I was at my favorite grocery store today (Wegmans) with all four boys. It was pretty crazy. #4 is into this screaming at the top of his lungs thing. It’s not so cute.
So we decided on bagels and the oldest whined that he wanted something else so I told him to go wait in line and order and I’ll be right there. It’s impossible to make everyone happy….
Then we meet up with #4 in line and he hadn’t even ordered yet. I asked him what was going on and he said the lady (and her about 7 year old son) in front of him cut him in line. I’m sure it wasn’t on purpose, but he should have had the confidence to say something. I suggested that he should do so in the future and said that all he has to say is, “Excuse me, I’m waiting in line and I think you cut in front of me.”
The lady of course heard this conversation and felt the need to comment to me. Meanwhile the other boys are screaming and acting like wild animals.
She tells us, “I’m not sure I would have reacted well if he told me that.” I’m thinking, give me a break woman!! So I told her that it’s better to give our kids the necessary language and skills to communicate with confidence that to a. do everything for them or b. let them get walked all over!”
She must have agreed. She didn’t respond.
so did she cut in front of him??
I had a similar situation last week when I took my 5 year old son to his dance recital. We were due there at 1pm to get checked in for dress rehearsal and the show would go on at 3:30.pm
I rush around getting him everything he will need before picking him up from school at 12noon and heading to the Civic Center. We arrive and there are at least 50 parents on line, waiting to get checked in, standing in a blazing hot parking lot, will all their children in full costume and make-up. We take our place on line and wait. It is about 85 degrees and as we slowly inch up I look behind me and there are at least 100 more parents and children. As I turn back around I notice a woman and two little girls in front of us who were NOT there before. I take a breath, see that they are talking to the original woman that had been in front of us with 4 little girls and I wait a few minutes. As the line begins to move I finally say, “I’m sorry, are you in FRONT of this family??? We are behind them.” She replies “No, we are friends of theirs.” To which I respond, “you mean you CUT the line???” She says nothing…As I am deciding how much I want to make of this situation in front of all these parents and children my son pipes up and whines, “Mom, H-O-W much l-o-n-g-e-r???” And I said (loudly enough for those close to us to hear) “Honey I am afraid it will be EVEN LONGER now that this lady CUT THE LINE in front of us, which is very rude…”
that was the best I could do under the circumstances but I was still steaming that this woman would think this was OK, AND that she was teaching her children to do the same. *UGH*
This lady is cut in front of him and even acknowledged doing so – never even said sorry actually. Your situation to outrageous! People need to take responsibility for their actions and set a better example to their children. No one should feel entitled to be rude or to benefit from anything at the cost of others – even if it’s only just standing in line.
This happens to my ten year old too. I never really noticed this, but I figured at ten, he was old enough to start handling some of his own affairs. sounds good, give the kids some chances to learn and do for themselves in a relatively safe environment with mom close by…
Sadly though, we’ve noticed – people just ignore him – either cutting in front or – the counter people not waiting on him…he also is a bit shy of speaking up and making waves…
it really is sad, I can remember going into the corner store by myself to buy milk, bread, etc. at this age, while my mom waited in the car…when did it become ok to treat children as a non-entity and then not even apologize for it – apalling
I agree – it’s such a sad statement on society to not give a voice to kids – so we need to encourage our boys to be able to represent themselves with confidence and respect.