How would you deal with this

United States
January 11, 2007 10:36am CST
My husband scored us some tickets to the Hornets game. We thought that it would be fun to take the boys because they had never been before. Soon, after arriving they start acting up and running all over the place. We settle them down and just as the game began to start they knocked over a soda without telling anybody. The guy sitting next to them's jacket got soaked and then my husband had to offer to pay for it. They had been acting up the entire time. We spent over $200 just on pop, food, and candy and not once did they act like they appreciated it. During the game, the oldest one start taunting the youngest with a baloon that he had found and now the youngest was getting mad. I tried to explain to him that they don't sell those balloons, that they are given away during the game to fans. They only give away a certain amount of these. My husband told the oldest to give the other one a turn with it. I ended up taking the baloon away after they started fighting over it. After I told them that they could not have any more candy they raised there hand so that the cotton candy guy would give them one. I ended up paying for it because the oldest opened it up and started eating it while I was digging through my purse for my phone. I was embarrased with the way that they were acting. After about an hour of listening to them argue and taking them back and fourth to bathroom where they had to sit there away from everyone while they were in trouble, the oldest one pushed the youngest into a metal rail that was in the middle of the stairs. He said it was an accident and that it wasn't his fault that his brother lost his balance. We ended up leaving the game early which was a huge dissapointment. I will never take them to another game. I just don't know how to get them to listen after years of everyone in my husband's family letting them do whatever they want.
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5 responses
@pam3636 (24)
• United States
12 Jan 07
Wow, you certainly need to stage an intervention to get these kids under control. The behavior at the game is inconsequential, really. It sounds like the problems are a lot deeper than a one-time thing. Start by enforcing consequences for bad behavior. If a kid doesn't obey, take away something, and keep taking away until their rooms are bare. Reward for good behavior, give back items when they are deserved. Even if this means the whole house goes without TV, it will be worth it. Watch some of the Nanny shows on TV, they have some really good tips. Good luck!
• United States
12 Jan 07
wow, you just might be a super parent. this sounds like a good idea. I am going to have to try this.thanks.
1 person likes this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
13 Jan 07
WOW!! I am so glad that was not me!! I don't think that I would have any kids afterwards if that happened to me...LMAO!! I am sorry that I can't really advise you on anything because my two are 6 years apart, too young still (1 and 7), and we don't have the money to go to events like that. BUT, if it were me I would have separated them immediately and would have stopped buying them stuff. And I am SHOCKED at the one that opened up the cotton candy before you paid for it!! I would have paid for it, but then taken it away and said that since I had paid for it that I was gonna eat it...that way neither one of them would have gotten any!! I sure do hope that you punished them as soon as you got home. I don't know if it is for you, but I would have gone "spank" happy because I would have been so mad!! I really am sorry that you had to go through that!! I hope that some good did come out of it (like duct-taping them to chairs...LMAO!!).
1 person likes this
• United States
13 Jan 07
I need to find the duct tape just incase this happens again.lol. I can't spank the oldest one due to him being bigger than I am. I should have done what you said and ate the candy. I was so embarrased that I sware they are never going to another one with me again. I didn't buy the tickets, my husband is the supervisor at the company that he works for and his boss gave them to him. His boss is always giving him tickets to something. Trust me, I can't force myself to spend $50 on just one ticket. I'm not cheap but I like spending money on things that I won't have to replace for a while.
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@ktroth (378)
• United States
11 Jan 07
I feel for you! We had an incident at our state's fair last year with our then 7-year-old son. We vowed never to take him again. But after cooling off for nearly a year, we asked him if he wanted to go again and he said he did. We explained that if he acted up, we would leave immediately and he wouldn't be going again. It worked. How old are your kids? If they are old enough to understand, I would explain to them that you would love to be able to take them out to special things such as games. But when they misbehave, it shows you that you can't trust them. Give it a few months and try again, maybe with something less expensive! I would also split them up. If it's something that requires the four of you sitting together, sit so that they aren't next to each other. My kids do pretty well as long as they are not seated together. I know this type of incident really leaves a bad taste in your mouth. It can only get better as they get older, right??!!
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• United States
12 Jan 07
I hope that you are right. I will try this next time and I am glad that someone else has a little experience with going through this same thing. Thank for you for comment and concern.
• United States
12 Jan 07
I hate to say this but it sounds like the punishment you are giving just isnt paying off. Maybe a spanking might do the trick but if you dont believe in that then just stop taking them places. they have a life that most kids dream of having.
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• United States
12 Jan 07
I learned from my mistake. I don't feel that I can take the two of them anywhere togethere. they are fine when it is just one of them but it's like they aren't even brother's.
@uath13 (8192)
• United States
12 Jan 07
This kind of problem dosen't just start up. It sounds like they've been undeciplined for a while. It dosen't matter what your husbands family let them do, YOU should have stoped it, your their PARENTS. Now your going to have to get on top of the situation and fight it back to a controllable level. As soon as they start up give quick and decisive DECIPLINE. You and your husband must also have a clear view of your stance and show a united front. Don't let the kids see you debating your actions.
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• United States
13 Jan 07
The problem is that they have been able to get away with things for way to long. I have only been married to their father for about two years and he says that it is alright for me to discipline them but when I do they end up getting to do whatever they want anyways. If this were me when I was a child, my father would have yanked me up and made me either start running orders for everyone around us even strangers, made me stand in a corner in front of everyone, or taken me out of there and made me sit by a security guard. He has been know to do this. I don't feel that I should have to get on to them all the time and I wish that there dad wouldn't let them get a way with so much.
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