Sadness

[sad old git]

I don't know if this is the right slot for this chat but here goes.Earlier yesterday I was sitting in my backyard which I believe estate agents call " courtyard gardens" when I heard a crash on my garage door (up and over).I went to investigate and discovered that someone had placed a full wheely bin in front of it making it very difficult to open the door.However I managed to get it open and was was confronted with three chrildren between the ages of maybe seven to ten.I asked them who had kicked the wall against the door and who had put the bin against the door but got no answers just smirks. I told them without swearing what I thought about them and lo and behold!!! the parents arrived on the scene. I explained what had happened and the answer I got was that they were visiting relatives and wouldn'd be here again for a while... no sorry or anything for the kids behavour... in fact the father's last words were " they're only kids mate. But what will they grow into if they are not told right and wrong and respect?..............

[Spoonboy]

Parents lead by example. Sadly, the father's reply should tell you all that you need to know about that matter.

[flump1]

Sadly the ' If it is not yours, don't touch it ' discipline is lacking in this day and age. Children get away with anti-social behaviour, apparently because they are children ???

[B00]

Whilst the dad should've made the children apologise, I do tend to agree with him- they were only kids, doing what kids do...childish pranks.

You never did anything similar as a kid?

And really "sadness"? Think you're a being a bit OTT with your outrage.

[sandyRoe]

First the wheelie bin. Next time they'll probably put a match to the bins contents.
Great fun for them. Not so funny for their target.

[ummmm]

Agree with B00...

They are kids, that's what kids do.

[ummmm]

Sandy...Really?

[B00]

Well yes obviously ummmm, as a child along with my "posse" i played knock a door run and shamefully played pranks on an old woman we were convinced was a witch.

I progressed to maiming small animals, and now as an adult Im an axe murderer, but only at the weekends, im too busy during the week.

[pixie373]

He really should have told them not to behave that way. While it's not the end of the world, children give you these opportunities to teach them!

[sandyRoe]

Ummm, if you google wheelie bin/arson you'll see it's not uncommon.

[factor-fiction]

Yes the dad should have apologised for disturbing you but I don't think anything sinister was happening- it seems that a ball they were playing with hit your garage door. I'm not sure what they were doing with the bin, but as a kid in the 60s we'd use dustbins as wickets/ goalposts and used to play'wally' against walls and garage doors

[pixie373]

I just know that if my children, nephews or nieces had annoyed someone, i would apologise myself and make the children apologise. At some point, children have to learn that their actions have consequences.

[tonyav]

Top marks for not swearing, sog.

[ummmm]

Sandy, I know, I don't have to google, but don't you think it's wrong tarring all children with the same brush?

[missnemesis]

I think using (and I paraphrase) 'kids will be kids' goes someway to explaining the children's behaviour however looking a the bigger picture if their behaviour is not checked by the parent's then where does it end?

They may not grow up to be arsonists and murderers but surely a bit of respect for other people and their property wouldn't go amiss.

[sandyRoe]

The children mentioned here are little vandals and acts of vandalism have a way of increasing. To say that is not to tar all of them with the same brush.

[B00]

Hence why they should've been made to apologise MissN, but I genuinely believe that as we grow older we forget that as kids we did equally daft and silly things. Nothing sinister was happening and it certainly doesn't indicate that you'll grow up to be a delinquent as Sandy seems to be implying.

[B00]

Vandalism? How? They just moved a bin for heavens sake! Corrr you don't half go all melodramatic sandy!

[Cloverjo]

I don't think they were vandals, but they did disturb the OP and should have been made to apologise.

[ummmm]

Adults trying to stop children being children.

So many people harp on about things being different when they were young but then look at children like they should behave like little adults.

[pixie373]

...or adults helping children to grow into considerate adults