Gardening in High Heels

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You’re never too old to be considerate

Today’s post is brought to you by #HashtagHumpday and some genuinely annoying kids from last week.

We're ranting about consideration in today's #HashtagHumpday link up post!

So the other day I was at Starbucks with Jonathan.  There was a small child to my left with his parent and a woman to my right (by herself).  #WhoBuysTheirFiveYearOldAnythingFromStarbucks?

I went to put my cup down in between the two so I could get some milk.  I set my cup down, took the lid off, and the kid (#ClearlyNotPayingAttentionToTheWorld) bumped me so my coffee spilled all over my hand and the counter.

This is the best part.  Are you ready for it?  #WaitForIt

The father looked at the kid, looked at me, and said, “Okay, let’s go now.” #AreYouKiddingMe?!

I am so sick of this self-centric culture we are living in.  I understand that a small child my not know what he’s doing or be paying attention to the world around him, but the job of the parent is to teach your child to pay attention to the world around him.

Something similar happened later that day.  We were leaving an area where there were many kids (and parental supervisors) were putting on socks and shoes.  And the kids were just sitting in the middle of the walkway area.

Are you surprised that these people aren’t watching out for their kids?  If I tripped and hurt one of their kids, it would be my fault instead of the parents for not keeping them safely out of the way of a busy area.

Seems like they could be a little more concerned for their kids’ well being here, don’t you?  If the job of the parent in example one is to teach their child to pay attention, it seems like the lesson here is to pay attention to the safety of your kids.

I was lucky to have parents that didn’t raise me to be a self-centered brat.  If I stopped in the middle of an entryway, I was told to move.  If I bumped in to someone, I was told to excuse myself.  If I was walking in a public area, I stayed to the right rather than taking up an entire hallway.

It is absolutely mind blowing to me that some people are so passive with their children.  They are shaping minds.  Minds that we all have to live with.  It would be a much nicer place to live if we were considerate of others.  And we could teach that to the future generations.

Sure, I understand that we all have to watch out for ourselves.  If we don’t have our best interest in mind, who will?  I get that.  But there’s nothing wrong with being polite and saying excuse me.

I just can’t believe that someone would basically allow their children to spill coffee all over someone and then #WALKAWAY?!?

Maybe I’m getting older and a few years ago this wouldn’t have bothered me.  Or maybe this egotistical attitude is compounding more and more.  Whatever it is, I’m tired of it.

All I know is that this wouldn’t have been such a problem when I was younger.  It definitely wouldn’t have been a problem when my parents were younger.  Going back even further, still not a problem.  Where do you think we learned how to be polite?  #DingDinDinggg: from our parents.

I’d love to just sit down in the middle of the floor and refuse to move, but life isn’t that way.  We all have to get a long with each other, so can’t we make it a little easier on ourselves?

So that was my rant for this week.  What about you?

I’m linking up with Life With Lolo and Genuinely Lauren to air some grievances for #HashtagHumpday.

#Hashtaghumpday @ Life with Lolo

  • I completely agree! I was taught my “please and thank yous”, to hold the door open for people, excuse yourself, etc. I don’t understand why some parents aren’t teaching their kids these things. My daughter is 2 and she says please and thank you! And I would definitely apologize if my daughter would have spilled someone’s drink everywhere and clean it up and offer to buy you another one. That’s craziness

    • Amen sister! I love that you’re teaching your daughter to be a polite person. If kids want to be holy terrors in their own house, that’s fine, but be nice in the outside world. Thank goodness I didn’t lose much coffee (and I have a high tolerance for heat-pain) but someone else may have been really hurt and to overlook that is inexcusable.

  • I get so, so frustrated with kids and their parents these days. First off they are babied to no end. People call the police if they see kids walking alone in a safe neighborhood. Uh, back when I was a kid I would peace out on my scooter around 10 am for the park and not be home until dinner and that was the norm. And along with that comes the self entitlement. Everyone is a winner, everyone make the team. No! You have to earn it. It’s the same with all these folks in your rant – their kids are entitled and don’t have to apologize because there little miss/mr perfect to their parent. UGH it makes me sick.

    • Omg, I know, right?! I have absolutely nothing against kids, it’s just parents of kids who are raising them to be rude and self-centered prince(sses). And yes, don’t get me started on the “everyone gets a trophy” thing. Ugh.

      I fully recognize there are still people with good moral values and I hope they prevail.

  • Unfortunately the parents are as centric as their children are and that’s why they’re not taught anything different. It’s one of the main reasons that I didn’t go into teaching. As much as those few children’s lives are so worth it that you impact, the majority of children today are, for lack of a better word, brats.

    • I agree. To all of it. It’s so frustrating that the good people of the world (us) have to rely on these people to make laws and follow them when we get older. I’m scared for the future.

  • This happens all the time, although, there was one light in the darkness that happened a while back. Sometimes when families come through Starbucks (I totally understand your question of buying five year olds ANYTHING from Starbucks, WHY?!) the parents hands the kid the credit card so the kid can hand it to me. Well. One time a mother handed her kid the credit card, and the THREW IT AT ME. I mean seriously. This mother though, smacked her kid in the back of the head and told him to apologize. I was pleased. Granted. Then there are adults who shatter glass sugar shakers and then act surprised when I have to pick up the pieces and never utter a word of apology. #LearnSomeManners

    • I absolutely love when I see parents parenting in public. I don’t know if some are just embarrassed to reprimand their child in public or just don’t care – probably about 50/50.

      That would happen when I worked as a receptionist, too. People would just throw their things at me like I was their servant. Too bad they’re full-grown adults with those habits!

  • Oooh man. I have so many strong opinions about this. I can’t believe that guy just took his kid and left without even an apology.

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