>Oh, Mother
>At Forever 21 yesterday (It’s my guilty pleasure. Shut up.), Punky and I were waiting in line ahead of two sisters who looked like they were somewhere between 18 and 21. Their mother stood silently behind them.
The girls appeared to have both spent most of their lifetimes inside tanning beds, and sported identical hairdos of the palest and most damaged blond hair you can imagine. Their arms laden with clothing, the conversation between them quickly turned into an argument. A very loud argument.
“Shut up, you f!$#ing b*tch.”
“You f#@!ing shut up, f$3!ing piece of sh!t. Mom said she’d buy me that shirt, you f$*!ing loser b%tch, not you.”
“You’re the one who’s a f$!@ing b*tch.”
I turned around and smiled patiently.
“I’ve got a five-year-old here,” I said quietly. “Could you watch the language please?”
The girls stared at me, their lips curling. One of them reared up in indignation, as if readying herself for some kind of verbal battle of insults. Um, no. I sighed and turned back around.
“Excuse me, are you like, in this?” one of them said to my back.
“Kiss. My. Ass!” the other one said.
Unbelievable.
Unbelievable.
And their mother just stood there.
I wondered if this was the end result of those small children we all know who are allowed to say and do whatever they want, while their parents stand by with insipid smiles and act like they don’t know what’s going on.
And I’m writing about this now because each year, I read blog posts from moms who were a bit disappointed by Mother’s Day. Maybe their teenagers barely acknowledged them. Maybe they ended up spending most of the day cleaning up after everyone else.
I’m betting though, that you couldn’t have had a worse day than the mom standing in line behind me. There would be almost nothing more depressing than listening to those two girls and realizing that they were the fruits of the many years you’d put into child rearing.
I like to think that if Punky said those things at that age, her armload of clothes would be on the floor and I’d be leading her out the door by her ear.
What would you have done?
>If my daughters were speaking like that to eachother I would have smacked both of them upside the head and they wouldn’t have been gifted with a SINGLE item that they held in their hands.I would also stop paying for all of their nails/hair/tanning, and I would have given you a $50 gift card to whatever store you were in just to apologize for this terrible behavior.I want to find those girls and kick them in the shins.
>well, for starters, there’s no way they would have new clothes. How sad and embarassing for that mother. Like you, I would have said somethng to them. And probably something to the manager of the store, because you deserve to shop in an enviroment where you should not have to shield your child’s ears.
>I’m floored. Just floored. How did that mom just stand there? How could she not say anything to her daughters? And once you said something to them, which I also would have done, the mother didn’t correct them? I am sure they talk to her the same way and she was completely embarrassed, but wow! I certainly would not be buying my children any clothes no matter what their age! That problem needed to be corrected 15 years ago. I feel bad for the mom, for the family and for the girls as well. Someone failed them.
>Oh my gosh- you’re right. That would kill me. No way would I let that happen but a very good reminder to make sure what I’m doing now could never lead up to it.Steph
>Wow. That’s disgusting. I would definitely said something. I am very particular about what kind of language my son hears because as I’m sure you know, he hears EVERYTHING! We were at Disney recently and some a-hole actually came up to the bus and started yelling the “f” word. I guess he had too much wine in France that night. We were seriously angered. As for that mom, the fact that she did nothing just goes to explain why those girls were speaking that way. I know that I will never have to worry about that kind of behavior out of my child because he will never think that is acceptable. There must be a major lack of respect in that family. She probably taught them to speak that way, it’s just sad all around.
>My alter-ego would have told my daughter (loudly) that those words are very rude and should not ever EVER be spoken in such a manner. Especially in front of children. I would explain to her that those girls probably had grown up in a world with very little love and acceptance, but full of shabby parenting. If I were the mother, I’d probably like to take a time machine back to the beginning and move to a small town on a farm where those girls would have to learn work and respect. And then I’d call Super Nanny.Oh, or send the whole family on a Compassion International trip to earn them a little perspective. God love ’em.
>You know the answer–they never would have gotten like that to start with. How appalling.You’re right about how it all started–a parent that is afraid to stand up to her kids because she doesn’t want them mad at her.
>I would have FOUND some soap to wash their mouths out with! That is HORRIBLE. Also, I would make them put each and every thing back on the rack/shelf they got it from, and then make them apologize to each and every person that heard what they were saying. I would hope and pray that my boys NEVER speak that way at all, much less in public… and especially if I’m standing right there.
>I know those girls and their mother. The mother is deaf. No, not really, but what else could explain it?I had a pretty horrible mother’s day. My 2 y.o. ended up in the emergency room after falling in a restaurant.
>Aww, April, I’m sorry. I hope your 2-year-old is okay!
>Stayed silent and furious and then blogged about it.
>As the mom of those girls?That scene NEVER would’ve happened in the first place because they would’ve learned manners and respect long before yesterday.As the mom of a 5 year old, standing there listening to all of that?I would’ve gone up to the counter, said “Hold these, I’ll be back in 30 minutes.” and then left the store.And, actually – the store’s manager should’ve stepped in and stopped that by telling the two girls to be quiet or leave. As for that mom – bless her heart. She’s certainly paying for it now, isn’t she?
>I would have said what you did and then I would have had to take pleasure in the fact that, someday, karma will kick their collective ass. Not for years and years. But it will. They will someday be forced to remember that moment. Sorry you had to endure it.
>OHMYGOD, my mother would have dragged me out of that store by my earlobe if I behaved that way. Then again, she actually bothered to raise me, so I wouldn't have acted like that in the first place. Un. Be. Lievable >:[
>The clothes-dropping and leading-out-of-store thing sounds pretty much like what I would have done, probably after telling them that they could either apologize or spend the rest of their natural life locked inside their room, adding an “You shallow, disgraceful little witches” for emphasis.
>I would have been so sad for this mother… obviously, there is something wrong with her to lack such parenting skills. Some people just have no idea. She needs to get a clue. Now, if one of my own children would have spoken to others (or at all) that way, I would have smacked them. Really. In the face. I had a lady (and I use that term very loosly) pull up beside me while I was at a stop sign last summer and scream “F You, you B *! Get the H** out of the way, you stupid B*.” This was right by my drive way. I had my four year old daughter with me. My daughter asked why the lady didn’t like me and why she used bad words. I just told her the lady was mad, and that she didn’t know God. What do you say?
>Well like the others I'm pretty sure that we'll never have that incident here. Even a tongue out earns time in the naughty corner in my house!I would definitely have said something to the offenders, also. I cannot stand foul language, and most especially when people are so classless they use it in front of children. A few months ago I was travelling with my parents and some jerk in McDonald's was doing that and I asked him to watch it because of my 3 small daughters. He responded with 'F-you, B&%!@" My dad nearly drug him outside to beat the crap out of him, he was so angry.Make me wonder though – if the mother stood idly by, is she just the same? Sad.
>I’ve had a *mother* speak like that in front of my 5 year old. When I said that we don’t speak like that in front of my children she responded “I forget. I don’t have little ones anymore. My youngest is 8.”Pitiful
>The reason why the mother did nothing is because she’s probably scared of her own girls. If they behave like that in public with no regard to the people standing around listening to their tirades, just imagine what their poor Mom goes through in private. You see parents like that all the time; they’re either abused themselves like that or they’re too scared to do anything because they know their child can pick up the phone, dial 911, and then it’s off to jail. That’s what’s wrong with kids these days in my opinion. Too much “time out” and not enough “time to get your rearend popped.” Now I don’t advocate legitimate child abuse in any shape or form (spanking is not abuse IMO),but I was raised that if you acted disrespectful, in the mall or at home, you wouldn’t be able to sit down for the rest of the day. Maybe that’s just me. I’m 31 years old and if I even thought of using foul language in front of my mother or father I’d regret it soon afterward. What’s worse, though, is the parents that get mad at you for speaking up about their child’s behavior. Those are the ones that need a pop in the mouth.
>Oh heck no. I could only imagine my mama’s face if I had pulled a stunt like that…I wouldn’t have been able to sit down for a week. What’s that saying…”spare the rod, spoil the child”? I think that those girls have never seen a rod and that’s the underlying problem.
>my daughters would have had a swift kick from my foot in there butt. clothes would have been left at store and i would have been mortified.
>I just want to cry for that poor woman. Of course, like others have mentioned, those girls learned their behavior from somewhere. 🙂 the whole thing is really sad, even sad for those girls who don’t know how incredibly selfish they are and how unhappy that makes a person… If they were my girls, you are right, they would walk out with nothing… and they have been given nothing when that behavior began at 3 years old!
>Who do you think they learned it from?
>Sigh. Honestly, I probably would have left the store. I really would have. I would have just left my stuff on a counter somewhere and scooped up my son and left.
>So that was you? My bad.Ha. Like I’d be mistaken for a 21 year old…While my sisters and I frequently call each other by non-typical terms of endearment, it’s certainly not like that, around little ears.They sound horrible; sort of like what I imagine the Hilton sisters would be like: self-indulgent narcissists with no concern about the world around them……And where do you think they learned that? I would literally have smacked my child–she’s 11 and knows better.One time we witnessed someone her age acting a lot like the girls you described, I looked at her and said, “If you EVER..” and she cut me off, finishing my sentence, “I know, you would beat me.”We reap what we sow.
>I would have said something to them just like you did. My 16 year old daughter started complaining and sassing me in Payless one time and after asking her to stop (which she did not) I walked out of the store without buying her shoes and waited in the car for her (where I could see her through the store window). I was so angry I knew if I said anyting else I might get in trouble, lol! The clerk actually came out to my car and asked me if I was leaving her there because my daughter sat there and cried after I left. I love my daughter, but she is way too old to act like that in a store and I was not about to let her continue humilitaing me. The sad fact is my daughter sees some of her friends talk to their mothers that way, and some of the moms put up with it. It is a constant battle but one which I am not willing to back down from. I tell her all the time I love her and want to have a good relationship with her, but at her age she is just as much responsible for it as I am. She eventually comes around and I am sure she will appreciate it when she is a mom herself.
>WOW hearing that makes me feel even more bless that I have the 17 year old boy that I do.Sorry you and Punky had to put up with that. I’d say I feel sorry for the mom however, she is the one allowing it to happen and apparently has never corrected theses spoiled brats in the first place.Hope you had a Happy Mothers Day in spite of the rudeness.Jackie
>After asking them to please watch what they say around your child and they still continue to; yup talk to the manager. Now in my own evilness this is how it would go after their rude comment back. First ask if they just attempted to threaten you. No matter what they say just act as if you assume they tried to threaten you. I would then go to the manager and say these foul mouth girls “attempted” to threaten you after you asked them to please watch their language around your child. (tried and attempt are key words, as in a weak attempt and failed just to bait them on) More than likely those girls will continue to show their butts and the manger will have to ask them to leave the store. The manager could also ban them from the store.But it also depends on how much you want your kid to hear. Man, I am really craving a snot nosed teenager to bust on right now! Take that you self-centered, hormone infested,cell phone addicted lower level mammals.
>It sounds like the time I was in the PEDIATRICIAN’S office and a teenager was going balistic on her friends that accompanied her because she was “busted for percocets and failed her drug test” and “lost 30 lbs bc she’s a ‘mad meth head’ yo” and “could gain back the weight but “throwing back a couple of beers”. Oh the joys of parenthood.
>sad, sad, sad…and unfortunately way to common.
>I have a 16 year old daughter who would never even think to act/talk/behave like this. First of all because my husband and I have taught her to respect not only the adults around her, but everyone. Which includes a little one. The mother of these girls should be ashamed. Absolutely ashamed.
>Unfortunately, those girls are a product of our sometimes mindless society that promotes selfishness and a don’t try to correct your child mentality. You can thank all those wonderful shows on T.V. too. Those girls you saw probably beat their mother at home. After I read your story I see a Trailer, babies, and a cigarette hanging from their lips in the near future. Did Punky say anything to you after the verbal assault on her tiny innocent ears?
>I don’t feel the least bit sorry for that mother. Ok…maybe just an inkling of sympathy when that clothing, tanning, and dye money is going to have to go toward dental surgery and false teeth when somebody decides to put those girls teeth down their throats… Then again…nah, not a bit of sympathy.I would have most likely looked right past the little twits and pointed this little fact out to dear old mom.
>Working in retail, I have seen a lot of that. I was really appalled at how many kids (I worked in a men’s store, so it was boys) talked to their parents, especially when the parents were buying them clothes. I was even more shocked that the parents didn’t do anything about it. I know if I ever talked to my mom like that I would have regretted it.
>The mom in that situation is mostly to blame. My child would not have acted like that in public. I wouldn’t have bought her a thing.
>My chin in on my desk right now. Literally.I have a 17 year old boy and 14 year old girl. While they’ve tested the typical-teen limits I can’t even imagine…
>I didn’t tell the manager or say anything to the girls’ mother because Punky seemed not to notice, and I didn’t want to do anything to make the situation more obvious. Also, the women behind the counter didn’t look more than 18 themselves. I’m not sure they would have done anything except stare.I wanted to look the mother in the eye and say, “I am so, so sorry for you.” But I didn’t. I could totally see one of those girls going for my neck, and a physical throw down in Forever 21 would not have looked good to my daughter, either. I didn’t leave the store because I didn’t want those girls to think they had that kind of power over people. And ultimately, I want to teach my daughter that we live in a world full of imperfect people (some more than others) and bad influences, and we have to learn to live among them to some extent and resist, rather than try to hide from them.All I can hope is that those girls were embarrassed, regardless of what they said, and that they thought about it later, and that perhaps they’ll think next time when there’s a child around. And I hope that’s more likely since I clearly wasn’t trying to engage them in some kind of Jerry Springer-esque mouthoff- I was simply making an honest request.I realize they’ll probably never think of it again, but a girl can dream, right? 🙂
>I would have been on the phone with the harshest boot camp I could find within seconds. Their tan little hineys woulda been saying “Sir yes sir!!!” within hours.
>Wow! My mother would have nailed me for that! And I would certainly nail my own child for that. Scary!
>Seems to me that if thatr mom was supposed to be buying those girls their clothes, she has a vry powerful stick/carrot right there, something that will speak to them directly. So the only way they would get even one item of anything (MAYBE) is if they mustered up some abject and heartfelt apologies to everyone around them, especially you, for their behaviour. Then they might be able to select one thing as the carrot for that action, and if their behaviour was better all week, maybe they could come shopping again the next. If they were not obviously sincere and without attitude, there would be nothing this week or for quite a while. (Becuae I think teen girls are a bit too old for the ear thing, but no new clothes would totally hit them where it hurts, so.)
>I don’t think by leaving I would be hiding… although maybe a bit. I think my mindset would be more like “these cheapy (in a good way) clothes are not worth making my kid listen to this filth and then explaining it to them.” I guess I figure I try my hardest to make his little childhood world as fun and clean and positive as possible. Does that mean that I “sanitize” everything in his world? No, but maybe some things I can avoid… for now. Maybe by walking out, I would send an even stronger message to him that such behavior is intolerable. So intolerable that we have to leave. Sort of like walking out of a movie?I don’t know. Maybe my reasons behind walking out of the store would be complex, but I really think that is what I would do.
>wow. i think i might have just edged my way out unbeknownst to them, only to get to the register and realize the mother was nowhere to be effing found.there’s not enough soap for those mouths.it’s hard to say what i would have really done. that is a parenting move that should have been made lightyears before that incident occurred.wow.happy effing mother’s day to that lady!
>That’s appalling! Can’t believe that their mom didn’t do ANYTHING. No way I’d buy them anything. At all. Ever again. If they acted like that with me it would take a lot of great behavior and changes of attitude to get anything other than food and shelter!
>Don’t feel sorry for the mother…she is the enabler here. Any mother worth her salt, would never allow her children to speak in that tone to each other, let alone the vile name calling. She is simply reaping what she’s sown.
>I wonder if the mom was deaf…
>WOW…first, I wouldn’t be that mom since the first time my daughters spoke like that in front of me, I’d stick my foot so far up their a$$es that I would be tickling their tonsils. Second, if I had been subjected to that, I wish I could say that I would have dressed down mom and daughters while keeping my cool. As that would be impossible for me, I probably would have addressed it to my daughter in a LOUD voice how rude, inappropriate and unladylike these girls were and how sad that they didn’t have a mother who cared enough about them to teach them manners. Personally, it would take all I had not to thump their heads together!
>I’m glad you said something to them. Those girls probably say whatever they want whenever they want without anybody saying anything to them. I don’t pity the mom as much as the teacher. Can you imagine teaching these girls. Also what about employers?
>As a woman in her late thirties, I still find it offensive when I hear people out in public talking like that. It’s not only about being respectful to those around you when you are out in public, but it’s also about respecting yourself. Those girls obviously do not respect themselves, because by doing what they do, they are portraying themselves as being very low class, having low self esteem, and being trashy. I can’t believe that the mom just stood there and let them go on and on. I would have NEVER gotten away with such behavior when I was younger. My mom would have not bought the clothes, I would have been grounded, and I would have received a parental lecture. As for what I would have done in that situation…if after asking the girls to watch their language, and having them ignoring my request, I would have gotten the attention of their mother, and request that she keep control of her daughters and their trashy mouths.
>I would have LOUDLY said something to my daughter about how “nice girls” don’t behave that way. Although I must admit: I would have found it near-impossible not to say something to the mom.
>Or…a good response to “are you in this?” (GAWD I can almost hear them say it, and want to SMACK them) would be:”Exactly! I’m trying NOT to be, thankssomuch. But you’re not really giving me a choice.”(See how that worked? I thought of the right response 1/2 hour later, as always…)
>Wow! The mom just stood there! I suspect I would have said something to her directly along the lines of “you must be so proud”, if her daughters continued to act so abhorently.And no child of mine that behaved that way would have left that store with clothing purchased by me.
>My guess is the mother was guilt-buying. She probably works full-time, has many hobbies, an active social life, and no time for her kids. Buying them clothing probably feels like real parenting to her.Obviously she knew that confronting the girls would have made the situation worse. She needs a visit from Super Nanny. That mom has no control over her own children.Unfortunately our society is full of families like that.
>Maybe these were the girls that got their asses dropped off on the side of the road by the Mom that was just….and I quote Etta Mae….following through.
>Well, I’m of two minds…1-I don’t care about others swearing around my daughter now, nor will I care in the future. I have a bit of a potty mouth myself. She’s going to learn that there are grown up words that she can’t use, the same way she’ll learn that there are other priveldges that come with adulthood, like voting, staying up late, and eating ice cream for dinner sometimes. So I wouldn’t have said anything to them in the first place2-I often am the one who notices the small child, and say to my friends (or husband) “language” as a cue to cut back on the swearing.
>This is why you should start shopping at L.L. Bean, or Christopher Banks. Very few bitchy teens there!
>See, this is why I never had kids 🙂 They would never have lived to see the teen years, let along 20s if they talked like that.
>Bend down to your child’s level and say just loud enough for the 3 people behind you to hear it. Do you hear the way those girls are talking to each other. Please promise me you will never do that because I am sure it makes their mom very upset to see them acting that way, especially on Mother’s Day. Don’t even acknowledge the brats !!! They are not worth it.
>Oh my.I’d have squirted them with water since squirting my cat with water seems to get him to listen to me.I’m kidding.I’d have probably shouted something like, “What’s WRONG with you?” and then stormed out of the store. Then I’d wait on a bench and hope the girls find me and we’d have a total Full House mooment with music going in the background and the girls would be telling me how sorry they are…Obviously I watch too much Nick at Nite.
>Oh Em Gee. I have the same guilty pleasure. And it’s embarrassing. But so glad to find someone else who indulges in the Forever 21.
>I’m having trouble believing the woman you say was their mother, really was their mother. Are you sure you’re not mistaken?
>I encounter this kind of thing periodically in my job, and about 70% of the time, I quickly find where the “kids” got their ill-manners from.Fortunately, I have the authority in my position and establishment to deal with them courteously, firmly, and if necessary, expediently. And they can take their ill-manners and ill-mannered brats elsewhere.
>Holy potty mouth, Batman! Way to keep your cool. Can’t imagine what I (or my wife) would have done. We’re still having trouble with a mouthy 2 year old girl. Her favorite is “NO, MA’AM!!”. At least she’s politely defiant.
>Well of course the mother didn’t say anything, she was probably to afraid of what they would say or do to her! Me and my mouth would have had to say something.
>You certainly can’t discipline them, because it might hurt the little snowflake’s self-esteem! /sarcasmThis is what happens when too many parents decide that their children are above punishment or discipline. Spare the rod, spoil the child.
>I woulda kicked their muthaf*&$*&$*, bleep bleep bleeping asses!
>I have a 25 year old son, who suffered a brain injury in a car accident. He doesn’t have the filters that we all have to tell us when we should bite our tongue. I have left places, appologised, told him in a stearn mom voice he is misbehaving (then he will sing a song about ‘oh, my mom thinks I am misbehavn’) So, my thought is that maybe the girls are suffering from shaken-teen syndrom, and the Mom is exhausted. Who know’s. I also am a mom who has put 2 fighting kids out of the car. People are afraid to parent.
>I would have snatched the clothing from their hands, laid it on the counter and then drug them from the store by their ears. After a tongue lashing, I would have forced them to apologize and then grounded them until further notice.I am sad to say that I am not surprised by what happened. My son is only eight, but I am appalled by the way some of the kids in his class talk to adults. Too many parents are trying to be friends with their children as opposed to actually being their parent. Friendship comes later, once the children are grown. Parenting happens while they are living under our roofs. I don’t know what circumstances led to this behavior, but I still feel bad for the Mom. I cannot begin to imagine how embarrassed she must feel. I know I would feel like a complete failure as a parent.
>I think instead of blasting the mom, we AS MOMS, should step back and think of some of our less than perfect parenting moments. Maybe she was having a bad day and couldn’t muster the energy to discipline these two brats. However, that does not excuse the behavior of those two young ladies. I would’ve spoken to the manager, handed her the clothes and left the store.
>I am so sorry punky had to witness that. I dont care how bad of day that woman may have been having her daughters acting like that is a direct result of her lack of parenting. She should have just walked out and left them at the mall. I would have.
>I am so sorry punky had to witness that. I dont care how bad of day that woman may have been having her daughters acting like that is a direct result of her lack of parenting. She should have just walked out and left them at the mall. I would have.
>The only thing 2 teenage girls respect is fear and embarassment. Ignoring their snide remarks did nothing but solidify in their minds that they are inferior to a backlashing.You try kind first. And when that doesn’t work (it usually doesn’t) then you give them a verbal beat down they will ponder on for some time to come. It doesn’t even have to be vulgar or screaming…low, menacing, honest, and direct is your best bet.Here is an example…While out at a movie one night my husband and I had a row of loud, obnoxious, cussing teenagers behind us that kept proping their feet on my head. I shoved it off once and they laughed, they did it again and my husband turned around and asked them to stop. Third times the charm…within a minute here comes a fat sneaker right between my husband and my face. My husband grabs the punks foot and gives it a sharp twist and slams it to the ground and literally growls “wanna try that again, punk”? Problem solved…we even got an apology. They were angels the rest of the night.Fear and embarassment are the only things teenagers respect. The same can go for adults as well. These girls may not have learned this at home but with enough time they will hang themselves by meeting the person that won’t ‘kiss their ass’, but rather hand it to them…
>One day those teenage girls are going to be 35 and saggy with sun-damaged skin. They probably will also be depressed and wondering why life has treated them so badly — never realizing their own hand in their fate. Partly the parents (both of them, whether present or not!) = yes. But at the onset of adulthood, it’s time to realize we are responsible for our own behavior. Fate and karma have a way of coming back to you. Some people just have to learn the hard way.
>I guess it’s a good thing it was you, not me, in that store. I’d probably still be waiting on someone to post my bail.
>I read this and the question at the end, and could only think – I wouldn’t have to decide what to do because this WOULD NOT happen with my kids. If they behaved that way, there’s no way they’d be getting rewarded by going shopping for new clothes. Respect is a huge thing inmy life. I believe that everyone deserves it, and that if you give it you get it. I have nothing against swearing. If you’re in the right place/crowd. A public place where there are children around, or for that matter, other adults who might be offended? Not the right place.
>I can’t help but wonder, where does the mother’s responsiblity end for the actions of her children? These are clearly not middle schoolers we’re talking about, they are legally practically adults.
>When my oldest daughter was 16, I heard her bestfriend call her own mother a bitch (to her face). Floored, I asked my daughter about it and commented that her and her sister never talked to me like that. Her response? “You’d put us through a wall in a heartbeat”. She was right. They did get spanked when they were young, but on rare occassion. My oldest girls are now 25 and 26 and we have wonderful relationships. Gotta put that fear into them. My philosphy worked the first two times and I’ll continue to use it with my six year old.
>First of all…it would have never have happend! I believe in curbing all that nasty behavior now! I am guessing that the mother’s silence was out of shame and hoping that she could just dissapear. Sad…
>My mother would have killed me! Then she would have brought me back to life then she would have made me apologize to you while I’m a zombie then kill me again. I do not understand how it gets to that point! My mother has never hit or spanked any of us but I know she would have started if we did that!
>I couldn’t even imagine talking like that around my mom. I did get my mouth washed out w/ soap and it’s nasty! I don’t know what I would have done in that situation. Knowing my kids they probably would have turned and told those girls that “Your not suppose to talk like that in front of your mom” My boys are 4 and 2 and know we don’t use bad words in public or around mommy. 🙂 I feel sorry for that whole family they definitly need some help.
>I cringe as I read this post. Partly because of what you endured, but also because my daughters (currently 9 & 7) fight terribly. They don't even really treat each other like people. This is not because my husband and I don't discipline them. We do. But they are still woefully unkind to each other and I fear them turning in to the kinds of girls you encountered. I certainly don't and won't stand by when they act horrid, but I sometimes feel helpless to shape them into kind human beings.
>Sounds like my two sisters-in-law… like, for real. It’s so embarrassing being in public with them. And the truth? Their mom doesn’t think there is anything wrong with it. It’s like she’s deaf to it. It’s sad, really.I dbout the mom in question in your experience was even embarrassed by the behavior.
>Total ass kickin would commence, whether they were my kids or not. If they were my kids, then they wouldn’t have survived long enough to buy new clothes at forever 21.
>Wow. Did you say, “Punky, those girls are saying nasty things and their mother doesn’t love them enough to correct them. One day society will teach them to behave and it will hurt a lot worse than if their Mommy would just take one minute to tell them they are being naughty.” I know you didn’t, but did you kind of want to?
>Lindsay, love your blog! And for the record, I appreicate how you wrote this post and didn’t just wail on the mom. After this post’s comments and last weeks comments about breast vs. bottle I’m feeling kind of sad. I think it’s so easy for us to judge(harshly) other moms. Yes, I’ve done it too but I am also so tired of it. True, not great what these ‘girls’ (who are also legal adults) did, but all the ‘bad mommy’ slamming is getting old. Can’t we just high five each other and assume we’re all doing the best we can? Well, maybe we won’t high five the mom mentioned in this post but can’t we at least leave her alone? Or at the very least focus on the poor behavior of the girls? Please?
>First, my children wouldn’t have dared to begin with. We have rules, and they know what is appropriate and what isn’t, and cussing in public just isn’t. My 15 year old has commented when someone near us has used excessive profanity while her brother and sister were around.And we have left stores without purchasing because children couldn’t behave. It normally doesn’t take too many of those times before a simple reminder works.I don’t feel bad for that mother. She made choices, and she allowed this to happen and continue. Unfortunately, the girls will ultimately pay the price when the real world begins kicking their butts.
>I NEVER would have put up with that. My girls were arguing about clothes once at Target ages 8 and 6 at the time and we walked out with NOTHING>>>shame on that mother!!!tara
>I would have done the same as you in addressing those girls, although I can’t say I would have been so nice.Their poor mom – I guarantee you they talk to her that way too.Disgusting.
>Nominate them for that CMT “World’s Strictest Parents” show. You’d be doing them a HUGE favor.
>Wow…I am so happy to hear that so many other people are frustrated at the same ideas that some children grow up with these days. In no way shape or form will my children walk all over me like that let alone disrespect someone else. Thank you for posting this. My husband and I have this complaint constantly about kids these days!
>I don’t have kids of my own yet. (I am getting married on June 20th). But I am a youth pastor, and I serve kids from birth through college. I love my job, and my kids are very respectful. But I can tell you what would have happened to me if I had said anything close to that around my mom/dad. I would have gotten slapped across my mouth so hard, my head would have spun. I am deeply sorry that you had to hear that; I don’t know what is wrong with some of today’s youth, but it seems to me (from what I have observed) to be a lack of parenting; too much emphasis on self-esteem; and a belief in the existence of absolute truth. Have a wonderful day everyone.
>So I should probably amend my last post, because I made a typo… That last thing should be a belief in the ABSENCE of absolute truth. Sorry.