What to do when another parent doesn't do anything about their child's rude behavior (see details)?

Question

I was at a Karate school Halloween demonstration the other day, and sitting in front of me, I was watching this mother interacting with her about 11-13 year old son. We were sitting around other moms and younger kids. Well this particular boy kept continuously swearing! He was swearing in front of young kids and his mother did NOT say one word to him. I was about to say something, but I didn't. I wanted to say 'hello lady, your son is swearing in front of young children and you, don't you find that inappropriate at all?' What would have done in that situation - ignored it or have said something?

Answer 1

I'd ignore it, but that's just me. For all you know, she does the same thing, and that's probably where her son got it from. As long as your own child knows it's not ok, leave it at that. But some people do say something, especially if it's around a lot of other kids. You could say that you don't find his language appropriate, and to save it for home, but it's likely to fall on deaf ears.

Answer 2

1. Be ready to protect yourself if you criticise someone elses parenting, especially in public.
2. She might have tried and tried to stop the behavior but was not successful and didn't want to make it worse by arguing in public. She might have appreciated some help. It takes a village.
3. Maybe she was there to bring some good influence to a troubled kid.
4. You could have reported them to the management and ask them to do something about it..

5. If you're going to confront someone, OWN it. Tell her that it's bothering YOU. It may not bother her.

6 .You could have moved.
7. You could have offered the offensive child a bar of soap for a snack.
8. You could have tapped the parent on the shoulder and indicated your concern through made up sign language to communicate due to their obvious lack of a sense of hearing.
9 .You could have talked to your children in an elevated tone about how some children are neglected and their parents don't teach good maners.

Answer 3

I would say to my child very loudly that language is very inappropriate and we don't use it. Unfortunately more and more people are using swear words as part of their everyday vocabulary and do not consider it inappropriate. I do tend to be a bit outspoken about things that I am passionate about. Keeping your mouth shut was probably the right thing.

Answer 4

Personally, I would've tapped the kid on the shoulder and asked him to watch his language, there's little kids around and you don't want your little kid learning these words. If the mother says something, I'd ask her why she didn't intercede with her own child first.

Kids like this are just BEGGING for someone to stop their inappropriate behavior because no one does.

Answer 5

If you have young kids, this might work better. But I have a 3 year old and a 14 month old, so it would be completely true. I would ask her, or the little brat himself if he wouldn't mind watching his language because my kids repeat everything they hear, and I don't think thats something I want them repeating. I'm not sure how old your kids can be before that stops working though.

Answer 6

Well, obviously you can't blame the child on this one. How disgusting! Great parenting there.

Anyways, I think approaching the parent would have been completely within your bounds but if you'd really wanted the desired response you would have had to say something tactfully such as "excuse me. I apologize for interrupting you but would you mind trying to keep your language to a lower volume so my child doesn't hear? I'd really appreciate it". If you came across as nonjudgemental then likely they would respect your wishes.

Answer 7

Personally I would have tapped the young man on the shoulder and told him that his language was atrocious and that he was offending the ladies and other children that were there.
His mother obviously did not care and if she did not handle it then someone else had the right to.
This is how I feel and how I would have handled it.
Blessings
Lady T~

Answer 8

I would have said something to the child.
However, everybody has the right to free speech, so they can still say whatever they want to say, even if it's as inappropriate as cursing in public.

Answer 9

i would ignore it. you know the old pick your battle scenario. this is one of those. its not your child and not your business, confronting this mother could have caused and unnecessary scene. making you both look like fools. if the child is swearing you can bank on the mothers mouth being worse. best to move somewhere else to sit

Answer 10

I would have just said out loud - "Hey it's a family audience, let's keep it clean." You don't need to go through the mom at all. Those kids are old enough to have their behavior addressed directly.