Disrespectful Adults
By MirandaKay
@MirandaKay (231)
United States
August 14, 2010 2:55pm CST
I hate it when adults are disrespectful to kids. I try my best to teach my kids to be respectful to everyone and I try my best to be a good example for them. It makes me really upset to see some adults treat kids (and not just my kids) so disrespectfully.
We are walking through a store and my daughter is beside me holding my hand and someone walks towards us and roughly bumps into her. Now the store is not crowded at all and there was plenty of room. This isin't the first time this has happened. Now we all know that this would have never happened if she were an adult but because she is a kid and little then obviously it doesn't matter.
How are we supposed to teach our kids to be respectful when they see disrespect all around them? It is just so frustrating to me trying to explain to them that we still have to be respectful even though others are not.
Now that they are older I don't have this problem as much, and they are respectful kids despite how much disrespect there is all around them.
How do you feel about this?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@Laurelle11 (409)
• Australia
14 Aug 10
I have always treated my kids as an equal and with respect, the same thing has happened to my kids a number of times, it is almost like these other adults think that they don't have to move aside for a child, so they will just walk through them. One nearly knocked my disabled son over once, so I in turn did knock them over and told them to watch where they are walking. I think you are right that it is disrespect for our kids but I also think it is just plain rudeness. All I can say is that my kids have learnt from my example and would never treat anyone the same way these adults treat kids.
@MirandaKay (231)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I agree, it is just plain rude. My kids would never treat anyone disrespectfully, simply because they have good examples in their life.
@dcollins (16)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Kids will learn by example. When you are with them and they see a poor example it is up to you as parent to explain what they just witnessed was a poor example of how to treat others. Through positive reinforcement children will learn right from wrong and hopefully make the right choices for their own actions.
@Laurelle11 (409)
• Australia
15 Aug 10
That is too true and I did explain to my son that it is wrong to retaliate the way I did but luckily my kids listen to what I say and don't copy everything that I do, thank goodness. I am a bit overprotective of my disabled son.lol.
@ptower76 (1616)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Mutual respect is what holds us together as human beings. Respect for self and respect for others. Unfortunately, there are those that don't have self respect and as a result do not respect others. Children will almost always model themselves after those positive role models they have in their lives and so, you keep respecting your children and help them to develop self respect. I don't think direct confrontation is the best way to deal with those people that have no respect and sinking to their level will only help them to justify their actions. People like those will almost always eventually end up alone and isolated. So when you see one of those people coming your way, the best thing is to quickly step aside and let them pass, they are quickly heading towards disaster.
@MirandaKay (231)
• United States
15 Aug 10
You're right, confrontation would only make the situation worse. And yes, in order to respect someone else you must first respect yourself... thanks for reminding me of that :)
@marsha32 (6631)
• United States
14 Aug 10
I'm a firm believer that children need to be treated with respect. How can we expect them to treat others with respect if they are not treated that way?
They learn from what they see and hear also.
Marsha
@MirandaKay (231)
• United States
15 Aug 10
I guess that's why parents are so important... to teach our children good values.
@Hatley (163776)
• Garden Grove, California
15 Aug 10
hi mirandakay I have seen that also and it hurts me as I remember my mom saying to me when I waS little, honey I respect you as mychild so now you must respect me as I want you to pick up your toys. its time for lunch. You know I felt so proud and picked my toys a s she respected me for myself, I taught that to my own children, and I always respected them as real people, thus I got the same respect back.Also I have seen adults cut right through a childs conversation when it st rrying to tell the mom somedthing. I once said to this woman, your child is trying to tell you something maam so please listen. the little girl had go potty so bad and she had been trying to tell her mom. okay so she wets herself and mom isfurious. all could have been prevented had mom just listened to her own little daughter.Sometimes we treat children as second class citizens when they should be respected as our own flesh and blood.
@Ephraim123 (274)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
That incident just really makes me sad. It's true that there are a lot of adults who are disrepectful/abusive. It's like if you're weak, then you're sorry. Each one of us has the right to be treated equally. I think it's best to teach our kids, "Do not do unto others what you don't want others do unto you".
@megamatt (14291)
• United States
15 Aug 10
Adults that talk down to children in any way, thus disrespecting them, bugged me. Whether it be their kids or other kids. That is just bad times. Kids are a lot more smart than we think they are and therefore, there will be some resentment there. Thus a lack of respect will be forged towards adults, if children are not respected themselves. Then we wonder why they disrespect us.
Plus, it also teaches a bad lesson to these children. There will be a day where they have kids of their own. It teaches them it is okay not to respect them. So it is a never ending chain of everything. Still, adults should treat children with respect. Especially if they wanted to respected in turn. It really contributes to a lot of the direspect that adults get, because they do it first.
@amrddy (215)
• Philippines
15 Aug 10
Hi MirandaKay
My sentiments exactly. I was always wondering why there are so many kids who are disrespectful of elders and you are right. If they are not taught good manners at home, how can they be resectful of others? I am thankful that my daughter is studying in a catholic school where values is given more importance.
