Do you find obnoxious kids to be cute?
By The Horse
@TheHorse (205792)
Walnut Creek, California
May 3, 2016 10:19pm CST
I cant help it. I guess it's because I've worked in ECE (Early Childhood Education) for so long. But I find obnoxious kids to be hilarious.
I was in line at Trader Joe's just now. A four-year-old decided he was going to "help" his mom with the groceries. He stood on the little ledge where I wanted to place my basket, and gave each item his mom handed him to the checker. But soon, that wasn't enough. He started scanning the items himself.
After a couple of double-scans, the checker quickly corrected them and apologized to me. I smiled and said nothing.
When they were done, the checker gave the kid some stickers. I waited for the kid to jump down with his stickers in hand, but he did not.
I reached to hold the stickers on the edge next to him, as they were about to fall, and the following dialog ensued:
kid: "Don't touch those."
me: "The stickers?"
kid: "They're mine."
me: "You mean I can't have even one?"
kid: "Well, maybe you can have one." (hands me a sticker)
me: "Where do I put it. Here? On my black shirt?" (putting the sticker on my shirt)
kid: "Your shirt is blue."
me: "My shirt is blue?"
kid: "Yes. It's not black."
me: "What color is your shirt?" (it was orange)
kid: "Red."
me: "Can I call it orangish-red? It looks orange to me."
kid: "No. It's a red shirt."
me: "What color is my hat?"
kid: "I don't know." (pauses) "Green."
me: "Good job! As in Michigan State green? Like Dreymund Green?" (Everybody was watching us, and I sensed the man behind me might be getting impatient.)
kid: It's green.
me: Jump!
a grown-up: That's a long way down.
me (putting my hands under his arm pits): Jump! (the kid jumps.)
checker: Thanks for your help!
Finally, I got my groceries scanned and I headed home. The man behind me and I had discussed the prices of single malt Scotch, as the checker scanned my items, and we all had a good laugh.
As I headed toward the car, I wondered how the kid had gotten so...sure he was right about everything (I suspected his dad, whom I didn't meet)...but I thoroughly enjoyed the interaction.
17 people like this
14 responses
@JudyEv (325818)
• Rockingham, Australia
4 May 16
@hereandthere Of course! 
My son, aged about 4, was going to play cricket with his grandmother. He said 'Grandma, do you know the rules?' When she said no, he said 'oh good'. I think even then he was working out how he could win! 
My son, aged about 4, was going to play cricket with his grandmother. He said 'Grandma, do you know the rules?' When she said no, he said 'oh good'. I think even then he was working out how he could win! 2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 May 16
I do, to a point. It's like with dogs, a certain level is cute, but too much and they need checked, because they grow up to be monsters.
2 people like this
@Jessicalynnt (50525)
• Centralia, Missouri
4 May 16
@TheHorse lol, so true. cheeky is fine, with limits and discipline, in truth kids will be kids, but need both, room to be, and boundaries to work with
1 person likes this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
4 May 16
Since I don't have any kids in my life I can appreciate your fun conversation with that stranger...I do enjoy children when I get to play with them but it is usually my nieces children while we camp. I like them when they are little, highly dislike them when they are around 5 and like them again when a couple of years older.
2 people like this
@PainsOnSlate (21854)
• Canada
5 May 16
@TheHorse My nephews spent thier 4th and 5th year fighting, they are twins and "one up" was the name of the game for those two years. I wanted to drown them... They were wonderfully behaved when they were asleep.
@hora_fugit (5862)
• India
4 May 16
I, as a obnoxious person, don't like any type of kids. Except for those big eyed ones.
Now, who is this Godfather you have posted the picture of?
Now, who is this Godfather you have posted the picture of?1 person likes this
@LovingMyBabies (85127)
• Valdosta, Georgia
4 May 16
Your not the only one-that was funny to read! All 4 year olds are right at all times! Lol. =) Thanks for sharing this.
2 people like this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
2 Jul 16
Some children are never corrected because the caregivers (parents usually) don't want to stifle the kids creativity or damage his or her fragile self-esteem. These are the kids who grow up unable to handle bad grades and following rules in school, and suffer depression and anxiety when faced with real world disappointments and setbacks.
1 person likes this
@DWDavis (25812)
• Pikeville, North Carolina
5 Jul 16
@TheHorse The mistake I see most often is parents who give children too many choices or expect them to make too many decisions at a young age. The child becomes frustrated trying to decide and cannot make up his or her mind, and often has immediate remorse about the choice finally made. I started off giving my sons limited choices and, as they grew, expanded the breadth of options they had. They learned the consequences of decision making, but did not lose their creativity. Both have writing as a hobby, one works in tissue regeneration research, and the other is an aerospace engineer serving on flight status in the Air Force. It took a lot of work, patience, persistence, and consistency on the part of my wife and I. A lot of parents these days are just to lazy or overtasked to be bothered.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (205792)
• Walnut Creek, California
5 Jul 16
@DWDavis Your strategy sounds similar to mine. Limited choices early, and more choices as they develop and aren't overwhelmed by possibilties. There is also a lot of power in "routine." My neighbor kid friend, who is now 7 1/2, knows when he shows up at my house that we'll either play with his cars, water my plants, sand some speakers, go cycling, or make up math problems for each other. The routine makes him feel "safe," and everything we do has teachable moments, satisfying my "need" to be a "positive influence."
1 person likes this
@JamesHxstatic (29242)
• Eugene, Oregon
4 May 16
Perhaps, but usually, obnoxious is just obnoxious for me. The parent should have had the kid in hand instead of holding up the line. I do like the single malt scotch though.
2 people like this
@teamfreak16 (43421)
• Denver, Colorado
4 May 16
I'm the opposite. I have no patience for kids, and I really don't like them very much, which is why I never had any. But at least I recognized early on that I'm not exactly father material. Wouldn't be fair to the kids.
2 people like this
@chewwy429 (101)
• Miri, Malaysia
4 May 16
@TheHorse lol I'm sure those who could listen to your conversation did!
@Genipher (5405)
• United States
4 May 16
Recently my grandma had a conversation with my 5-year-old:
Grandma: D, can I have a hug?
D: No.
Grandma: Why not?
D: You're too old.
Thankfully Grandma thought it was funny. I was surprised, because this particular daughter LOVES to dole out hugs.
The kid in your story doesn't sound obnoxious to me. Just friendly. And funny. Not many kids these days will actually carry on a conversation with a stranger.
I'm not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing...
2 people like this
