Its something only a parent will understand...
By snoopy04
@snoopy04 (718)
United States
June 18, 2007 4:27pm CST
I was at the park the other day with my kids and I was having fun but there were some people there that made some rude comments so I was wondering if I am just nuts or do you have to be a parent to understand.
My two year old daughter loves to play on the slide but to get her to slide down we have to chant go nicki go and then clap our hands. So we were at the park and my nine year old daughter was sliding with her. She and Erica were at the top but she wouldnt come down until we did our little chant. Erica tried and I tried but she woudnt budge. She kept saying go and clapping her hands. She I started our little chant and pretty soon all the other moms and kids were joining in as well. Nicole was eating up all the attention and of course showing out a little bit but everyone was having fun until these two women showed up and sat down on a bench. We continued for a few more minutes and then stopped. As I walked by the bench I heard the ladies talking about me and my kids. They said I was being loud and obinixous and my little girl was acting like a spoiled little brat. They siad they came to the park for peace and quiet not to see a circus show. So I turned around and asked the ladies if they had kids and they both said no, so I just walked away but I thought to myself did I really make a spectale of myself or was it just something you do to make your kids happy.
What is you opinion?
14 people like this
32 responses
@Ravenladyj (22902)
• United States
18 Jun 07
No you dont have to be a parent to understand..you just have to like kids and have at least a smidge of compassion which apparently neither of the "women" had.....If they wanted peace and quite WHAT THE HELL ARE THEY DOIN IN A PARK?! Its a flippin PLAYGROUND of course you ARE NOT goin to get peace and quite there!! Wow snoopy I gotta tell you, there is NO WAY I could have kept my cool like you did..omg i would have gone up one side and down the other of these two cranky old biddys....
3 people like this
@snoopy04 (718)
• United States
18 Jun 07
I totally agree, when you go to park with a playground you are not getting peace and quiet. I wanted to tell those two ladies off but all the other moms beat me to the punch lol. And the ladies didnt stay very long after the other moms ganged up on them. Moms definitly stick together.
3 people like this
@gardengrrl (1445)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Actually, Raven, you don't even have to like kids, I hate the little buggers. I would have joined in on the "go, Nicki!" group, though, because it was FUN, first of all, and also because I see plenty of parents being mean to their kids - I believe in celebrating good parents wherever I run into them!
1 person likes this
@magikrose (5429)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I dont see a problem with what you did for your daughter at all. I have to agree it is something only a real parent can understand. My husband and I do something similar with our 8yr old. I know she is a little old for it but I dont care it is boosting her confidence and that is al lthat matters.
MY 8yr old daughter wants to go across the monkee bars but has a hard time swinging from 1 to the other so we do the same thing we shout encouraging words to her and even other parents in the park do the same and eventually she goes a little father and we all cheer her on after.
What is funny is that even the teenages that you would think would be annoyed with the chanting shockingly get in on the chanting too and seem to be anjoying it as much as the parents. That is what I love about the park we go to.
2 people like this
@vhansen (2029)
• United States
19 Jun 07
No,you were right and the ladies were wrong.A park is a public place and I always took my kids there to play.Kids are going to be noisy wheither you join in or not that's just the way it is.If the ladies want peace and quiet they should go to a library or a nature park.Otherwise there's one thing they can keep quiet,thier mouths.
@winky73 (1404)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Well snoopy04....I'm not a parent.....but I still think it's cute that you would go to such lenghts to make your daughter happy.Whenever I see parents that really interact with their kids....by playing what may seem a silly little game to some.....I can't help but smile.It happens to many times that you see parents that won't even pay attention to their kids whenever they are playing and it's normal for a child to want attention and most of all to impress.
So don't worrie about what them two woman thought.....as long as you know that your daughter has a happy childhood....who cares what they think.It's a public park and if they don't like it...they can move to another area.
1 person likes this
@gadget_kat (412)
• United States
18 Jun 07
No, you did not make a spectacle of yourself! You were encouraging your child, and spending time with your child. Even other moms and kids were getting in on it. If you were making a spectacle of yourself, the other parents and children wouldn't have been joining in on what was a fun moment for your daughter. Sadly, some parents don't get involved at all like that. What counts is your child's happiness, and you said she was eating up all that attention. It's a shame that a couple of people had nothing else better to do than to gripe and complain. But, if they're going to the park for peace and quiet, then, perhaps they should find another spot to sit at than by a playground.
@porkpie182 (261)
•
18 Jun 07
I dont think theres a problem with that they are just miserable old bats that dont know the meaning of making there kids happy , a childs childhood should be as happy as you can make it dont ever think you have to stop doing what you want to do with your kids just because they are misearble i would of turned around and said something myself i just dont understand how people can be so miserable its not hurting anyone
2 people like this
@xbrendax (2662)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I find it a little obinixous the way (parents) have to be around their kids too and the way everybody has to act like smiling, happy puppets just for a kid, BUT, I never had any kids and don't like kids so DON'T pay any attention to me! These women were probably like me but they shouldn't have SHOWN their dis-taste for kids, they should have just kept their mouths shut like I do! Even though I don't like kids and the way people are around them, I've NEVER said so to any parent and I probably would have even joined in on the clapping! The women's main problem is they opened their mouths! Also to get some piece and quiet, they should have known better then to be at a place where kids were playing! You go right ahead and make all the noise you want for your children, kids need that inter-action with their parents and other people and us old grumpy snoots will go some place else! Thumbs up to you! Keep on playing!
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
19 Jun 07
Well I am a parent but don't feel that in anyway you made a spectacle of yourself . You went to the park to have a good time with your child and that is what the park is for , if they wanted privacy then they should have went to a library . They were just being rude and butting into something that was none of their concern and were just trying to act like somehow they deseverd to be there and you didn't . The park is a great place for anyone who wants to have a good time and lets face it your child is two . Two year olds are not quiet and love to have a good time and the park is a place to let go and run around and be a child .
1 person likes this
@chaime (1152)
• Philippines
19 Jun 07
yes, I would tend to agree with you, that mostly only a parent will understand what it was all about.
A park specially with a children's playground, slides, monkey bars, swing, will never be quiet, if those women were looking for peace and quiet, they should have gone to the cemetery, don't you think? When children are around, quiet is a non existent vocabulary. If I were you I'd just ignore people like that, they have never experienced the joy of being a parent, the satisfaction you realize when you see your child giggling with happiness even if it mean you look foolish sometimes. What is important is that your children are happy and they enjoyed themselves and you enjoyed yourself too, pity those who haven't experienced the joy of having a child. ^_^
@tdbrower1969 (1242)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I don't think you made a spectacle either, we do the same thing with our son, and our little neices and nephews. A park is a place for children to come and have fun, and when they are young like that sometimes they need the encouragement. And like a good parent you were there and egging her on. People like that just seem to bother me, because they act as if they own that spot in the park and should not be disturbed by children and parents playing. I think I might have had to tell them if they wanted someplace quiet they should have picked the library or a park where there is no playground equipment, something more set up for adults. I hope they did not make any children feel bad for enjoying life.
1 person likes this
@totty1969 (1468)
• United States
19 Jun 07
What were they doing in the kiddie park in the first place? Everyone knows that you can not get peace and quiet in the kiddie park. They don't have kids, so they should have gone somewhere else. I don't care if I make a total and complete a$$ of my self I would be there for my children. Not caring what others think or say. It sounds like they were two prudes. You know it's funny how some people like to upset others with negativity. I hope they don't show up there again and ruin yours or your kids time at the park.
1 person likes this
@balynd04983 (3)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I think most of us make a spectacle out of ourselves whether we want to or not when we have kids to make happy. That is not to say this is a bad thing, just part of being a parent that is actually involved, not just "phoning in". I do feel however that there are some places where children need to realize their surroundings and respect others such as a nice resteraunt or something of that nature. A public park isn't one of those places. I wouldn't worry about it for another minute.
@hereforfun (28)
• United States
19 Jun 07
I don't think you have to be a parent to understand you and your children were at the park to have fun. What a concept, isn't that what parks are for? I think people like those two ladies are just unhappy with their own lives or having a really bad day...misery loves company. It seems when people are unhappy with themselves they attempt to feel superior by belittling others, imo.
I don't have children but I would have stuck up for you as well. You were being a great mom, enjoying your children and providing them with a good time. There ought to be more parents like you, ones that spend quality time with their children. If those women really wanted peace and quiet they could have stayed at home or gone elsewhere, not to a park with a playground.
@sharonercastillo (888)
• Philippines
19 Jun 07
no you did not. if it has playing area, its def a children's park. peace and quit isnt there but childrens laughter. im also a mom, i will also do anything to make my child happy
@addysmum (1225)
• Canada
19 Jun 07
Playing with kids is what going to the park is all about. My family can get real loud at the park, heck we are loud in the house, in our yard even in stores if we get playing around. Family is the single most important thing and showing your kids how to have fun and that they are loved should be a joy for others to see. Those ladies just don't get family. If they wanted quiet they shouldn't have been sitting near the playground.
They should hear our family when we get the kids together. With my son and my brother-in-laws 4 and my best friends 3 we are a regular circus when we go out. That is our charm my brother-in-laws wife says, that and we know we will always have a seat because people get out of our way.
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
19 Jun 07
My question to them would be Why on earth did you come to a play ground area of a park for peace and quiet? even if they didn't have kids I'm sure that they knew that kids are noisey. Since you were at a park what you did is very approate. So on't wory about those 2 ole biddies. They are just sour puss
@dustyland87 (148)
• United States
19 Jun 07
Well I don't have any children of my own, but I do have kids and I can't understand why those women would be so rude to you. Kids at that age are cute and fun to watch and sometimes they do need a little motivation to do things. I don't see anything wrong with what you did, if it were my child I probably would have done something similar. Don't let negitive people like that get to you. Keep doing what you're doing.
@Carrie26 (1587)
• United States
19 Jun 07
No you didnt make a spectacle of yourself.Soe kids just need encouragement.And some rude inconsiderate people ruin it for everybody else by making mean comments.I would have told them well this is a park and kids do play here .HELLLOOOO.So you are going ot hear screaming,ect.It doesnt bother me when I go to parks and hear kids playing,screaming,ect.I guess maybe its because i have kids.But I know people who dont have kdis but enjoy going and watching kids play ,ect.You should have told them to go to a spa or sauna,or librarey and maybe then they could have got some peace and quiet.But parks are meant to have sounds,like birds chirping,ectSOme people just want to be ignorant I guess.
@amyann16 (414)
• United States
19 Jun 07
My opinion is that these ladies were definitely in the wrong place if they were looking for peace and quiet!! Why would you go to a park, one that has playground equipment--- and therefore will have children there---who aren't exactly known for being quiet--- and try to even think that it would be peaceful and quiet? No worries on your part, you were being a good parent!
@sweetmimzim3 (261)
• United States
19 Jun 07
If there is a slide in the park then anyone in the park should expect there to be laughter and play going on. I would have told the ladies that it was a park and if they didn't like listening to you and your kids having fun they should go somewhere where kids don't hang out. I think your chant it cute not crazy...keep up the fun and encouragement!!
