I was brought up to belive that was not "good manners" to do what those boys were allowed to do. Don't feel like the heavy!! I actually had a parent tell me "How dare you yell at my son!" Okay, he was running through the kitchen area playing tag and I asked him to leave...oh well!
It's just amazing the "level" one mom compaired to another hold their children accountable for. Sad but true.
The event as a whole sounds like a great activity, I would just do it with out the balls or....carry a long pin .
Originally posted by Mchele: Our group holds a mother/son father/daughter or mother/daughter father/son banquet each year. The last few involving sons that I have gone to (I only have one child) have been out of control. At last evening's mother/son, the theme was sports and in the gym there were several games the kids could play. Along one wall were some blow-up beach balls and several boys flocked to them and begun wailing the balls at other kids. The balls were hitting smaller children, mothers, and they also wailed the balls at the pro-sports team mascot who was courteous enough to come to our event. The volunteers had a hard time controlling the kids and we finally started taking the balls away to prevent someone from getting hurt. I couldn't believe that the mothers were just standing around chit-chatting with each other, totally oblivious to what their boys were doing. I don't mind being the heavy, and taking away the balls, but it shouldn't have been me, it should've been their parents. I am vice-president this year and will be president next year. I am concerned that if this behavior continues, sooner or later someone will get hurt and the consequences to our PTA could be severe. What suggestions do you have that can help us "encourage" parents to monitor their children better.
Unfortunately that is the way our society AS A WHOLE is going. That is very common. If you have a parent liaison/Title 1 representative at your school, maybe you could get with them to give a parenting class on "manners" and such.
Good luck.
Great idea but in Pennsylvania in the winter months, that's about impossible. We could change the date, but don't know if it would work with other events in our schedule.
Thanks luvmykids. We had several games set up for mothers & sons to participate in; some did stick together but there were those few that were allowed to run rampant. I agree with kmamom (our personalities seem very similar) that kids needs to be taught manners at home and it was obvious to me which ones had been, and which ones had not. It's a very fine line that separates keeping families involved in our activities and offending some. I know we can never please everyone and most of the offenders were sixth graders so they will be out of our elementary next year.
I suppose it's this attitude that makes me less than popular at times, but I'd say they're outta there. Especially if it's an event I'm hosting. Yes, diplomacy is difficult for me at times.
I'm a strong advocate of teaching kids manners if their parents are not willing to do it. If these kids don't understand how to behave appropriately, you take the ball away, tell them if they can't behave they have to leave, and if they still don't get the message, you'll have to approach the parent and ask them to escort their kid out until they can learn how to control themselves.
It's that type of parent behavior (or lack thereof) that makes me mental. And I'm sure these are the parents who would, instead of being mortified at their child's behavior, be the ones to think you were completely out of line for making a "big deal out of nothing." Believe me, these parents weren't oblivious, just afraid of disciplining their children lest they should be seen as a parent rather than a friend.
As far as hurting other children, or fearing a lawsuit--you shouldn't have to give an excuse. That sort of nonsense is unacceptable in any given setting. Though I suppose if you have to spell it out, you do what you've got to do. It never ceases to amaze me how obnoxious people can be!
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