Why Do Some Parents Not Watch Their Child In Public?

Question

I've seen some parents in public who do not watch their kids and do not have any common sense. For example, I've seen a toddler maybe less than 2 years old by himself by the playground, while his mother wasn't watching because she was conversing with other moms in her "clique". This little baby was climbing up the stairs with a bottle on one hand and then climbing down the stairs. He could have fell too. I felt guilty so I had to watch this little stranger, so nothing would happen to him.
Another time, I was at the library children's area with my son and there was this woman who left her two daughters (looked like 3 and 4 years old) there by themselves for about 10 minutes or more while she went somewhere else (she wasn't anywhere in the room).
Another time, at a different library' children's area, this mom left her young toddler (maybe 2 years old) alone at the children's area while she went to go do something else for about 5-10 minutes (she wasn't in the room either).

Another incident. Another mom was in the hallway with her toddler. The toddler was walking around by the plug and this mom wasn't watching. This baby almost pulled the plug and I got in in time and said "NO! Don't touch it!"
The mom turned around and said "Sorry" to me.
Why can't parents watch their own kids?!
This makes me wanna slap their faces.

Next time, I will tell these parents when they come back "Hi! Did you know your child was left alone here? Why wasn't he/she supervised?"
If they let me have it. I will say "At least I'm not a hypocrite!"

If you need a bathroom break, take your child/children with you to the bathroom.

Good idea. I will tell the parents next time "You know that your child runs the risk of getting hurt and/or being kidnapped?"

I did tell the librarians this but they couldn't do anything! What is this world coming to?

Maybe because some parents see an adult there (me), they think they can leave their child there, so I would watch them.

Answer 1

I am not a parent yet but I would just like to comment that I've seen a lot of this happen at malls and restaurants. Sometimes I would just give the parents a little look and they'd smile they think what their kids are doing is cute.


They let th kids run around the mall and then when the kid gets far and then the parent goes through so much trouble to follow the kid. Why not hold the kids hand instead of letting him get that far?Laziness? Negligence? or are they letting their kids move independently?


One time I was at a cafe using my laptop and a bunch of kids were coming out of the door to the outdoor area where I was, they were aged about 7-9 and they were like peering over my shoulder and looking at what I was doing. I didn't scold the kid or tell him to get lost even if i felt uneasy viewing photos from work. I instead looked at the parents and they smiled and then yelled at the kids to stop looking. Why did they have to scold their children for hanging out there if they permitted them to hang out there? In the first place they shouldn't have let the kids hang out in that area because it was an outdoor smoking area.

Also, when heely's came out, i was so annoyed. The kids rolled around the mall and ran over my toes so many times. The parents were totally clueless. I wasn't about to go up to the parents and scold them on their parenting skills. It just made me feel that these parents have no control over their children and that they are totally oblivious to what their kids can do and what can happen to them.

Answer 2

Well first of all, in our library children under the age of 8 are not allowed to be left unsupervised, so if the librarian in your library didnt say anything, this may not be a policy there. You might want to talk to the librarian about this.

Ok so that wasnt the real point, but I just wanted to point that out.

To answer your question, a lot of the parents today just dont give a damn. Sometimes they almost appear to expect someone ELSE to watch their kids. Ive seen this on the playground all to many times. Some parents have that attitude of "Hey look, I had you, what the hell else do you want from me?!" My sister falls into that category sadly. My neices and nephews are so out of control to the point where I wont even allow my daughter and son near them.

Answer 3

Unfortunelty it doesn't take brains to become a parent. If it did we would all have smarter kids.
I watched my kids like a hawk. I was in a mom/baby group for 6 years and one mother would be assigned to watch the kids so the rest of us moms could relax and recharge. But that didn't mean we didn't check up on our own kids just to make sure they were okay.

Answer 4

All parents have their moments. We all make mistakes. Granted, I don't leave my kids unsupervised in public, but I've certainly done other things that have made other parents gasp. It's better to just worry about your own parenting skills than others, unless there is abuse involved.

TIM: things can happen when you turn your head for just a second. Goodness. I can't supervise my kids at all times. I do have to pee during the day. I certainly don't chain my kids up in the bathroom while I'm in there so I can watch them like a hawk. That is really unfair to be that judgmental.

Answer 5

Parents who don't watch their kids in public places are just plain lazy. They also take a chance that a kid could be snatched by some predator.

Answer 6

these types of parents are the ones you see on the news saying "i don't know how it happened, i just turned my head for a second",as a father of three i can tell you i feel the same as you when i see it.

Answer 7

I know whatcha' mean, katie. It drives me crazy too!