Tuesday 28 February 2012

If only...


Had to ride the bus today...

The trip home was a nightmare - the bus I was supposed to catch had broken down so I jumped on the first one that was going vaguely close to my house.

There was a young woman on there with a young child in a buggy.  The child started to cry and struggle to get out of the buggy, but the woman did nothing except send and read texts and look out of the window.  After around 10 minutes she said a couple of things to the kid and then went back to her phone.

In the end I got off the bus early to prevent one of several possible scenarios happening.


A - I got so angry that something burst in my head.

B - I snatched the woman's phone off her and threw it out of the window.

C - I had a massive rant at the woman about her responsiblities as a parent and how there are many people who would do literally anything to have a child and that she should start enjoying the wonderful gift she had been given.

D - I became a Vigilante Parent, turning the buggy to face me and taking over for her.


I can actually see a future in the Vigilante Parent idea - a movie, perhaps, where Charles Bronson stalks around town giving bad parents quick lessons in parenting.  Think it might be an Oscar winner?

14 comments:

ShadowRun300 said...

I see that kind of thing all the time. It's one thing if the parent is trying to do something about it, but it's so frustrating when they just ignore it - especially on a bus!! I would have wanted to do all the things you listed as well, but I most likely would have done what you did - exit quickly.
Vigilante Parent? Awesome idea. Could even be a reality show....

terri said...

When a child is acting up, seeking or needs attention, it just kills me when the parent acts oblivious to others around them. Mark and I were in a restaurant once. There was a family in the booth behind us and the parents let the kids run ALL over the place - around the tables, into the bar area, even back in the kitchen area where the servers were going to and from. Even when one child got hurt and was wailing and crying, the parents stayed in their seats until one of the older kids brought the crying kid back to mom and dad. I couldn't believe that they didn't care that other customers and the staff were being disturbed.

I love the vigilante parent idea. It would take off like Harry Potter with dozens of movies coming out as blockbusters year after year.

Ms. ~K said...

Oh I would have loved to see you perform choices B or C....the longer I taught, the younger and more irresponsible parents seem to become...retirement came just in the nick of time, before I told off a dingy parent or two! :)

Kiki said...

You know which one I'd vote for my friend....send that baby to me!!!!

Unknown said...

If i were there, i'd give the woman some scatching looks (most teachers can do this disapproving face) and if she didn't take the hint, i'd tell her loudly to keep her baby silent or i'll do it for her. Volume always help in public places.
Ok, ok, i will not hurt the baby, i promise ;p
Some people should be yelled in public, my personal opinion...

wigsf3 said...

I'm sorry but I think Charles Bronson is dead.

Rock Chef said...

ShadowRun300 - Yes, it would make a great reality show! I can see it now...

Terri - Wow, I guess I just don't eat out enough! I am amazed that the family wasn't thrown out!

Ms K - A local school head told us that half of his job these days is trying to teach the parents how to behave...

Kiki - I did think of that!

Shadowthorne - Ah, I love the way you deal with things!

Rock Chef said...

Wigsf - We can bring him back as a zombie then - no one would know the difference.

Shrinky said...

That poor kid toay is our thug of tomorrow, count on it! Why are we always so afraid to hold parents legally accountable for the (later, older) behaviour of their children?

Nah, let's scrap casting the Zombie-Bronson for this block-buster - how about signing up Mrs. Bobbet instead?

Rock Chef said...

Shrinky - Absolutely right - our children can only be what we give them the chance to be. Hm, mabye she would be a bit too extreme? Assuming she is who I think she is...

CiCi said...

It might not be an Oscar winner but it might make life more pleasant in the long run for lots of people.

Abby said...

OH, such a major peeve for me too! Don't get me started. Poor kid.

kenady said...

That would totally be an Oscar winner!!! I hate when parents ignore their kids. Just really sets something off inside of me.

agg79 said...

Would have been interesting to see you go all vigilante on her. That, too, really chaps me to see parents who are not tending to their kids. Makes you wonder how they treat their kids when not in public. I like option B but that would have probably gotten you hauled in by the law.