The Child Who Runs Around and Screams Too Much

The Split Second-In Consideration of Others in These Trying Times

It’s a new year and like many others, I must be positive that 2023 will be better than last year. I have not given up trying to get my book, The Split Second:  In Consideration of Others or Look Up from the Phone and How to Deal with Rudeness in Others published, but I find myself getting discouraged from time to time. Thank you to you folks who have been supportive; I can really use support on this now. I know these posts are long and more like newspaper or magazine articles. But then, I have always been verbose, wordy, and maybe even long-winded. Yes, in this day, folks do not want to read long articles, posts, or even texts. Again, I write, “Oh well.”

I am in my last moments of staying in a hotel close to Disneyland. I needed a change of scenery. As I checked in a little girl was allowed to run around the Front Desk area while both of her parents were using their cell phones. The little girl was not exactly quiet either. Every few moments, either one of the parents would look up and laugh at her. I had two thoughts: 1.) If I had run around like that when I was that age, my father would have grabbed my arm and set me straight with firm words. I would have then stayed close to his side at that point. My mother would have been more gracious and explained why my behavior was inappropriate. 2.) It would be easy for a fellow guest or staff member (think of the valet with a stacked luggage cart) to back into, tap, or even severely hurt this sweet little girl because she was running recklessly through the area. Her actions are not her fault but rather of her parents who do nothing to stop it. I have to wonder if she had been hurt by another, would either or both of her parents become irate?

There was one time I walked out of a movie theatre in the middle of the movie showing to use the men’s room. When I opened the door, the door “smacked” a young lady I would say was about one to two years old. Of course, she began to cry quite loudly. Although I had done nothing wrong, I felt bad about this situation; however, I did not feel bad when I returned to the theatre and the child’s father said, “There’s the man who hit you.” That was hateful.

I admit completely that I am not a parent. However, it bothers me when parents do not control their small children in public.  I do not appreciate it when young children are allowed to “scream” in public and my mind registers this happening while I am seated in a restaurant. The Split Second suggests that parents need to control their children and work with them on these issues. If such children cannot behave in public and cease running around and/or screaming, then they need not be taken out in public. Yes, that is harsh.