Yesterday we decided to venture out to Borders Bookstore to look for some Christmas presents... and just to get out of the house. Little Man was in a Bob the Builder mood, so we hurried back to the children's section to discover no Bob the Builder books. Instead, we found tractor and truck books. This made Little Man happy too.
Big Daddy and Little Man settled down near a small children's table to read the books we had found. I wandered away to find some Christmas presents. No more than 2 minutes later I hear the distinct sound of my child screaming. Since I wasn't too far away I peaked around the bookshelves to see Big Daddy trying to console Little Man.
When I asked what happened, Big Daddy informed me that a little girl about the age of 4 or 5 came barreling over and made herself comfortable at their table. She then took over ALL the books Little Man was eye balling over!
I wanted to go to the child and
beat the living daylights out of her steal back the books she had stolen, but instead we tried to go back to the original location of the truck books and find another. Little Man wasn't falling for it, he wanted those books!
Eventually, the little
devil girl ended up leaving the table and the books behind. So Big Daddy and Little Man tried again. I did the same. No more than 1 minute later, the little shit comes back! This time Little Man was prepared. "Share. Share. Share." Was all he said to this big bully. Her reply, "I am sharing." Thankfully, this time Big Daddy stood up for him as well.
What is it with children nowadays? Don't they learn manners anymore from their parents?? Her parents were no where to be found, just let her off to
terrorize my child do as she pleases. Apparently, children's behaviors are a mirror image for their parents. I think those parents need to go back to kindergarten and learn how to share. And while they are at it, learn about putting things back where they belong as well.
2 comments:
In situations as these you do the best you can and hope that somehow the other child/parents will get a clue but also little man needs to know that not always will people behave as he thinks they should so it will probably take a few more of these times before he realizes this but this is the thing about being in a group of kids and how inter relations help to learn. It is hard for you as the parent but he will eventually learn that not all kids have the same values as he does.
You are doing what is right and hopefully Little Man can adjust to others. this is a situation I saw frequently in pre-school.
in those case we seperated the ones who could not share until they learned that the toys/books/equipment was for all not just one.
My immediate reaction was interjectional (as in, "Here, Here! Send the parents back to Sharing School for Remedial Gits") but after reading Mama Lou's more rational comment I realize that she's right.
And besides, I'm the last person who should point fingers at parents, by virtue of my last name.
My heart goes out to Little Man A and I want to give him a big hug and read a stack of books with him.
On a completely unrelated note, great use of strike through tags in this post!
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