Parents, please keep track of your kids

[Zeno]

bplazo:
Well done! I think you have made a great point. People do not expect children to be perfectly behaved at all times BUT they expect parents to deal with any problems expidiciously and effectively and not to ignore misbehaviour - exactly as you did.

[romischi]

[quote name='Bethwte']I think everyone is taking this post a bit too personally... it seems to me the only people offended by it, are the parents who needn't read it in the first place. The OP was not complaining about all kids, cooing babies, etc...

Then why is her post not entitled "Some of you parents...." or "Parents of unruly children..." or anything a little less generalizing? If she directs her post to "Parents" in general, I will assume that it is directed at me, as a general "parent" and I will take it personally.


[quote name='Bethwte']Maybe it is just because I agree, but I see nothing all that offensive about the post. Isn't part of parenting the responsibility of watching your children? How could reminding people of something practicaly required be offensive? Thats like taking offense to a boss sending you a memo that you should make sure to file your paperwork! That's part of your job! You shouldnt even need to be told, but unfortunately, some do...


That is just the point. Wouldn't you be offended if a complete stranger with no knowledge of who you are and what your work is like told you how to do your job? Wouldn't you feel just a bit patronized if (let's say an unmarried stranger, online) reminded you not to yell at your husband in public, because it disturbs others? I do not need you or the OP or anyone else to remind me on a bulletin board what good parenting is. It is not your place and this is not the forum. If you have specific complaints about specific people and specific behaviors, please address them when they need to be addressed, where they need to be addressed and with whom they need to be addressed and not with unspecified "Parents" on a bulleting board. We came to this board to have our cruise questions answered and I have not yet seen anyone of us ask for tips on how to handle our unruly children on the cruise.

The OP's post was uncalled for for, unwarranted and, more than anything, unhelpful. Did she really think that one of us will be reading her post and saying "Oh my god, I never though of it! I should keep track of my unruly children! Thank you, thank you, thank you, OP, for the incredible advice. No one has ever told me that I should watch my kids while on vacation, but now I know, thanks to you!"

Give me a break! The original poster was exasperated with a few unruly kids on her vacation, and instead of dealing with it at the time in the appropriate manner, she came to this board to vent on "parents" everywhere.

Too many people on these boards permit themselves to comment on parenting and on children in a way that they would never dare to comment on anything else (Just read various posts by FOLGY on the Royal Caribbean boards -- he suggests, with a straight face, cages for kids on ships). Then people wonder why parents are offended by their comments. I say, cruisers with no kids, keep track of your unruly and hostile posts!

[Cruisin' Chick]

I think it all comes down to this:
1) There are going to be some cruises (during school vacations, shorter length, non-luxurious companies) during which there are going to be many children. If this is a problem, try the longer length, Oct-Nov., Jan-Mar., and Apr-May, Crystal, Radisson, you get the point.

2) If you go on a cruise with children, make sure they understand they'll be enrolled in the kids' program or will be with you. If they are teenagers, give them parameters so they don't get into trouble. Remember, you are the parent.

3) If they get their own cabin, same thing. No roaming around the hallways at 2 am.

4) Many of the problems will come from parents and children of non-Cruise Critic people. Y'know, the type who'll be in the casino while their kids are running around, making the rest of us mad.

5) The cruiselines should examine their programs to make sure the children are engaged and that there are enough counselors/enough space for the kids.

6) And, yes, we parents who do care to make sure our kids are behaving, do care that everyone on board are enjoying their trip.