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Tales from the park



One of my favourite things about being a mom is going to the park with my boys. I don't need an excuse to sit on a swing again, and I love to laugh along with my boys as I push them higher and higher and higher... and playing in the sand and watching my children go down the slide - it's so much fun!

It's great, too, because all that playing totally tires them out and that means they're ready for bed by the time we get home!

It's also fun to socialize with other parents from the neighbourhood - talking about our children, the weather, the long winter, whatever - I enjoy it.

But sometimes, the strangest things also happen at the park...

Last week, these 2 boys who were probably 5 or 6 years old ran right up to Christos, nearly knocking him down, and stared hissing at him! Like: "Hisssssssssssssss" and they kept doing this, over and over again. "Hisssssss..." I was a little freaked out, as was my son, who started walking towards me, losing a Croc on the way. One of the 'hissing' boys picked up the Croc and started walking away with it. Christos and I were both like, "Um, what the..." and then I asked for my son's shoe back. And then, what did they do? They started hissing again! What is that? Is that some new game kids are playing at school now? Because it seemed strange to me, and to my son. I politely said "He doesn't want to play with you right now" and they ran off, and started hissing at another child, a little girl who was probably just under 2 years old... just as she was coming down the slide: "Hissssssss..." they said loudly to her, as she ran away, startled and crying, into her mom's arms.

Isn't that just so... bizarre?

Another thing that I find annoying at the park is when my boys are playing with their shovels, pails, and trucks, and another child will come, pick up one of their toys, and run away with it, to go play somewhere else.

I don't expect my little boy to go get it back on his own - of course, I am there to help. And of course, when other children are nice and ask to play with the toys my children have brought to the park - of course I say yes. Or, rather, Christos says yes. But seriously, kids that just act as if what we've brought to the park is theirs to take? I'm not a fan of that. Manners, people! As a mom, I teach my child how to behave in public. And sure, he is only 3 and a half, and sure, he has temper tantrums, but still - I try to teach him to share, and he knows better than to just take another child's belongings!

I want to hear your park tales - I'm sure you all have some memorable park story to share!

Comments

Rebecca said…
When my son was about 18 months, he was crawling up the slide steps and some kid turned and HIT him - my mother bear instinct was to want to throw the kid across the park but I didn't! I did tell him not to hit though. I don't love it when I have to discipline other ppl's kids at the park!

Otherwise, we always have a great time at the park ;)
Lola said…
YOu've touched on so many of the negatives of the park but really, it's the parents and their lack of involvement that turns me off public parks. Another reason we moved a bit more rural:):) That and no one at our park seemed to understand that the swings were for everyone....so we built our own:)
Loukia said…
Oh my goodness! "My mother bear instinct was to want to throw the kid across the park" - ME TOO! I would totally have wanted to do the same thing! So funny, Rebecca. Glad you told him not to hit - hope his mom heard!
Chantal said…
I love the park but I do agree that there are time when kids misbehave and their parents aren't paying attention/aren't there/don't care and that bugs me. I am hyper vigilant in social situations making sure my boys behave appropriately and it has paid off. Don't even get me started on the mom and boy that were at the train table at Chapters last weekend....
Loukia said…
Oh... Chantal what happened? Sounds like a good story!
Amy said…
The hissing is super creepy! Ack!
A Crafty Mom said…
I love parks too, we often go twice a day, and I too have had some not nice experiences. I think one of my pet peeves is just when the parents are not watching their children and it is those kids who are out of control, or bullying and mean. I am pretty quick to firmly put another child in his place if no other adult is going to step in and do it :)
tiarastantrums said…
where were the parents of those boys?? The sand toys are so funny - we were at the park the other day and a girl marched right up and told my two year old that she needed to share her ONE shovel and ONE pail - I simply said, no she doesn't. ???
rachel... said…
What the...? Hissing? Were they playing snakes, maybe? Odd...

My park pet peeve is older kids playing on playground equipment designed for pre-schoolers! Come on, emos, don't you have some weed to smoke or school property to deface or something!?!?!

This one time, these older boys (maybe 9, 10 years old) were spitting at the park. Like trying to spit on eachother and thinking it was hysterical... until one of them accidentally spit on ME. I really let them have it and afterwards felt like such a b*tch, because hey, they're probably just boys being boys (What do I know, I was never a 10 year old boy!) but GROSS, MAN!
Stephanie said…
Oh I remember having the same problem with those little thiefs in the park. Always wonder where the parent are? One of my most uncomfortable moments had to be when a little one started crying and asking for some of my girls snack because he was so hungry! Seriously are we supposed to take toys and food for the entire neighbouhood :)
Loukia said…
Rachel, hilarious!And totally gross... can't believe you were spit on... eww! Glad you told them off!

Modern Mom, that has happened to me too - kids running up to me to eat my children's snacks... why don't parents come prepared?
MamaJoss said…
That IS bizarre!!! Some OTHER people's kids ARE bizarre...that's a good one Lou. I would have left the scene. Mine are just starting to get to playground-age, so I'll keep you posted.
Mommy In Pink said…
Wow...the hissing is strange...I've never heard of that before! Good luck!

I don't have any park tales yet, as my daughter is only 9 months, but I'm sure I'll plenty in the future!
Julie said…
Hissing? OK, weird. Probably playing snakes, or dinosaurs or something. The scaring little childnre, not so good.

At Max's birthday party at the park a couple of weeks ago a little boy came up and helped himself to one of the birthday cupcakes. The grandmother looked mortified but didn't say anything. I think it might have been a language barrier though. But the little boy seemed pretty happy to have a cupcake!
BeachMama said…
You just listed some of my favourite reasons for having a park in my own backyard. We go after school with all the kids we know from school, but stay away at other times of the day.