Something I Saw In The Park

[rosco rathbone]

Grandfather (some kind of West Indian; not sure which island) was sitting on the bench watching two little boys running around. A girl, about 7, in school jumper; white stockings and pigtails was sitting next to him, bawling. I think she'd either been grounded and forced to sit on the bench; or denied something she wanted.

She was doing that forced fake-crying, dry-eyed, that sounds more like a continuous peal of rage. It's a nerve-racking sound; designed to get the appropriate parties to do anything to make it stop.

The little demon had a will of steel-she kept it up for fifteen minutes non-stop. However, she was up against someone even tougher. The old guy just sat there, natty in collared shirt, pressed trousers, big old man shoes and a hat out of 1958; smoking a cig, completely unmoved, ignoring her. Now, I'm a good ignorer, but he kept it up long after the point where I'd have broken.

I was reading, so I didn't see what happened, but I noticed that suddenly the racket had stopped. I looked over and she was curled up in his arms, eyes closed, thumb in mouth. She stayed that way for the next half hour until I left; his arms around her. He looked just as cool and collected the whole time.

Thought I to myself; I've just seen a little tableau designed to teach me a lesson about how to deal with females.

 

[00Syd]

Ignore them? Could backfire.

 

[greeneyed_Lady]

And what did you learn??

 

[rosco rathbone]

Ignore them? Could backfire.

Everything can backfire.

There's a time to ignore and a time to hug.

 

[subbie_333]

Geez, i can see this getting really outta control real fast. i think i'll just watch

 

[intothewoods]

It sounds like a good lesson, if you date 7 year olds.

 

[rosco rathbone]

It sounds like a good lesson, if you date 7 year olds.

There's an inner seven-year old in all of you. CLoser to the surface in some cases.

 

[Recidiva]

Of course if you'd asked her why she was crying and listened to the answer rather than ignored her, maybe you could avoid the acting out.

I hate adults that ignore kids like that.

You can't take care of bunches of kids that way. Only one or two. Get a bunch and that theory goes to hell fast.

 

[ownedsubgal]

poetic indeed. it takes quite a man to know just when to sweet-talk and coddle, when to stand firm and ignore, and when to lay hands.

and i agree with Rosco...there is a little girl in all of us. she needs taking care of.

 

[Recidiva]

poetic indeed. it takes quite a man to know just when to sweet-talk and coddle, when to stand firm and ignore, and when to lay hands.

and i agree with Rosco...there is a little girl in all of us. she needs taking care of.

Not if I have to behave like that to get someone's attention.

I prefer to be grown up and deal with the people who can listen to me when I use my inside voice.

 

[ownedsubgal]

Not if I have to behave like that to get someone's attention.

I prefer to be grown up and deal with the people who can listen to me when I use my inside voice.

well i'm not one to ever get bratty either...also don't tolerate it well in others (reason no. 1,224 for me not wanting kids ever). but i can still see the value in a man knowing how to deal with that and at the same time being the strong loving father figure who's always there.

 

[Recidiva]

well i'm not one to ever get bratty either...also don't tolerate it well in others (reason no. 1,224 for me not wanting kids ever). but i can still see the value in a man knowing how to deal with that and at the same time being the strong loving father figure who's always there.

I've been a daycare provider and I have two kids in my own.

You can kick and starve and ignore a dog, too. And that dog will whimper and whine and fall into ecstatic, exhausted happiness when you deign to feed it or pay it some attention. Dogs will adore you for mistreating them.

I have dogs too. Not the way I'd choose to run a house or a life.

Strong, loving father figures have open ears as well as open mouths.

 

[rinka]

There's an inner seven-year old in all of you. CLoser to the surface in some cases.

I hope you mean there's an inner seven-year old in all of us.
Surely you are not suggesting that women are more infantile then men?

That might seriously piss me off...

 

[Netzach]

Of course if you'd asked her why she was crying and listened to the answer rather than ignored her, maybe you could avoid the acting out.

OMG, noes! Too simple. Must be more complex.

 

[Recidiva]

OMG, noes! Too simple. Must be more complex.

Well, makes sense if invoking the acting out because that's what you like, then blaming it on the wom...an...HEY.

 

[Netzach]

I hope you mean there's an inner seven-year old in all of us.
Surely you are not suggesting that women are more infantile then men?

That might seriously piss me off...

Oh, no I think RR would definitely cop to Tonka Trucks and pretend explosions.

 

[Netzach]

Well, makes sense if invoking the acting out because that's what you like, then blaming it on the wom...an...HEY.

Well, that's just kind of sexy. Sexy yes. Awe inspiring, well....YMMV.

 

[rosco rathbone]

OSG said it best. It struck me as a poetic moment, not a blanket statement about females or childcare or any such nonsense.

I have an inner seven year old as well, but he only comes out when I suffer from colds and flus as I did this weekend. Then I do whinge and moan a bit.

 

[Netzach]

OSG said it best. It struck me as a poetic moment, not a blanket statement about females or childcare or any such nonsense.

I have an inner seven year old as well, but he only comes out when I suffer from colds and flus as I did this weekend. Then I do whinge and moan a bit.

Is that what kids do?

I don't remember being that good at the whining till I hit 22. Then you get really good at it.

Prior to that it was all demands all the time.

 

[rosco rathbone]

Is that what kids do?

I don't remember being that good at the whining till I hit 22. Then you get really good at it.

Prior to that it was all demands all the time.

Why does that not suprise me.

 

[intothewoods]

Of course if you'd asked her why she was crying and listened to the answer rather than ignored her, maybe you could avoid the acting out.

I hate adults that ignore kids like that.

You can't take care of bunches of kids that way. Only one or two. Get a bunch and that theory goes to hell fast.

I do try to avoid them in bunches, so you got me there.

Seven is an age where you better damn well have a good reason for screaming your head off. I do ignore complete tantrums. Mine is free to tantrum to his heart's content in his room, but I don't negotiate with terrorists. USE YOUR WORDS. There are a lot of adults who never learned this lesson, and I think I am forced to work with all of them.

There's an inner seven-year old in all of you. CLoser to the surface in some cases.

THAT'S NOT TROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

 

[rosco rathbone]

USE YOUR WORDS.

I've been seeing that phrase all over the internet and never knew that people actually used it. Then I saw this PT therapist say it to a little boy with a walker and it was super cute. It worked, too!

 

[intothewoods]

I've been seeing that phrase all over the internet and never knew that people actually used it. Then I saw this PT therapist say it to a little boy with a walker and it was super cute. It worked, too!

I said it to a coworker recently when I was operating on little sleep and was seriously pissed. I'm still really embarassed, but it just came out.

And hell yes I use it all the time in my house. Mine is seriously the king of interpretive dance combined with protest drops to the ground that would impress the most serious anarchist. Pick up, place gently on bed, come see me when you're done. It only took about a year, but he usually only does a minor version of it these days.

 

[rosco rathbone]

I said it to a coworker recently when I was operating on little sleep and was seriously pissed. I'm still really embarassed, but it just came out.

And hell yes I use it all the time in my house. Mine is seriously the king of interpretive dance combined with protest drops to the ground that would impress the most serious anarchist. Pick up, place gently on bed, come see me when you're done. It only took about a year, but he usually only does a minor version of it these days.

We have our mothers to thank for civilizing us. Mine worked overtime with me and never failed to remind me of my manners. Dad, not so much.

 

[Kajira Callista]

We have our mothers to thank for civilizing us. Mine worked overtime with me and never failed to remind me of my manners. Dad, not so much.

*fix your pants* at the adorable soon to be teen-aged boychild who's pants are always falling down...I'm told "because they are s'posed ta Ma" All I have to do is think it and even if he is feet from me he hears my mind speaking and fixes them. lol

Well not really but you know what i mean uncle rosco.

Want some zucchini bread?