Do you ever discipline other people's children?

itsmevkb

Tonight we stopped at McDonald's on the way home and as I'm pulling up I see a group of kids, maybe 12ish standing in the parking lot and one then threw a backpack into the middle of a very busy street and then when it didn't make it as far as he intended he ran into the street and kicked it.  So, when I pulled into the lot I honked at the kid, rolled down and window and yelled at him.  He looked completely shocked.

Yea, I'm not beyond yelling at other people's kids.

JustaKidAtHeart

The front of our house is the neighborhood hangout.  I have lectured anyone younger than me that is in front of my house that needs it.   I broke up a play boxing match the other day. 

schmoodle

Nope. In fact, I am super sensitive about avoiding it - this weekend at a birthday party when my nephew was given a piece of birthday cake I said (out of habit with Toodle) "Say thank you" and immediately felt like an a$$hole because he's not my kid and I didn't think it was my place to tell him what to do or dictate his manners. I would be irritated with the kids at McDonald's but wouldn't have said anything.

 ETA: Just to clarify after re-reading, not saying you are an a$$hole for saying anything to the kid, just that for me personally I am super uncomfortable saying stuff to other's people's kids and worried about overstepping boundaries or offending someone.

dundasgirl

My parents, especially my Mom, always did that.  She also called out parents who she thought were doing something wrong.

to parents:

"where's her mittens?"

"stop hurting your son!" followed by "I will call child services!!!"

to kids:

"watch your mouth!"

"I am calling the cops!" when there was an underage party across the street....and on and on and on!  I used to be so embarassed when I was a kid.

Now, I am turning into my mother.  A bunch of kids were texting and walking in the mall the other day.  One girl nearly ran into my stroller.  I said "heads up girls!"  LOL

 

dundasgirl

Oh, and my Mom raised 8 kids if you include my 5 half siblings that lived with us when I was little.  She also went back to work after we went to school.  She did lunch supervising and playground supervising at the elementary school.  After that she worked with special needs kids.  So she wasn't like super crazy or anything.  Just kind of a worrier and watching out for kids who might be in a bad situation or going down the wrong road. 

At her funeral, the main theme was how much she LIVED for kids...all kids, not just her own.  We had children stay with us a few times over the years when families needed a hand.

Just to clarify:)

LucyPevensie

dundasgirl:

My parents, especially my Mom, always did that.  She also called out parents who she thought were doing something wrong.

to parents:

"where's her mittens?"

"stop hurting your son!" followed by "I will call child services!!!"

to kids:

"watch your mouth!"

"I am calling the cops!" when there was an underage party across the street....and on and on and on!  I used to be so embarassed when I was a kid.

Now, I am turning into my mother.  A bunch of kids were texting and walking in the mall the other day.  One girl nearly ran into my stroller.  I said "heads up girls!"  LOL

 

I would have liked your mom dundas.  Sounds like she was fiesty and she CARED. 

EastCoastBride

Yes, i do. I think kids need to learn to respect and listen to ALL adults, not just their parents.

mrsolsenk12

I have but I think it is the former teacher in me. WHen I was teaching I disciplined other's kids all the time. Now I find myself doing it in day to day life as well. I told this little girl at the children's museum this morning not to throw tire pieces at other kids. (Her mom was nowhere in sight and she was maybe all of 3!)

dundasgirl

LucyP - She was 5 feet tall, but you couldn't miss her!  LOL

dundasgirl

And now, since I am on the subject of my mother.....She used to bring like 10 sandwiches to school everyday to feed the kids who had no lunch.  There was no "lunch program" at that time and she gave them sandwiches on the sly. 

She did call social services on a family once.  They removed the child she was worried about (knew her from school) and left the other kids there.  She never called again.  From then on she took matters into her own hands:)

sommerrayne

I don't consider 12 to be a "child" per se. I consider that teen or pre-teen and I would have likely done the same thing. A CHILD (as in like a 3 year old) like in a mall play area? If they're being physically violent I might grab my kid and loudly explain that other child was rude, violent, and we do not play with that kind of kid. I've not ever said, STOP! but I can see myself doing it if the situation warrants.

Unfortunately, I think a lot of it (even positive influence) is lost on them because of the environment that fostered the way they've become.

emmyloustu

Yes, no hesitation. I think it is the teacher in me.

sliz

We will especially if it is a safety issue like the backpack in the street that cancause an accident- our next door neighbors left their house up for sale and moved - a couple of kids decided they were going to play on the yard of the unoccupied house - dh told them not to play there - not only is it not their property but no one would be around in case someone got hurt