annoying kids, whose fault is it? -

annoying kids, whose fault is it?

I have very good friends with very annoying kids. I tried to pin point very tactfully to the problem and all the annoying attitude these two kids have. In part I blame the parents passivity, I guess they are used to their behavior and they find it almost normal. I am at the point to either wait that these kids grow for us to do more things together or to reduce the time we spent with them. How do you really handle it?

I consider myself pretty tolerant when it comes to kids but I always feel that it is the parents responsability to make sure your kids don' t become a nuissance to everybody else, no matter how close you are.

See also: friendship, annoying kids

Written by teresa

Posted on 08/04/2007

See all posts by teresa

Answers:

I think that it depends on the behavior. If it is just annoying, well, maybe it's not annoying to the child's parents. If it's inappropriate, like getting right in your face or interrupting when you are talking with your friends, or playing with things of yours they shouldn't, you could gently ask the child to stop, or ask the parents to ask them to stop. If they don't, I would probably not spend time with them as often, especially if I was concerned about the behavior rubbing off on my own child.

While it is not your place to tell another parent how to handle their child, it is ok to say something when it directly concerns you. And there is nothing wrong with limiting your time with them. Maybe you could try to make plans to get babysitters and go out just adults so you can still spend time with your friends. It would be a shame to lose a friend, but you don't have to deal with that.

posted by Marcia on 08/05/2007

good advice. See if you guys can do things without the children and then you could share that you are feeling very uncomfortable when the kids are running around and be crazy in your house (if that is what is happening). Tell her you are just concerned that they may hurt themselves or something in the house or the other children etc... if she feels a little uncomfortable and you do too, good, that means you guys are alive. Feeling a little uncomfortable in this situation is healthy as sometimes we get too comfortable in our situations. If she is upset with you and or fails to get in touch with you in the future, then you did the right thing, this person is unable to deal with reality. Check in with her though as a good friend should but it doesn't mean you have to do things with her.

posted by Susan on 08/31/2007

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