Okay, so I hosted Water Day today and the stragglers just left. THAT part was nice. The part at the end where there were just five of us sitting at my patio table chatting. Relaxed and getting some sun. While the kids played.
But before that? While the majority of people were still here? I. ALMOST. KILLED. A. SMALL. CHILD. And it would have been totally justified. And I probably would have finished off his mother too.
“Water Day” pretty much implies “outside,” no? As in, if you’re wet (and muddy!) maybe you should stay outside. And if you’re four, I’ll give you that maybe you don’t get the social niceties of keeping out of someone’s house and off of their carpeting when you’re dripping wet. But when someone (me) asks you NICELY to go back outside and you spend five minutes IGNORING her and then five more minutes telling her NO, you’re about to get your ass kicked. And when your mother pays NO attention to this and THEN watches as you GO BACK INSIDE 30 seconds later SOPPING WET AGAIN and doesn’t try to stop you…THAT’S when your life is on the line.
And as for your sweet little clueless, socially challenged mother, if I’d said (to no avail mind you) “You’re not supposed to be inside if you’ve been in the pool.” “NO- You can’t go inside if your bathing suit is wet.” or “Let’s play outside today. Today’s not an inside day” ONE more time in front of her I think my head would have exploded. Seriously. Exploded.
Why are people so damn clueless? Why does it not occur to you that if you’re at someone’s house playing in the WATER you should probably keep your WET kids out of the house. Is it just me? Am I just being unrealistic and a hard ass? An unrealistic hardass, if you will?
All in all it was a success. That one kid drove me bonkers. His mother drove me bonkers. But we had a good time and I’d totally do it again. Although I would only invite a FEW people and I’d make sure there was alcohol available. Definitely alcohol.
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{ 24 comments… read them below or add one }
You would have definitely been justified. I mean, my carpet is beyond trashed, and I still would have insisted on everyone outside, no exceptions. And the mother? OMG. I can’t believe you didn’t smack her. Sigh…I just don’t get people sometimes.
jens last blog post..A little night music
Oh my gosh. I totally feel your pain on this one. It would have taken a lot of restraint for me not to kick the kid’s ass and I think I would have kicked the mom’s ass.
mamagingertrees last blog post..Not My Proudest Moment
there is always someone like that – i swear some folks just amaze me with their blatant rudeness.
feeners last blog post..Doggie Bags
I can’t stand parents who ignore their child’s behavior. It leaves me to discipline and then they get all pissy. But come on…wet kids running around the house is terribly rude!
Alices last blog post..Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Leggedy Beasties
You are such a tease….a link to the clueless and socially challenged with nothing there. I was totally geared up for a good laugh.
Sorry about the mele at your place I know a great carpet guy…wait I am in Texas. nevermind
Shannon
Shannon Martinezs last blog post..Spread a little birthday love
Totally justified. I never fail to be amazed at the blatant stupidity (or ignorance… or general flightiness) of some people
Zs last blog post..Musing
My friends consider me the “nap nazi” “strict mom” and I am sure a whole host of other things behind my back. So…in this situation I would have said to the child in a very sweet voice, “If you go in the house one more time dripping wet, you will have to go home.” Loud enough for idiot mom to hear. I have had people in my life who seem to look to me to discipline their kid. My house has rules and all the kids know it, and respect it. It’s time to stop being so damn polite, send her and wet brat home and guess what? The NEXT play date that you host will be blissful. Either that, or I would suggest chocolate cake and play doh at HER house for the next play date! he he
Kellys last blog post..Wii Fit or Wii FAT?
It was probably her passive aggressive way of letting you know she didn’t want you disciplining her kid (even if it’s YOUR damn house.)
I loathe people like that.
Loralees last blog post..Whatev…
i can’t stand mothers like that. what the heck? why are they so rude? what is wrong with them?
Madges last blog post..Brothers
Well, at least you aren’t related to them. I have that same problem with one of my nephews – except guess what – I HAVE to invite them to everything. Ugh.
I hate it.
Cathys last blog post..How to Successfully Avoid a Messy House
Aaah…the all too familiar cons of MomsClub gatherings. Our club has a well known mother that ignores her child that physically abuses other children by hitting, pushing, kicking..but then acts all innocent. She ignores our pleas to do something about it. I always cringe when they walk through the door.
Denise @ EatPlayLoves last blog post..Bravo and Frasca TOP CHEFS
In my old age, I’ve now started calling moms on the carpet for stuff like this. Seriously? Treat my house as you’d treat yours – no wait, clearly don’t do that because you just proven that you have no respect for your things.
Glad it turned out well – despite this…
Jills last blog post..It ALWAYS Happens In 3′s…
Ugh. People like that annoy the CRAP out of me!!! My kids went over to a friends for a babysit session/water playdate the other day. They definitely followed that rule! They only went in once dry and thoroughly cleaned off with a towel!
The worst part is the mother…I would’ve snapped big time at her.
Sarahs last blog post..No Lesser Weevil – A Hai’ku
I’m the mom that would rather die than have her kid do stuff like that- I err on the side of extreme caution. I would have had my kids walk through the broken glass along the side of the house, barefoot, in 120 degree weather, than even go through your house to leave when they were wet/muddy/sticky/etc. Even if you said it was ok.
*Sheesh* Some people!
Headless Moms last blog post..Are you ready…
I recently had some friends visit from out-of-town with their 4 year old son. They decided to “camp out” on our land, but were completely unprepared! After they left my house was wrecked, I found some things that were broken and stuff everywhere. I mean, who comes to visit friends that are new parents of 5month old triplets and makes a BIG mess. It was SO bad that I had to call them out on it. I got an apology and I felt okay about it. I just couldn’t let their bad manners go un-noticed!
You’re NOT alone!
Kesler Crews last blog post..Some new pics
Oh, sadly I know someone like this mother you are describing. Namely my sister. However, my neice at least has manners and would kindly have stayed outside after the first time you asked her to. I can feel your frustration!
Lulus last blog post..Lulu is Goooood-Lookin’!
Interacting with others in the real world can only lead to this kind of trauma. My kid has never once gone walking in your blog with wet, muddy feet, now has she?
Amy in Ohios last blog post..FOX “NEWS” is racist? Well, whatdayano?
I meet people like this all the time and usually just make sarcastic comments to my child in front of their mother. Like “Honey I’m sorry that child is doing X, when he shouldn’t. Its not nice to act like that” etc. I don’t know if it works but it makes me feel better.
Renees last blog post..Thank You Nice Day Have Dinner
i don’t get parents like that at all. we know one family with several children like that. we tell them no. we tell them to stop doing whatever they are doing that we don’t want them to do at our house. we tell them in front of their parents. they continue to do whatever it is, and the parents act like nothing is wrong. completely ignore it. drives me freakin’ insane! seriously!
natalies last blog post..And now Ladies and Gentleman – I give you Jacob
It’s not just you. I would have said something. When my SIL was visiting she got ready to feed my 16 month old nephew in the kitchen chair closest to the family room couch. My new couch. I told her she had to move him because if he threw something that landed on my couch I might die.
I probably would have said something, nicely, like “could you please help me keep an eye on her so she doesn’t go inside sopping wet?”.
Tootsie Farklepantss last blog post..We Pause to Bring You This Moment We Like to Call Mighty Proud
OMG!! Some people are just clueless… that is ridiculous! You would have been totally justified to kick his little ass and his mother’s ass too!!
Cereal Dieters last blog post..A New Day!
I will spend way too much time trying to get inside their insidious little minds trying to “understand” how people can be so selfish and clueless and rude. Taking this time allows me to attempt to have compassion for these idiots who are simply pigs and their mother didn’t raise them right, so they are ignorant and stupid and we should feel sorry for these poor sods. It doesn’t work very well, this compassion thing, but it allows me to collect my thoughts to figure out how best to lambast them on my blog.
Margarets last blog post..Did I Forget to Mention that I’m an Anti-Memite?
I get so tired of parents that do not reprimand their children and expect so little of them. They are only doing them a disservice.
And for the record, that would have totally drive me NUTS too! UGH!!
Elaines last blog post..In Honor of My Two Favorite Fathers
You want me to yell at the mom (or the kid)? I’m not shy and I don’t care about other’s feelings.
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