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Where can a child be a child?

A woman in Atlanta claims she was arrested after her toddler made too much noise in the library.

SERIOUSLY?????

I know people are very particular about children.  You take your child to a restaurant and he makes noise, you get the look.  Your child screams in Walmart, you get the look.  The baby burps too loudly in church and you get the look.  And evidently, when your child makes noise in the library, they ask you to leave.  And when you protest, they have you arrested?

What do they want us to do? Stay at home? Become recluses?  Only come out at night like vampires?  Are we as mothers just supposed to only venture out when we don’t have our children? Or when we are sure our children won’t make a peep? 

That’s not possible!!! Even the best behaved child will yell out, speak loudly or have a temper tantrum sooner or later!!!!!!!!

I heard this mom on the radio this morning.  She said her child made a brief fuss, after which she promptly calmed him down.  She gave him something to do( distraction distraction!)  But she was still asked to leave.  Even though he was quietly playing with no further noise.  I’ve never been to an absolutely quiet library.  I see children there all the time.  Or so I thought.  And they are not all quiet.

What the hell is going on?

When did it become children vs the world?

When did the status quo become children should be seen and not heard?

Are they just supposed to be cute little lumps that you look at but never make a peep?

I really don’t understand this.  Am I the only one outraged over this????

Megan (Best of Fates)

Wednesday 20th of October 2010

Wow - that's so upsetting! I'm glad that mom is getting her story out there.

Crunchyvtmommy

Wednesday 20th of October 2010

No way I am sick of it too. People are just jerks. I think the world mightve become more anti child due to the tools that do take their children places they shouldnt. It gives everyone else a bad name.

Nina

Thursday 21st of October 2010

I agree with Crunchy. I think there are morons who won't take their children out of church, Wal-Mart, and restaurants when they get rowdy, but I also think people are just more self-absorbed in our generation. "I'm paying for this, I should be able to enjoy it, I shouldn't have to deal with Other People's Kids..." , you get the idea. I think that's why so many kids are so misbehaved. Everyone hates to discipline and deny their kids, and we all have to work hard to make ends meet, which takes away from our home time. But even though people hate to discipline/deny their kids, it has to be done. It's not about us and how we feel. It's about what's best for them in the long run. My 10 month old has already figured out the drop it so someone will play with me game. My husband keeps picking the toy up and giving it back to him complaining all the while. When I told him to quit giving it back to him every time, he said "I can see you and he are gonna have a great relationship." He was being a smartass. I don't give a shit. He (the baby/toddler) has to learn not to do that and hold onto his own toy! At some point. I realize he's gonna do it for awhile, and it's cute. The first 3-4 times. I don't know. I think people are afraid that if they discipline their kids, they won't love them. I call bullshit. I got whuppin's regularly and I earned every one of 'em. And I love my parents. I learned to have respect, and how to behave myself in public. Mostly.

MrsTDJ

Wednesday 20th of October 2010

This story here is bizarre and seems like a very unfair attack. However, I'm not as outraged by the general tone of children being seen and not heard. I'm mom to an almost 2 year old, but I still very much side with the childless when it comes to issues of inconvenience. Children have the ability to change the dynamics of any situation that they are in and those without children are often expected to conform. I'm not suggesting that all parents keep our children locked in the house and turn into reclusive, social misfits. Rather that we simply acknowledge that both sides have a voice in the issue.

brown-eyed-girl

Wednesday 20th of October 2010

Doesn't make any sense to me!

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