Let me start off with that I love children. I think those amazing little sponges are just craving knowledge. I love to watch them learn and see their eyes light up with amusement meeting new people and being at new places. I, also, love it when children have parents that are good role models.
With that being said. As parents it is NOT okay to go to a party or a "friends & family" event and expect people to watch over your child, especially the hosts of the party. It is rude and does not set a good example to your child about having respect for other people's homes and/or time.
I had the opportunity to throw my sister's bridal shower with the help of my mom and a few of my sister's best friends. We had a party of close to 30 people. While no one person had "the most" to do, it was just a few people that were actually handling the party itself. We did not specify on the invitation whether children were allowed or not, leaving it up to the discretion of the parents, only because we have single parent friends that can't always get babysitters....totally understandable. Without going into grave detail of people's bad decision making in the past, we still had 3 children from the ages of 1 1/2 to 3. 3 children is not a large number of kids at all, especially since they were good mannered children, meaning not throwing fits and screaming. Except that one of the parents did not take the full responsibility of watching her son, letting him touch and climb over anything, not only endangering himself but the valuable heirlooms scattered around my grandmother's house. Not only did she feel that everyone was entitled to raise her child while at our party, but it was one of my sister's best friends and myself that were handling this child most of the day. The 2 people that were actually the gist of the party.
So not only were we taking care of food, drinks, our guests, and staying on top of cleaning this gorgeous home we were privileged to be using, but playing babysitter for a woman who felt that she had no responsibility and was entitled to completely enjoy the party, with no mind to her child. Not only did that feeling of babysitter wear out fast for myself, but also for the women helping me.
How is that fair? How is that acceptable?
The best part! As she was leaving she turns to me while I actually got time to sit down (at the end of the day) and enjoy my glass of wine and says "We're leaving. I just need 5 minutes to myself." OMFG!!! Excuse me but you've been enjoying the party for 85% of the time sitting on your ass while everyone else watched your son. ON TOP of that I didn't even get to sit down and enjoy my meal of any sorts because I was up and down chasing said child.
So....to those parents who feel they can just let their children roam free at parties, causing what destruction they may....JUST STOP IT! BE PARENTS! BE RESPONSIBLE PARENTS!!!! WATCH YOUR CHILDREN.....ALL THE TIME!!!! You wanted to have them and now it's up to you to take care of them. Family or not, the only person responsible for your children is you.....and especially NOT a host of a party.
ooooommmmmmm(ingly) yours, Merry Ms Berry
a.k.a. not your babysitter.
OHHHMMMMM...Take a breath love...and let it out. As a parent myself, I completely understand, and was in the same position this weekend myself. I REFUSE to leave my kids to be someone else's responsibility, partly because I take a little twisted pleasure in disciplining them when they screw up. I can't stand it when folks think a party means built in babysitters, its rudeness of the worst kind. I speak up tho! I make no bones about telling the parent just what the deal is with their little angels, and how they should handle that shit. Like I said, I had issues myself on Sunday, and kinda blew up a little, cuz I was starting to feel like Mary freakin Poppins.
ReplyDeleteif there is a next time, definitely say something-they aren't worried about being rude to you, so be sure to return the favor.