Got some good "jerk parents" stories?

[Master Yoda]

My crappy parent story comes from TGMR at MGM. This was an unusual day as TGMR actually had about a 30 minute wait and about 20 people back in the queque was this boy, maybe 9 or 10, simply screaming in absolute terror about going on this ride. His father had a death grip on his wrist and kept screaming the typical, "I paid $$$$ to bring you here, your are going on this ride, stop being a baby" spiel. Finally after about 10 or 15 minutes of this the kid broke free and ran to the double doors normally used as the entrance when the line is shorter. He hit the doors so hard that it sounded like Barry Bonds had hit it with a bot. The doors flew open and this kid ran out full speed still screaming his lungs out. At that moment the several hundred other guests that had be subjected to this display, myself included, erupted in applause. As luck would have it the thunderous applause occurred before his parents were able to go out after this kid. Dear old dad in a final display of class and proper upbringing was nice enough to give us the one finger salute on his way out the door.

 

[mgraef]

I can relate to the kid that protests going on rides - my son was all fired up about Soarin' from watching it on the internet, so he rides it and decides he does not want to go again - a little bigger than the computer screen.

Anyway, after that we go over to Nemo, which as we start in the queue he starts fussing about not wanting to go on it. I held him, told him it would be alright, and he sobbed all the way to the clam mobile.

Long story short is we ended up riding it 7 times on the trip. It serves as a good reminder for me to him about rides that I think he will like, and that he needs to trust Daddy.

I just need to not break this trust with a trip on Dinosaur telling him it is a petting zoo.....

BTW we have been with 8 mos and 3 yo, and 1 3/4 and 4 yo and have had a blast each time. This year it is with 2 3/4 and 5 yo --- see the pattern ???

 

[Nemo14]

And it reminds me of why I believe a child isn't old enough to take to WDW until he's at least 4. Key words being AT LEAST!

It's not the child that's the problem - it's the parents! Too many parents have no clue how to relax and enjoy spending time with their children, and have no idea how to set an example of good behavior for them. We took our kids every year from the time they were quite young, and I can honestly say that they never once pulled a horror show. Yes we had some cranky moments at times (we all did!), but as a parent you learn to be flexible and deal appropriately with them without resorting to escalating violent behavior.
Our trips with the kids are some of our best Disney memories, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring them again if I had it to do again!

 

[Bug715]

I too have been used as a tool to make children behave. Our Disney Store has the old counter style with little shelves between each register. Children are always climbing on it and I just say "be careful" to which most parents respond get down she doesn't want you climbing on it. Correct I don't want the climbing on it because I don't want them to fall or hit their chin on it.

The other day some guy told his crying child that I would kick them out because you weren't allowed to cry in the Disney Store. To this I just kept walking.

 

[EpcotGrl]

When I did my CP, I often worked "glow", which are the fun carts that sold the light-up swords & spinners, etc. Part of our job was to interact with the kids while selling, so we had sword fights & stuff with any kid who was willing to play.

One night, after IllumiNations had let out, we were jabbing playfully at kids (never when it was REALLY crowded, and always prompting grins from tired kiddos), when one mother took offense that we were daring to try & play with her son and proceeded to stop and start shouting at us not to do that to her son. She was so busy shouting that she let go of the stroller with her son in it, which started to get swept off in to the crowd--it rolled a few feet before my coworker caught it, at which point we were subjected to another rant about not touching her things.

Heartbreakingly, as she pushed her son away in a huff, he looked out the "window" of the stroller at us and waved bye-bye

 

[Hakunamatata]

Yes we had some cranky moments at times (we all did!), but as a parent you learn to be flexible and deal appropriately with them without resorting to escalating violent behavior.
Our trips with the kids are some of our best Disney memories, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring them again if I had it to do again!

Same here. I guess the worst time was one evening our son, two at the time, had had enough and started melting down about 15 minutes before we had ressies at our favorite place of all to eat at WDW, Le Cellier. We waited, and waited and he would never calm down. We did the only responsible thing and cancelled our ressies and headed for the front of the park. By the time we got to the Electric Umbrella, he had calmed down and we did grab something to eat. There was no way I was going to take a melting down child into Le Cellier and ruin everyone elses meal. Flexibility is the key.

 

[Nemo14]

Same here. I guess the worst time was one evening our son, two at the time, had had enough and started melting down about 15 minutes before we had ressies at our favorite place of all to eat at WDW, Le Cellier. We waited, and waited and he would never calm down. We did the only responsible thing and cancelled our ressies and headed for the front of the park. By the time we got to the Electric Umbrella, he had calmed down and we did grab something to eat. There was no way I was going to take a melting down child into Le Cellier and ruin everyone elses meal. Flexibility is the key.

See, that's what makes the differerence. I'm sure you would have preferred to eat at LeCellier, but you made the right choice by cancelling. It's all part of parenting, and it's not easy, but it's wonderful!

 

[maggiegrace1]

It's not the child that's the problem - it's the parents! Too many parents have no clue how to relax and enjoy spending time with their children, and have no idea how to set an example of good behavior for them. We took our kids every year from the time they were quite young, and I can honestly say that they never once pulled a horror show. Yes we had some cranky moments at times (we all did!), but as a parent you learn to be flexible and deal appropriately with them without resorting to escalating violent behavior.
Our trips with the kids are some of our best Disney memories, and I wouldn't hesitate to bring them again if I had it to do again!

See, that's what makes the differerence. I'm sure you would have preferred to eat at LeCellier, but you made the right choice by cancelling. It's all part of parenting, and it's not easy, but it's wonderful!

:sohappy: :sohappy: :sohappy: I agree.....It is the parents not the kids that are the problem

My parents would take 4 kids under 8 twice a year and we were all well behaved and had amazing times.

I plan on doing the same with Maggie..She has been 2x already since she was 7 months and I do not regret it one second and she made the trip better then it ever was..

 

[Hakunamatata]

See, that's what makes the differerence. I'm sure you would have preferred to eat at LeCellier, but you made the right choice by cancelling. It's all part of parenting, and it's not easy, but it's wonderful!

Yep, and thats something I dont think alot of people realize when they take on the responsibility of kids. Yes, you may be the parent, and what you say goes, but sometimes you have to be the parent with the rational mind that says, "you know, its really not worth the stress to do it". You gain so much more than you have to "give up". People need to remember that you might have to miss a ski trip, or miss out on something that you like to do back before you had kids. But if you make the right decisions and invest the time and effort into your kids when they are young, you will end up with children that you can enjoy those same things with when they are older. Thats just the way I look at it.

 

[ele]

OK, I have 3 short stories for here.

First, I encountered a child that was terrified of going into MuppetVision. Why? Well, turns out the parents took the child into Countdown To Extinction at Animal Kingdom, and told him that it couldn't be that bad. (Child was probably around 6.) So they then reassured the boy that MuppetVision would not be as bad as CTX. The boy of course, would not believe it and threw tantrum. Personally, I side with the kid on this one.

Second, I remember trying to take a picture of the castle not far from Cosmic Ray's. I thought I had lined up what I wanted, and was about to snap the shutter. I realized it wasn't right, so I went to back up about 6 inches. Of course, before doing that, I made sure that I was clear, after all, I am a pretty tall 35 year old man. Wouldn't you know it, just as I backed up a toddler about 1 year old come running behind me. Parents were paying zero attention. Toddler falls over, and starts screaming. I, of course, feel pretty badly about this, and apologize. Parents at first acted like accosted their darling child. Eventually the dad just say to forget it. I was a bit annoyed by that. I mean, I realize some children are hard to control, but this is nuts. And then to at first blame me because they were paying zero attention?

Third, and this story bothers me greatly, I remember going into Ellen's Energy Nightmare for the pre-show. The lights had just gone down, and I am with my mother who had knee surgery recently. She is unable to sit on the floor, and all of the benches are full. So we are standing there, and a guy comes up to me/us and told us to sit down. I told him this was not possible. He was very annoyed and made some extremely rude comments about how his kids could not see. We tried to move a little, but there was only so much room. I told him that Disney usually has you stand for the pre-show anyway. That day they were not. So probably 90% or more were seated on the floor. Eventually the low-life father said he was going to follow me after the attraction and knock me down and kick the *$#1+* out of me. I kind of softly looked at his kids and said "I feel so sorry for you", and then proceeded to leave the attraction. Later I had a short talk with Guest Relations, and then followed up with a letter to WDW as well after I got home.

For the last one, I really wish I had a better idea what to do. How would anyone else have handled this? I really would have liked to have seen this family asked to leave the park, personally.

yeah its called "sit down" or go get a chair to wheel her in u stand so u can see the show and enjoy it well his kids and family are doing the same thing.


He shouldnt have said what her did ( if he was gonna do it then just do it dont threaten)
me I would ve went to a cm and b#@ched the heck out of them

 

[Nemo14]

Yep, and thats something I dont think alot of people realize when they take on the responsibility of kids. Yes, you may be the parent, and what you say goes, but sometimes you have to be the parent with the rational mind that says, "you know, its really not worth the stress to do it". You gain so much more than you have to "give up". People need to remember that you might have to miss a ski trip, or miss out on something that you like to do back before you had kids. But if you make the right decisions and invest the time and effort into your kids when they are young, you will end up with children that you can enjoy those same things with when they are older. Thats just the way I look at it.

Well put! And when they get older they respect you for it, not fear you because you were so unrelenting.

 

[Hakunamatata]

yeah its called "sit down" or go get a chair to wheel her in u stand so u can see the show and enjoy it well his kids and family are doing the same thing.


He shouldnt have said what her did ( if he was gonna do it then just do it dont threaten)
me I would ve went to a cm and b#@ched the heck out of them

:shrug:

 

[lilclerk]

This thread makes me sad. But I'm glad to see we have a lot of responsible parents here =)

 

[Master Yoda]

See, that's what makes the differerence. I'm sure you would have preferred to eat at LeCellier, but you made the right choice by cancelling. It's all part of parenting, and it's not easy, but it's wonderful!

You are unbelievably correct there. Without question being a parent, especially trying to be a good one, it the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have had plenty of days when being a dad is the best thing it the world, but there are definitely quite a few days when I understand why some animals eat their young.

 

[mkt]

yeah its called "sit down" or go get a chair to wheel her in u stand so u can see the show and enjoy it well his kids and family are doing the same thing.


He shouldnt have said what her did ( if he was gonna do it then just do it dont threaten)
me I would ve went to a cm and b#@ched the heck out of them

ingles por favor

 

[Nemo14]

You are unbelievably correct there. Without question being a parent, especially trying to be a good one, it the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I have had plenty of days when being a dad is the best thing it the world, but there are definitely quite a few days when I understand why some animals eat their young.

:ROFLOL: You know I was thinking along those same lines when I wrote that....

 

[mousebymarriage]

This is not actually a jerk parent story but a spanking story and my nephew deserved it!
O.k. , I think it was 2 years ago and my nephew was 6 at the time, anyway he is a REAL HANDFUL. My family went to WDW and as usual family members that live on the Gulf Coast come up and joined us for vacation. My nephew was being a nightmare the entire time( being fresh, rude, talking back, hitting the other kids in our group and just being disrespectful- I told you he was a real joy ) Anyway, we were in the MK and he had been pulling his usual routine, which including hitting my DD and his older brother with a rifle he got in POTC gift shop. My sis(who is actually his grandma) warned him that if he didn't stop she would take the gun away from him. Now, he wasn't listeniung and she threatened him again. His mom was back at the hotel with a stomach virus! We were by the carousel and my sis went to smoke a cigarette while we waited with the rest of the group. My nephew proceeded to hit the kids with his gun, curse at them when they told him they were telling his grandma when she came back( F-bombs were flying from this kids mouth). He even cursed at me and told me to shut my mouth when I repremanded him. A crowd is now building because this kid is WILD. Here comes grandma! When the other kids tell her what my nephew did she tells him "I warned you many times, now I'm taking the gun away", she goes to take it out of his hands and he tries to kick her! She is now hanging on to the gun and he is hanging on to it for dear life. While the two of them are in a death grip over this gun, he is kicking her, cursing at her, spitting at her, trying to bite her hands and screaming like a banshee! The crowd is now huge! Finally she gets the gun away from him, hands it to me and proceeds to beat his butt right between Dumbo and the carousel! Some people in the crowd actually applauded, and more than a few people said they would have beat his butt too! The rest of our group , kids included just stood there with our mouths hanging open ! I have to admit, the kid deserved it! My DD still talks about my nephew getting his butt beat at WDW and what he did to deserve it.

 

[Hakunamatata]

This is not actually a jerk parent story but a spanking story and my nephew deserved it!
O.k. , I think it was 2 years ago and my nephew was 6 at the time, anyway he is a REAL HANDFUL. My family went to WDW and as usual family members that live on the Gulf Coast come up and joined us for vacation. My nephew was being a nightmare the entire time( being fresh, rude, talking back, hitting the other kids in our group and just being disrespectful- I told you he was a real joy ) Anyway, we were in the MK and he had been pulling his usual routine, which including hitting my DD and his older brother with a rifle he got in POTC gift shop. My sis(who is actually his grandma) warned him that if he didn't stop she would take the gun away from him. Now, he wasn't listeniung and she threatened him again. His mom was back at the hotel with a stomach virus! We were by the carousel and my sis went to smoke a cigarette while we waited with the rest of the group. My nephew proceeded to hit the kids with his gun, curse at them when they told him they were telling his grandma when she came back( F-bombs were flying from this kids mouth). He even cursed at me and told me to shut my mouth when I repremanded him. A crowd is now building because this kid is WILD. Here comes grandma! When the other kids tell her what my nephew did she tells him "I warned you many times, now I'm taking the gun away", she goes to take it out of his hands and he tries to kick her! She is now hanging on to the gun and he is hanging on to it for dear life. While the two of them are in a death grip over this gun, he is kicking her, cursing at her, spitting at her, trying to bite her hands and screaming like a banshee! The crowd is now huge! Finally she gets the gun away from him, hands it to me and proceeds to beat his butt right between Dumbo and the carousel! Some people in the crowd actually applauded, and more than a few people said they would have beat his butt too! The rest of our group , kids included just stood there with our mouths hanging open ! I have to admit, the kid deserved it! My DD still talks about my nephew getting his butt beat at WDW and what he did to deserve it.

Sounds like he deserved a spanking and a one way ticket back to his sick mother for the rest of the day.

 

[Nemo14]

This is not actually a jerk parent story but a spanking story and my nephew deserved it!
O.k. , I think it was 2 years ago and my nephew was 6 at the time, anyway he is a REAL HANDFUL. My family went to WDW and as usual family members that live on the Gulf Coast come up and joined us for vacation. My nephew was being a nightmare the entire time( being fresh, rude, talking back, hitting the other kids in our group and just being disrespectful- I told you he was a real joy ) Anyway, we were in the MK and he had been pulling his usual routine, which including hitting my DD and his older brother with a rifle he got in POTC gift shop. My sis(who is actually his grandma) warned him that if he didn't stop she would take the gun away from him. Now, he wasn't listeniung and she threatened him again. His mom was back at the hotel with a stomach virus! We were by the carousel and my sis went to smoke a cigarette while we waited with the rest of the group. My nephew proceeded to hit the kids with his gun, curse at them when they told him they were telling his grandma when she came back( F-bombs were flying from this kids mouth). He even cursed at me and told me to shut my mouth when I repremanded him. A crowd is now building because this kid is WILD. Here comes grandma! When the other kids tell her what my nephew did she tells him "I warned you many times, now I'm taking the gun away", she goes to take it out of his hands and he tries to kick her! She is now hanging on to the gun and he is hanging on to it for dear life. While the two of them are in a death grip over this gun, he is kicking her, cursing at her, spitting at her, trying to bite her hands and screaming like a banshee! The crowd is now huge! Finally she gets the gun away from him, hands it to me and proceeds to beat his butt right between Dumbo and the carousel! Some people in the crowd actually applauded, and more than a few people said they would have beat his butt too! The rest of our group , kids included just stood there with our mouths hanging open ! I have to admit, the kid deserved it! My DD still talks about my nephew getting his butt beat at WDW and what he did to deserve it.

But empty warnings are the clue here. There's no need for a warning when a behavior is endangering others. You simply remove the gun, and escort him out, kicking and screaming maybe, but certainly aware that he did the wrong thing.

 

[Master Yoda]

.... Some people in the crowd actually applauded, and more than a few people said they would have beat his butt too! The rest of our group , kids included just stood there with our mouths hanging open ! I have to admit, the kid deserved it! My DD still talks about my nephew getting his butt beat at WDW and what he did to deserve it.

That would have been me. I am not one for hitting my kids, I prefer more non-violent sadistic punishment that leaves deep psychological scars :drevil: , but there are rare times when that is what it takes to get through to a kid.