I have a little speech that I give to my kids whenever we gear up to go somewhere, be it a local outing or a trip around the world. It goes something like this: “Please remember you are representing your family today. Please act in a way that reflects positively on the choices we have made.” Of course those lofty words are really just code for, “please fight your natural tendency to behave like punks, don’t embarrass me, and for the love of all things good, don’t act like one of “those people.”
You know “those people” right? They are the people whose toddler won’t buckle up when it’s time for the airplane to take off or whose preschooler kicks the seat in front of them non-stop. They are the people whose kids act like they’ve got an IV sugar drip at the nice restaurant and interrupt the tour because they won’t stop running and touching things. Those are the people that other people complain about when they say that children should be kept off planes and out of restaurants and away from anything that aren’t brightly colored with a cartoon character mascot.
We definitely don’t want to be “those people” and so I give my little speech in hopes of sending my children out into the traveling world as little ambassadors. If you read any of the articles (and the comments that follow*) around the interwebs about kicking kids off planes and out of restaurants, you will see that the kid hating party line is that they don’t mind kids as long as they are well behaved kids. So, I have shouldered the heavy burden of doing my dead level best to be sure my kids were well behaved in every restaurant, airport, airplane, and tourist attraction in hopes of convincing these curmudgeons that kids can participate positively in any activity.
*Read at your own risk. Comments may cause disillusionment and overall horror at the state of the world and the heartless people who live in it.
I have always believed that if we (and other traveling families like us) continue to represent families in a positive light that we will be able to convince the world that kids are worthy of spot in the world. But this week I had to face the facts: I was wrong. No matter how hard we try or how many well behaved children exist, there are always going to be people who hate children just because they are children.
This revelation smacked me in the face this week when we toured a cave in the Hill Country with a couple from Seattle who couldn’t have been more disgusted that they allowed children to take the tour along with them. They huffed and puffed when my kids so much as dared to ask a question and they visibly bristled and rolled their eyes when my kids came anywhere near them. Ironically, the man of the pair had to be repeatedly reminded by the tour guide that he needed to stay with the tour, while my kids couldn’t have been better behaved. For a while, I was watching my kids like a hawk to see what it was about their behavior that was so troublesome to this pair, but then I realized it wasn’t my kids, it was these people. No matter how my kids behaved (even when they behaved better than said adults) they were already tried and convicted on the charges of being too young to be a part of the world.
That somber realization in the cave made me start to think about how American society responds to children and their place in the world. The more I brooded over my cave experience, the more my head just wanted to burst with the frustration-and that frustration spilled over onto the page. Consider this my open letter to the kind-hearted strangers and the kid haters and everyone in between.
To those who smile and coo at my little ones and give me knowing glances of kindness when I travel with my brood: thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. Your generosity and silent encouragement makes it possible for me to continue to try to show my children the world when I know the kid haters are around every corner.
To those who openly declare that children are tolerable as long as they are of the well behaved variety: thank you for at least keeping your cringes to yourself when I board the plane with my parade of children. Thank you for judging children on a case by case basis and giving us the opportunity to prove that there are many children who can and will behave respectfully in public. It is my true desire not to disturb your flight, your meal, or your overall world and if we happen to make a childish mistake, no one will feel more horrible than me.
To those of you truly hate children-who despise them simply because of their smaller stature and fewer years: I could remind you that you were once a child yourself. I could try to be poetic and suggest that children are the only material we have found so far from which to make adults. I could even offer you a song about the children being the future and treating them well. But none of those platitudes would likely sway your Grinch-sized hearts and your closed- minded age discrimination.
Instead, I offer you this sobering truth. These children, the ones that “ruin” your grocery store trips and your plane rides and your overall existence on earth, will come into acceptable adult years about the time you enter elderly status. They will be the policemen who pull you over when you are too senile to drive, but still value your independence. They will be the doctors and nurses who administer your end of life care and determine if you end your time on this planet with respect. They will be the strangers upon whom you depend to bring you meals and clean your homes when you are no longer capable of caring for yourself. They will be the countless, nameless faces who will hold doors for you and are forced to shuffle slowly behind you when your body can no longer move at normal pace.
When these children are adults, it is my sincere hope that someone taught them to treat everyone, regardless of age with respect and concern. Hopefully, along the way they learned that the way that we treat the “least” in our society directly reflects on the overall good in our society. I know that even these thoughts probably won’t sway your opinion, because you don’t consider yourself to be the in the “least” category. But you will be. Some day.
I'm currently living in Malaysia, home to Malaysian Airlines which banned babies from First Class. Directly this isn't a problem for me since my kids are well past baby stage, and I will never be able to afford First Class. However, the policy seems to be indicative of the attitude towards kids by many (but not all) people here. Kids are expected to be miniature adults rather than act like children. It's perfectly acceptable for local schools to cane their kids for misbehaving or even hit their hand for getting an answer wrong — in kindergarten! Compliance, not curiosity, is what's expected. So, we try to be good ambassadors. We're not successful 100% of the time, but we're doing the best we can.
Just love this! We've traveled a lot with ours, and I cannot recall any specific negative experiences like the one you describe on the cave tour. (It is entirely possible I just blocked it out, though.) Mostly we get reactions like the first two you mention (smiling and nodding or at least tolerance). Thanks for sharing.
I love this (thanks to R We There Yet? Mom for sharing!). I once took my baby and toddler on an airplane and worked so hard, as you do, to keep them from disturbing anybody. At the end of the flight, an older gentleman came up to me and said, "I can tell you are a good mother." I swear I almost cried.
Beautifully put. I have three children myself, and I too give them a lecture before we go anywhere about being on their best behaviour. Honestly, I get aggravated by people that don't make their kids behave in public. I don't like my children suffering because of other kids' bad behaviour.
Bravo!
Those who automatically assume that a child will misbehave make me crazy. I do expect my kids to behave but well, they are kids and they aren't going to be perfect all the time. I get so annoyed when we get dirty looks for the times when my children do normal kid things. Though the worst is when we get judged for the times that my middle son(who has special needs) does something- and they think that we should just be able to tell him no and have it stop. I welcome them to try that. And we make sure that we aren't in a situation like a fancy restaurant or anything- but sheesh, people judge even if it's at the park where it's okay for kids to be a little loud.
Maybe it's because I'm in a perpetual state of baby-crazy, but I love to talk to babies and kids in grocery stores, restaurants, etc., whether they're upset or not. They are children, and good lord, if on really bad days, I could have a meltdown of epic proportions in a social setting, I would kick and scream and roll around on the ground right there with them.
I especially like your last two paragraphs – they're shockingly true. I think if I were a baby-hater (I'm not), those thoughts would definitely sway my opinion.
Great, great post! It is one thing when parents do not try and "control" their children from "impacting" other peoples lives. It is another thing entirely when we are conscious parents of our surroundings and make sure our children are well behaved.
I will remember your comments the next time someone gives us a dirty look or comment just because we have children with us.
I've accepted that no matter what I do there are times where my child will act like well a child. I don't apologize because I figure – we were all kids ourselves at some point in time. 🙂
This has to be the BEST post I have read in a while concerning these things. Amazing. Definitely deserve a round of applause. It's sad that people don't see that. I like Diana's comment too, above mine. So true.
Stopping by from "Pour Your Heart Out"
Beautifully said, Jessica! I have been operating on the assumption that most of these kid-haters existed comfortably in the anonymity of the internet and that they wouldn't dare to act or speak in such a mean-spirited way in real life. I am so sorry that your boys were treated in such a callous way by the couple on your tour – I hope they didn't feel like they had done anything wrong to provoke the ire of these kid-haters. I'm not sure when it became acceptable for people to act in such a selfish way as to assume that they have the right to be sheltered from other members of the public that they disapprove of but it's really time that society shifts back – everyone needs to start treating others with a little compassion, respect and concern.
Well said! I don't have children, but totally support and encourage people who travel with children. You've done an awesome job with your kids in preparing them for travel and instilling an appreciation of new places and experiences. I love seeing families like yours during my travels. What troubles me are the parents who observe bad behavior by their kids and just ignore it, thus endorsing more bad behavior. But the solution isn't to keep the kdis at home — it's to take some responsibility (as you do) and educate. It's unfortunate that some adults are so narrow-minded and assume the worst.
Gosh that was so well written! I am stunned to hear of restaurants that now have a sign out the front "No kids allowed". I am stunned that people are saying out loud that they dont like children, dont wan to have children, and cant see why they have to be near children on planes etc….
What ever happened to society caring about each other? What ever happened to helping our Children grow into fine young people? Like you say – one day they are going to need someone – be it a younger person, or even a child to help them out – what will they do then?
First, let me start by applauding you!!! I know this was not an easy one to publish. Such a divided line in society with this and it is just ripe with fueled emotions.
I cannot, and will not, live my life by the capacity (or lack thereof) of others. Some people, no matter how well our children are ambassadors, will judge them by the worst that they have seen in others. That is their problem and not mine. My responsibility is to expect my child to show respect for others, including how they speak to them and how they contribute to the environment we are in. In an open park, as we play in the middle of the day, I expect my child to be able to run, and scream and act like a banshee (within reason, ofcourse). BUT..if we choose to go to a restaurant or other public activities, I beleieve it is my responsibility not to encroach other's time with said banshee. Everytime we enter a restaurant or museum, etc, my son is reinforced with the idea that it is a priviledge for us to be there. I reinforce to myself that also. Having a toddler means that you are at times, carting around a ticking time bomb. Should I hear the countdown begin, and I not be able to stop it before it explodes, then I feel it my responsibility to save the general pubic from the explosion. If we are in a restaurant in the middle of a meal, we leave. If we drove downtown to see a play, I go out in the hall and miss large portions of it. Also, if I know there is no way in hell we can behave, then I need to alter my plans. It is work and effort to enjoy things sometimes with kiddos. If I want to not parent and enjoy a meal or activity, then I need to get a babysitter and have a date-night with my hubby or a Girl's Night Out with my besties.
Fabulous Post!!!!!! Thank you for taking the time to put this out there!
Way to go! Great read. Thanks for posting this.
FABULOUS perspective. Love it. My son is almost 4. We don't "travel" a lot, but since he is not in school (nor will he ever be), we are out and about much of the day on most days. it is amazing to me the "looks" I get for bringing him with me everywhere – even when he is behaving "appropriately". But honestly, if he can't be with me, then I don't want to go. He's a person, too. And he mght not always be on his best behavior (we try to stay home those days), or he might have "had it" (don't we all) and have a moment — but that is part of growing up. I say, let them stare; let them glare. I love this life we have chosen for him now…I wouldn't have it any other way.
I'm not a fan of children but I don't openly hate them. I have to say though that the arguement "You were a child once yourself" is beaten to death and really isn't relevant. Could be they remember how horrible they were and hated themselves then too.
I agree that the argument “you were once a child” is greatly overused-which is why I offered another argument in my final two paragraphs. Thank you, though, for not opening hating children. I recognize that everyone does not need to love children, but open hatred of any group of people is not acceptable in society.
Did you ever stop to ask the couple why they had a problem with your children? Did you wonder at any time if MAYBE they had requested to be on a tour without children? Maybe there's a reason they don't like kids. Did you at any point in time stop to find out their story? Ot did you just get offended that they acted the way they did? Take time to find out the why and maybe you'll get answers. Otherwise, you can't expect people to like dhildren because you chose to have them and take them places.
Maybe they did request a tour without children, but most likely the establishment would have turned them down. Just like if I had requested a tour with no old people, or black people, or gay people-the cave would have simply explained that they do not discriminate based on age, gender, race, or sexual orientation. You seem to think that it is acceptable for people to treat children badly simply because they are children. I disagree, obviously. There isn’t an instance ever where it is okay for one group of people to treat another badly because they harbor hatred against that group. Would have been unfair for me to be offended if they treated me badly because I am handicapped? What if they had treated me badly because I am a minority? Those kinds of things aren’t acceptable in a proper society. You don’t have to like my children (or any children) but you cannot behave in an openly hostile way.
Wonderful words! As a mother of many myself, fellow traveler, and sometime kid hater (sorry – I'm bad, too), I have to add that not all kids are equal. Some poor parents have truly difficult special needs children that cannot "behave" like the world prefers. Those are the mothers to be pitied. They do their very best, but honestly they have to travel, too, and they have very little control over their little ones.
In general I've always tried to be sensitive and not take kids where they were not welcomed. Couples who leave their babies home with a sitter for a nice evening out do not appreciate hearing a crying infant next to them in an otherwise adult atmosphere. That's just the way it is.
Amen. I am sensitive to my children's behavior in public. When they inconvenience others, however slightly, we are more sorry than anyone. We have usually been blessed by the kindness and tolerance of others in these moments. We also avoid restaurants and other places that our young children will not appreciate because we know that if possible bad behavior doesn't ruin someone else's experience, it will ruin ours. We save those places for date night and trust that with more experience and maturity, our children will be ready for them soon enough.
Thankfully, your cave experience is not the norm. I believe that most people are not kid-haters and that some of the problems that create "no children" policies are rooted in parents who seem insensitive to their children's behavior or who have modeled that behavior themselves. I admit to an inner-groan on a recent plane trip without our children when a young mother sat next to me with her 8-month-old baby. The plane was full and I feared the worst, but was pleasantly surprised by how sweet he was through the entire flight. Even if he had been difficult, we would have survived, and perhaps could even have been helpful. If we could all remember that "kindness begins with me", the world would be a better place for everyone.
Great story. I will admit that I fall into the category of those who are ok with children as long as they behave. It's the parents I usually have a problem with. One example – on a boat tour we went on, there was a young boy who was banging the seats back and forth. Annoying enough. Then the parent began the litany – "Jimmy, stop that or else." "Jimmy, I said stop it or I'm going to…….." "Jimmy, I mean it. Stop it or I'm going to (whatever)." Well, the 'whatever' never came. This parent had not only become annoying herself, but she had taught her child that her word meant absolutely nothing. If you're not going to carry through on your threat, don't make it in the first place! Parents can also be over stringent. In an appropriate situation, I have no problem with the sound of children laughing and having fun (as long as it's not shrill screaming and they aren't detracting from or disturbing the activity at hand!). But then you get the worried parent who is constantly trying to shush them – thus, they become the annoyance. The last one I will mention is the oblivious parent. One time at the theatre, I had a child behind me who kicked my seat through the entire first act. At intermission, I turned in my seat and addressed the mother. "May I trade seats with your son for the second act?" I asked. She looked puzzled. "Why?" she replied. I smiled and said, "So I can return the favor and kick his seat for the rest of the show." Snarky maybe, but I made my point – the kicking stopped. And I directed my annoyance at the person I felt was responsible for it. So my point is – children don't have to be perfect. Parents just need to show them appropriate behavior in everyday situations.
I know the feeling. Several years ago when we had 8 kids from 21- baby we took them out to eat at a Thai restaurant in our hometown. We took our future DIL(a friend of yours!) and seven kids. As soon as we entered the restaurant the owner/waiter got the look! No one misbehaved except the owner. He ignored us when we wanted drinks and scolded our 2yo for walking around the table to go to his dad. He fawned all over the couples that came in and tried to ignore us. When we left my husband emailed him and the chef telling him we had never been treated so badly in any restaurant. They both responded with an apology turns out they had no kids and no experience with kids and made assumptions when we came in. But we never went back even though the food was good.
Oh my! You did me in with the quote in the second photo. How very true that statement is! The world pushes our kids to grow up so quickly. Too many people expect perfection when all they are is children and children are something to be cherished and appreciated…not hated.
Its not that people expect perfection. Some kid haters, like myself; developed over a long period of time. Although in many overseas countries I have found few I disliked.
From the instant migraine I get from the high pitched wails, to the kid that asked my why i'm fat. (I asked him if he was retarted or something.) to the 3 year old no one was watching that climbed all over my booth and table at Ihop( I had to threaten with CPS before anyone did anything!) to the teen who decided it was a good idea to do backflips just because the mall was empty and nearly sent me crashing to the floor when i walked around the corner (I pushed her just in time to keep her from hitting me, she got hurt.), to the teen that would not shut up on a 13 hour flight and couldnt get the clue that i was trying to sleep. (talking to me about nonsense, something like do we keep cows for pets.) I have many reasons to dislike them.
However there are a few children I enjoy being around, but so few that i wonder if i'll ever actually thinking of kids in a positive way. so please dont assume kid haters just happen.
Jeri I am just going to take a wild guess here that you are single?
Very eloquently said friend. I’m proud of you for posting this in defense of all children. As someone who knows your children personally, I’m appauled that they were treated so unkindly. Your children are courteous, respectful, and have an amazing love of learning. Great post!
AMEN! I hate when people are all judgy just because kids are involved in an activity or on a plane or god forbid in public. We were all children once and children may make mistakes or act out but I know plenty of adults who do the same. Thank you for this.
This was so good I had to wake my husband to read it to him. It's truly fantastic! I am a new follower and I found your link through PYHO 🙂
Love, love this post, Jessica! I am so glad you posted your first "controversial" one and clearly one of the best you've written (considering you have some great ones). As a traveling parent, thank you for this and for making people aware. I've had my share of people who gave me the evil eye or a cringe when walking down the airplane aisle. I've been tempted to pretend we're sitting next to them just to see how'd they react. I'm sorry you and your boys had to experience such obscene behavior from adults. I don't know if I would have kept my composure with that couple as you did. It really is sad when innocent children are treated this way and are stereotyped into little misfits without even saying a word or behaving out of line.
I read your post this morning and I was bobbing my head in agreement with what you said and encouraging you on, Then I read one of the comments arguing that you need to look at both sides and it got me thinking. Yes. I can't stand the kid haters either. We took my 10 month old daughter out to dinner at a restaurant a couple of weeks ago and she was an angel. She cooed, she smiled, she showed how big she was eating and drinking. And yet, the one older lady behind us glared at us the entire dinner. But, one year ago my son had an awful accident involving a dog larger than him that left him in a body cast the entire summer. A year later and he still gets anxious around big dogs. Sometimes at the playground a family will show up with their dog and I admit to thinking "really? you had to bring your dog here? you couldn't go take him for a walk around the trail?" And I think this as my kid runs to me sitting terrified or goes and finds a hiding spot until the dog leaves. So just maybe, this couple you speak of had a tragic loss of a child. Maybe one of your boys is the same age was what their kid would of been. Maybe the male was so consumed with his emotion he was trying to wander off to deal with that emotion. Maybe the female tried repeatedly with no success to get pregnant and all children seem like a slap in the face to her. Maybe her spouse sat there comforting her over and over as she kept trying and failing to get pregnant. Maybe the old lady at the restaurant has a granddaughter she can't see because of a riff with her child and my child brought up all those negative feelings. Just a thought and we could all stand to put ourselves in other people's shoes from time to time.
Monica, I honestly thought the same thing as you when we began our tour. This couple was so repelled by my kids that I was sure they must have had some kind of trauma where kids were concerned, but I just don’t think that was the case here. The man was wandering off because he wanted to take pictures and didn’t want to wait and the lady was absolutely hateful-not sad in anyway. That said, I do think it is always good advice to put yourself in someone else’s shoes. One of my favorite quotes is “Be kinder than necessary for everyone you meet is fighting a battle” and I really try to live by that. However, I stand behind the fact that hatred of any kind for any reason is unacceptable, and standing by why hatred happens harms us individually and society as a whole.
I am so sorry about your son and the dog. That must be really tough.
I love all of those quotes. They are all so true. Kids deserve more grace then the world gives them. Sometimes we forget they are just kids! Stopped by from PYHO.
This is such a great post. I am actually choked up about it. My kids are well behaived … but my son … my youngest son also has severe special needs. I just can't even begin to say all that is in my heart. xo … great post.
During our flights in the last couple of weeks (5, including 2 that were over 10 hours) I was expecting this type of attitude toward my twin 2.5 year olds. At the very end of the last flight, a man sitting by himself across the aisle said, "If all children behaved that well I wouldn't mind traveling with them. You must be exhausted though." I wanted to laugh and cry.
Great post. 🙂
We recently returned from a 4 day road trip from Berlin, completely exhausted! I wish I had read this post before our trip!! My husband and I realized we both need to easy up a bit. Our kids are pretty good travelers, they have seen alot of this world in their short 4 and 6 years of life. But we are such NAGS!! I think in Berlin it was the worst its ever been. The city is really kids friendly, at the places made for kids. The parks are amzaing, the zoo was fantastic, they have kinder resturantes scattered around. BUT taking your kids on a walking tour, with 25 adults and only your 2 kids. Or stumbling upon a nice out door dinner spot in the court yard of an amazing building for a late dinner, and let the stares begin!! Our poor kids were getting nagged the entire time because we didn't want to be "those awful Americans" with bad kids. At some point, we need to find a balance of keeping our kids well behaved, but still letting them be kids. This is something my husband and I will truely try to work on! Our next road trip is to Garmisch in a few weeks. We will really be trying to ignore the haters and let our kids enjoy themselves a bit more! Thank you for sharing!!!
I am one who is always willing to give kids a chance. If I'm in a restaurant and they are behaving, I'm happy to have them there. However, if they aren't, I blame the parents and if I do have to get irritable, my ire will be directed at them. I remember going to the theatre one time (live theatre). We all know that theatre tickets are expensive, and this is not something I can afford to do all the time. Well, there was a little boy sitting behind me who kicked the back of my seat for the entire first act! So at intermission, I turned around and asked his mother if I could trade seats with him for the second act. She gave me a bewildered look and asked why. I told her so that I could sit behind him and kick the back of HIS seat for the rest of the show. It did the trick – there was no more kicking of my seat! And on the other hand, I have been known to compliment both parent and child if there is exemplary behavior going on. I think positive reinforcement and showing appreciation to both parties is a good thing. While I'm here – one other note. We were on a tour boat one time in the UK, on the River Thames. It was just a boat ride – no tour guides talking or anything. There were some kids having fun and giggling and laughing. The parents kept harping on them to hush up, sit down, be quiet, behave, etc. The kids weren't screaming, screeching, yelling or anything like that. They were just having fun. I so wanted to tell the parents 'your kids aren't bothering us. They sound happy. You, on the other hand, are annoying the hell out of us'. So don't be too uptight about your kids behaving TOO much. Sometimes people are just jealous that they don't have that energy anymore. Too bad for them.
LOL! Just read back thru the comments and realized I had posted parts of this last comment once before – back in May! Oh well, some things are worth repeating!
Yes, some people are really just prejudiced against children. It's alright to say you dislike spoilt, noisy, messy children, but to say you hate all children in general, without getting to know any, is prejudice, and unfortunately, not many people realise that. Imagine if you turned the word children into the name of a race or a group of religious people; it would be classed as discrimination and would be put a stop to, but because it is children, nothing is done about it. People forget children are people today. Some people consider them 'wild animals that need to be trained' or 'human beings that have no place in our society today'. Well, these prejudiced people have no place in our society today. What happened to everybody caring about eachother and treating everyone the same, regardless of their age, race, culture, etc… Children are being discriminated and everybody is considering it to be normal. Every human being is worth the same and children these days are treated terribly! I don't know how we can put a stop to it! Perhaps if everybody read this post they would change their minds! Really well written! These child haters refuse to believe they are wrong, and most unfortunately, because children are children, nothing is done about it. Perhaps someone should complain. Perhaps Ageism is going the other way round.
Here’s the thing: This couple in question did not actually do or say anything to either you or your children regarding their behavior. For all you know, they could’ve been having a bad day and were therefore a bit huffy having to deal with a large group if kids on the tour. Or, here’s something that hasn’t been considered yet: maybe their behavior had nothing to do with the kids at all. Who knows? They did not address the problem specifically… I think this Long-winded post was a tad excessive for something that isn’t that big of a deal.
Also, to Catherine above, I respectfully disagree. There is NEVER an excuse for bad manners, I don’t care what kind of day your having, obviously not bad enough to go on a tour. If you don’t like being around kids, join a 55+ community and never leave.
Honestly, this sounds like another proud, butthurt parent. Yes, that elderly couple were a pair of crabs, but newsflash: not everyone is crazy about your children. The majority of us don’t care for/like them. Don’t be too obsessed with what other people think, and focus on your own lives.
WOW! I can’t believe how many comments this post generated. Just goes to show you there is plenty of kid haters out there. We have six kids so the two responses I usually get are-how great our kids are and what a blessing a big family is, OR “Wow, you really have your hands full”, or “Better you than me!” I have seen the eye rolling, the angry stares, heard the sighs and the muttered comments, and like you, my kids are really well behaved, BUT they are curious! And just a reminder to us all and me included, don’t let them spoil your party or make you think your kids are anything less than the wonderful little people they are. I am a nice woman, but a few people in this country have terrible manners, and most people will shape up when called on it.
LOVE your blog!!!!!
Bravo! Ive just spent the past hour reading your blog and this post is my absolute FAVORITE. Blessings to you and your family. Keep it up!
“They will be the doctors and nurses who administer your end of life care and determine if you end your time on this planet with respect.”
Or they will be the nurse who informs you to stop whining she’ll be with you when she’s off her phone, because her mother called an usher a bitch when the usher asked you to stop watching your Ipad during an opera “Such up you bitch Do you really expect a 4 year old to sit through Tristahn and Isolde”?
“They will be the strangers upon whom you depend to bring you meals and clean your homes when you are no longer capable of caring for yourself. ” or they will be on unemployment refusing a service job because “I’ve been in the gifted program since I as 3 months old. My mother told me making food is beneath me. I’m special and gifted. ”
“will come into acceptable adult years about the time you enter elderly status.” or they will be in jail because since their parents intervened every time their teacher tried to take their phone away those children were raised to believe defying authority was ‘standing up for themselves”
if you want to someone to hate for people who don’t enjoy children look to the parents who let their kids ride scooters through a restaurant. Direct your hate toward the women letting her 7 year scratch up a mural with a coin, and simply said “he’s just being a kid” instead of stopping him”
I won’t apologize for being a civilized person.