I am that person that has always said "I'm never having kids- ever". I've felt that way for as long as I can remember, and babysitting since I was 14, working at a summer camp for 2 1/2 summers and working at a preschool for over a year hasn't helped me change my mind. But I also love kids at the same time- I just don't want any of my own. The best part about doing all those things that I mentioned above is that after a certain amount of predetermined time, you get to give the kids BACK to their parents.
BUT last friday I did realize that despite how I feel about kids, there are some things that parents today don't seem to understand... or at least most of them don't. When you take your children out into public, control them. These are my top places where I believe it is unacceptablt to take children if parents cannot control them:
1. Shopping- anywhere
I worked retail for five Christmases, most of my senior year of high school, and my third year of college. I believe that if parents are going to bring their children to the mall, target, or even the grocery story, the children should NOT be allowed to run around the store and do whatever they want. If a child does not know how to act in a mall (especially whatever store I was working in, or am shopping in currently for that matter) that they should be restrained by either a second parent or adult, a stroller, or a leash (yes- i said it). I had the equivalent of a child leash when i was growing up- it was red and it attached at my wrist. I am not completely messed up from the experience (or at least I don't think I am). It is not wrong or mean to use a leash equivalent on a child if that is what you have to do. If a parent does not want to use the measures I have described, or some of their own imagination, then they should leave their children at HOME.
2. Restaurants.
I was eating at Panera last Friday (not even a nice place) and there were these two women sitting at the largest table in the place with three children. These two women were talking to each other while their children were crawling under the table, screaming, and making the biggest mess I have seen. The little boy was crawling from under the table into his chair, standing in his chair, drinking from two different chocolate milk cartons (I know it was chocolate because he was COVERED in it), and then crawling back down. Repeat this process for the entire time I was there. The thing is the mothers were not concerned at all, and the best part is that I overheard them talking about parenting books, and different techniques that had totally spoken to them- when their children were running wild! Seriously... again, if you can't control them, pay a babysitter and leave them at home. I happen to know one broke ass graduate student that is willing to let you pay her to keep your wild children at home so that you don't go out and ruin other people's experiences out in public.
Those are really the only two places where children and their lack of public manners bothers me. The other part about children that is not fun is that they are germ incubators- I've been working back at the preschool for one week, and I'm sick... really. It's a little frustrating.
I don't want all people to get me wrong... I do like kids, but again, the best part about working and playing with kids is that I get to give them back and go home ALONE. But according to my friends, and my mother, I am having triplets, at the least. I do not find this a funny joke in the least.
