Your thoughts?

I haven't posted in awhile.. but this little incident really bothered me.

Yesterday was DD's 2nd birthday. DH and I took her to the Long island's Children Museum. So there's this room called Tot something. So, you know, DD was having a blast racing from one spot to another just having the time of her life. There's another little girl, who is at least 3 years old or older that was playing with a set of grocery items on the floor. There were at least 10 items. So, DD spots it and tries to play with one of the items that the other girl was not touching/holding. The girl immediately grabs it from DD. Okay, so DD picks something else from the pile up and the girl grabs it from DD immediately as well. This goes on for about 4-5 items and all this time, the mom/grandmother who is sitting a foot away says nothing. DH tried to convince DD to move along to something else, because obviously, that little brat was not sharing. Nope, DD stays and at this point, they were playing tug of war with a plastic egg carton. DD does give up and tries to pick up the plastic bread instead... and at this point, the old mom/grandma says to DD: Give it to her. She was already playing with it. (In a not so nice tone, kind of like scolding my child.) I thought she was talking to her kid at first so I didn't say anything. But, then the hag says it again and a little more anxiously: "Give it back to her, she had it first." So, I shot her a *** look and say: "She's just a kid!" And I was thinking this whole time, shouldn't she have taught her child to SHARE? It wasn't even like my kid was taking things from her hands, these were plastic toys that were lying in the pile that the other kid wasn't even touching but has to snatch from my DD when she touches it.

I told my DH what happened after everything was over and he was furious with the lady. He wanted to hunt her down and say something to her but I told him otherwise, it's DD's birthday, let's not cause a scene, just let it go.

But, I get angry just thinking about it now. I'm not mad at the little girl, cause kids will be kids... but the lady to talk to my 2 year old like that instead of teaching her kid some manners...

What do you think? What would you have done/said?

Re: Your thoughts?

I would have walked away & said something snotty about sharing.

Your kid can't play with ALL of the TOYS....and if they want to, don't bring them to a museum full of kids.

She was completely out of line but it's not worth the confrontation. I find people like that don't get it & are willing to defend their screwed up beliefs to the point of a scene. It would have ruined your day & the day was about your daughter, not the b!tch at the museum.

Also not to worry, I heard a rumor that her daughter will be the one with no friends because she can't share.

Happy Birthday little girl!!!

Re: Your thoughts?

If the toys did not belong to the little girl I would have had a field day.

Re: Your thoughts?

Most five year olds understand the concept of sharing so maybe this particular child had some sort of developmental delays that prevents her from understanding the concept? Or maybe she was just stingy! Either way, I can understand your frustration!

I'm always careful not to call other kids names though because you just never know the situation KWIM?

Happy birthday to your little one!

Re: Your thoughts?

I was thinking around 3 not all children understand sharing, so the little girl may just not get it yet. Very likely if no one encourages her to do it.

Re: Your thoughts?

Whenever I'm in a situation like that, before we even enter the room, I sit down with Alex and explain that the toys aren't hers, so she has to share with everyone in the room, and if she can't do that, we will leave.

If she gets into a fight with a kid about a toy, I reiterate to her that she has to share, and if not, we are leaving, which usually does the trick.

I would hope and expect other parents handle their children the same way, but we all know they don't. On the rare occasion I run into a snotty kid and/or parent, I just lean in and tell Alex, in a loud enough voice so the other kid and parent can hear, that we are going to go play somewhere else because this child doesn't want to be nice and share, so we'll go find someone else to play with who is nicer.

Re: Your thoughts?

I have been in this situation a few times, and I am usually not one for confrontations. I will tell DD loudly that we should go play with something else becuase that kid doesnt know how to share or play nice, and DD typically asks "Why" and then I say 'Beacause her mommy and daddy didnt teach her' I guess it is passive agressive but it works for me!