Control Your Child... Please

I have a friend who has two kids that drive me insane.... and it's not the kids' fault... I love my friend, I truly do.... but I don't want to talk to her kids on the phone.. especially if the kid cannot talk... and anyone that tells her it's cute.... besides grandparents is lying.... I'm betting it annoys the grandparents too... I remember one time she gave the phone to her Princess#1 and did not get back on the phone for almost two minutes.... since the kid didn't talk.. I could hear my friend going potty in the background..... not cute... not even a little.. Tip to parents that do this: Unless the caller asks to talk your babies... they don't want to talk to them... really

I had a free afternoon a while back and called my friend and asked her if she could join me for lunch.. Her husband works from home - so usually the two of us can have some quality time together.. She was available and met me at Mimi's, a cute little French Bistro type restaurant... When she arrived she had princess #2 with her.... My friend explained that as she was leaving the house, princess started to cry and she had to bring her.... Don't get me wrong - I love kids... I have a couple... I just wanted her and me time... So we tried to have a conversation between princess throwing her crackers.. banging her spoon.. and trying to get out of her high chair.. so what does my friend do? She takes princess out of the high chair and puts her on the ground.... in a restaurant!!! The kid starts running around... going under customer's tables... I'm sure everyone could see the look of horror and embarrassment on my face... We had not started eating our lunch yet!!! My friend starts to laugh and says something like "isn't she cute?" my answer "NO" I shouted in my head.... The customers around us about had enough because within five minutes the manager came and asked my friend to control her child - in a nice way.... My friend was really angry at the restaurant and the manager... Seriously..... Tip to parents that do this: Children should have freedom absolutely - but they must also have boundaries - allowing your child to run, scream loudly, or throw food in a restaurant is never acceptable.. if your child does that... leave. Parenting is about being inconvenienced at times.. many times.. People go to restaurants to enjoy a meal not to watch your kid running around "being cute"...

When my daughters were much smaller and were in a double stroller we used to go to the mall and window shop.... The girls were always eager to go because they knew after I was done "shopping" they would get to go Mac Donald's and get a happy meal... It became our little once a month tradition.. The stroller was also great for tying bags on.... Never once did my girls try to get out of the stroller.... they never complained.. we made our "mall adventures fun"...

Well my same friend and I met up at the mall a couple of weeks ago and this time she brought Princess #1 and #2.. I don't expect her to leave her kids home every time we get together.. seriously.. When the plans were made - she mentioned that her husband was going to watch them - so I kept my girls home too.... My girls love to play with her daughters so they would have tagged along too if I knew.. This trip to the mall was awful with a capital A - why? My friend said her daughters did not like the stroller and so they proceeded to run every which way... up the escalator... down the escalator... cutting people off - whining.... What could I say to my friend...? I witnessed her yelling at the restaurant manager... so I sucked it up and grinned... "Wow... this is just great"

I truly believe that my friendship with my friend will always be there. I will always love her and her girls... young children can make things difficult - that is just the way it is.... but children without boundaries can strain a friendship.. Of course, our children are always our priority as it should be.... but it is our job as parents to be responsible enough to train our children to behave well in public at every age... and unfortunately - the enjoyment I once had spending time with my friend is gone..... for now