplorable. Look at the lesson the father is giving the child. Talk about chip off the old block. It's hard for me to say what the vbest way is to handle this. I'm not confronting or agressive or even assertive and I think that's the sort of common sense approach here...yes, even an agressive approach may be necessary for this. I don't mean to put your dukes up but for controling people, a bit of pushiness may be what's required. I'd have gone on my way and come back later.
• United States
14 May 07
I agree, some example for the child. Setting the kids up for the "me generation".
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
13 May 07
Oh my, crickethear. I don't know. Maybe I will shoot a dagger look at the father and give an angelic smile to the little girl, LOL! I also have this chance encountered with several kids in a bookstore. I will turn around and look for other route that I can pass through. Seeing all those kids so engrossed with what they are reading, I don't think they will hear me saying "excuse me."
• United States
13 May 07
It is bad. If an older person had been there, or even with me, having MS, I am not that stable on my feet. I was afraid I would fall. Glad I didn't.
1 person likes this
14 May 07
well the same thing happend to me only a few weeks ago,i was down the market people all over the place well this one group of kids were blocking the path i needed i said excuse me sevral of time but no one moved so in the end i pushed my way through them they were a bit rude to me ,but i just kept going and i was fine. i guess what im saying is u can only asked someone to move and if they dont then yes push ur way through them i know with kids its different its the parents u have to blame,
1 person likes this
• United States
14 May 07
That is true, if being courtesy doesn't work, then you have no choice to plow your way through. Then if they say anything, you can come back with, "well, I asked you nicely".
1 person likes this