Comments on: Rant: Hang up the ^&^%^^ Phone, please-

By: Devilish Southern Belle

Devilish Southern Belle — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 04:35:43 +0000

That’s a hard one. I’m not sure what I would have done in that situation. It seems like regardless of what you’d done, she probably wouldn’t have put the cell phone down, OR let her kids stay.

It’s a real shame the manager of the place didn’t have the nerve to come to the mom and enforce the no cell phone rule instead of just miming for her to put it down and turning the other cheek when she got ‘the hand’.
Devilish Southern Belle´s last blog ..I’m getting too old for this.

By: ThatMommy

ThatMommy — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 19:01:14 +0000

i’m not big on violence but it sounds ike somebody really should just … kick her or something. for her own good.

By: Audrey - Mom Generations

Audrey - Mom Generations — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 16:53:58 +0000

Oh, this made me boil inside as I read this post. How sad for that little girl. I probably would have done the same thing you did… with people like that – sometimes there’s no “winning”, there no “getting through.” The worst part is that this child had to go through life with a mother who doesn’t get it. We’re given one chance at this life… and as a parent, you want to show your children how to behave and how to be exceptional human beings. Seems this mother is way off. I’m a lover of this new media world… but these are the downfalls. Major downfalls. Disconnect once in awhile.

By: rockrollmama

rockrollmama — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:18:48 +0000

Jennifer: That’s a good style.:) I know when I try to talk on the phone even in my own house my kids are so not having it.: )

Susan: I agree. I feel like the connections to children are sometimes being so impeded my the lack of boundaries created by the 24/7 availability culture. It’s one of those things that creeps up so quickly.

Devra- I love that response, will totally pattern on that if the situation presents itself. Much better than my mental plan of “Hi! What’s wrong with you?!?!” Not really, but you know what I mean. It frames it in a positive way.

By: Devra Renner

Devra Renner — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:56:33 +0000

You responded the best you could given that the situation probably halted you in your tracks a bit and it was difficult to think up a “Plan B” considering everything going on. Try not to second guess yourself. I tend to lean toward A Cowboy’s Wife as I think children do need advocates when adults are behaving badly.

When I’ve been in similar situations, I have said something along the lines of “How can I help? I know we don’t know each other, but everyone looks really miserable and I’d like to help if I can.” I don’t always get a “Oh yes, please!” but it certainly stops the abusive behavior as it changes the rhthym.

By: Susan Helene Gottfried

Susan Helene Gottfried — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:35:21 +0000

Man, that’s a sad story. Sad for the kids who were essentially neglected and sad because I see this sort of thing ALL THE TIME anymore.

I wouldn’t have said anything to the mom. I’m lousy at confrontation. But I’d have wished for the balls, the power, and the words to get through to her.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 02:07:40 +0000

You are a much better person than I am! I do not think I could have kept from informing mom that she had 3 much more important things to do with her time! I get phone calls from time to time when I am out with my children and I try my best to keep them to a couple of seconds, pretty much the conversation is long enough to make sure the person does not have an emergency and then I let them know that we are out and I will have to talk to them later!

By: rockrollmama

rockrollmama — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 23:16:04 +0000

Lori- I agree, and I so badly wanted to hold up a mirror- but was afraid of how I would handle myself, and worried that it would make everything worse- and while I was dithering away trying to get up my courage, they left. And now I just wonder. Maybe she came back in and the owner said something to her. Probably not, but she did say they would enforce their cell phone policy more strictly.

katja- I”m definitely in favor of the drunk proud dad, too.:)

Erin- I really, really like your rule, and may have to incorporate it myself. This whole “Always connected” thing definitely has its issues, in that it may disconnect you from the people who are actually in front of you. Def. food for thought. Thanks. you guys!

By: Katja of Skimbaco

Katja of Skimbaco — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:48:53 +0000

So sad, but unfortunately that happens way too often. I was at a school play once, and I saw one dad drunk and happy and loudly proud of his kid, and other one working on his Blackberry the whole time. I had hard time deciding which one was worse, but ended up deciding it was the dad with Blackberry.
Katja of Skimbaco´s last blog ..Wordless Wednesday

By: A Cowboy's Wife

A Cowboy's Wife — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 21:47:18 +0000

Honestly, I think it’s okay to say, “Hey, do you see yourself right now??” Sometimes they need someone to tell them something to realize they are doing something wrong. It becomes habit after awhile and “ok” when it’s really not and a wakeup call from an outsider can be just the thing that makes a difference.

Coming from an abusive relationship, I wished a million times that someone would have said something to that bastard who was grabbing my mom’s arm like that. Maybe if she’d known people care and would stick up for her, she’d been more inclined to do the same.