free-range park slope kids

dailyheights

from the times -

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/23/nyregion/23diary.html?_r=1&ref=nyregion&oref=slogin

DEAR DIARY:

My 4½-year-old and 2½-year-old sons love to run up and down our block in Brooklyn.

One evening as they scooted ahead of me down the street, they barely avoided a couple of 20-something Manhattanites, heading up to the main drag for the evening.

As I approached them, the more flamboyant of the two announced with as much melodrama as he could muster to his companion, “You know, these free-range Park Slope kids are really just too-too for my taste!”

Keary Horiuchi

armchair_warrior

i'm so gonna steal that line about the free range park slope kids.

breuckelen

I wonder if they are Food Co-op or Dagastinos fed, free range park slope kids?

drano

That never happened, and I'll prove it Encyclopedia Brown style: She had no way of knowing the 20-something people were from Manahattan; that's precisely the sort of over-detailing that gives away a made-up story.

EDIT: I guess it could be a "he". Not sure from the name.

breuckelen

Drano wrote: That never happened, and I'll prove it Encyclopedia Brown style: She had no way of knowing the 20-something people were from Manahattan; that's precisely the sort of over-detailing that gives away a made-up story.

EDIT: I guess it could be a "he". Not sure from the name.

Maybe the 20-somethings were startled by children, thus making them manhatanies?

linusvanpelt

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

dailyheights wrote: As I approached them, the more flamboyant of the two announced with as much melodrama as he could muster to his companion, “You know, these free-range Park Slope kids are really just too-too for my taste!”

The more I read threads about kids on Brooklynian, the more I realize that, if you read them in print, childless NYC hipsters are indistinguishable from the cranky old man on the block where I grew up: "You kids run too fast! You got no respect! I woulda never got away with that back in my day! Quit making so much noise in front of my window! The parents these days don't know how to discipline! You kids get outta my yard!"

anonymous

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

linusvanpelt wrote: The more I read threads about kids on Brooklynian, the more I realize that, if you read them in print, childless NYC hipsters are indistinguishable from the cranky old man on the block where I grew up: "You kids run too fast! You got no respect! I woulda never got away with that back in my day! Quit making so much noise in front of my window! The parents these days don't know how to discipline! You kids get outta my yard!"

That is very funny and so true. Hipsters can be a bunch of young easily annoyed cranks! God help us when they do become the OLD folks living on our blocks!

(O.K. I am waiting for the misinterpretation of my post and some histrionic response)

caaahyoko

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=dailyheights]As I approached them, the more flamboyant of the two announced with as much melodrama as he could muster to his companion, “You know, these free-range Park Slope kids are really just too-too for my taste!”

The more I read threads about kids on Brooklynian, the more I realize that, if you read them in print, childless NYC hipsters are indistinguishable from the cranky old man on the block where I grew up: "You kids run too fast! You got no respect! I woulda never got away with that back in my day! Quit making so much noise in front of my window! The parents these days don't know how to discipline! You kids get outta my yard!"

Of course you'll never hear the really emaciated guys yell at the kids. They need all their energy for walking. Talking or yelling while walking would lead to seizures.

Really--watch these guys as they walk down the street. They never talk, even to each other.

erikka

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

kensingtonmom wrote: [quote=linusvanpelt]The more I read threads about kids on Brooklynian, the more I realize that, if you read them in print, childless NYC hipsters are indistinguishable from the cranky old man on the block where I grew up: "You kids run too fast! You got no respect! I woulda never got away with that back in my day! Quit making so much noise in front of my window! The parents these days don't know how to discipline! You kids get outta my yard!"

That is very funny and so true. Hipsters can be a bunch of young easily annoyed cranks! God help us when they do become the OLD folks living on our blocks!

(O.K. I am waiting for the misinterpretation of my post and some histrionic response)

kids are like dogs--everyone always thinks thiers are well behaved and perfect, even when they're taking a shit on the rug. What you think is "cute" is probably only cute because your kid did it.

Hey...they're your kids. You gotta love 'em no matter how badly they behave. I don't.

I didn't write the book but it sure made me laugh: http://www.amazon.com/I-Hate-Other-Peoples-Kids/dp/1416909885

stacey

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

erikka wrote: everyone always thinks thiers are well behaved and perfect

Obviously you have not met my son, not only is he well behaved and perfect he is quite cute

linusvanpelt

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

erikka wrote: kids are like dogs--everyone always thinks thiers are well behaved and perfect, even when they're taking a shit on the rug. What you think is "cute" is probably only cute because your kid did it.

Yeah, like running on the sidewalk! We never ran on the sidewalk in my day! It's called a sidewalk, you little hoodlums! You almost made me break a hip!

8thandprez

For some reason, the Metropolitan Diary always rubs me the wrong way. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it just bugs me.

My crass sense of humor meshes much better with Overheard in New York.

gigi

I think some folks forget that they were kids once who were whiny, cry babies in their own way . I do agree that times have changed though and kids today seem less mannered, have all sorts of issues (to which I think a good stint in the peace corps after gradaution might help), with far more permissive parents. I remember an incident last year when I was walking by Haagen Das and this 5 year old was wacking his long Darth Vader sword back and forth. I walked around him to avoid him but he got me in the back of the leg anyway. I actually think he was being mischievious and wanted to do it. He had that oblivious I don't care what you tell me face on. So I turned and gave him the look of death and his mother said nothing to me but started to talk to Jaden in one of those rational tones as though he was a grown up. My Mom would have yanked me by the ear, made me apologize, and ripped the cone out of my hand and thrown it away. And I saw a little girl in Blue Apron yelling, and I mean yelling at her Mom because she wanted one of those cupcakes in the window. The Mom did nothing and just kept going about her business while the daughter got worse. I left after my purchase so I don't know if she got the cupcake or not. I see this sense of entitlement alot and it really is disappointing. These kids are the future.

anonymous

Subject: Re: free-range park slope kids

erikka wrote: kids are like dogs--everyone always thinks thiers are well behaved and perfect,

My kids might cry, might run or laugh too loudly but one thing I can guarantee you about my kids is that you have never slipped on a pile of their crap on the sidewalk.

raw

Subject: DON'T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT EXCEDRIN!!!!

GiGi wrote: I think some folks forget that they were kids once who were whiny, cry babies in their own way . I do agree that times have changed though and kids today seem less mannered, have all sorts of issues (to which I think a good stint in the peace corps after gradaution might help), with far more permissive parents. I remember an incident last year when I was walking by Haagen Das and this 5 year old was wacking his long Darth Vader sword back and forth. I walked around him to avoid him but he got me in the back of the leg anyway. I actually think he was being mischievious and wanted to do it. He had that oblivious I don't care what you tell me face on. So I turned and gave him the look of death and his mother said nothing to me but started to talk to Jaden in one of those rational tones as though he was a grown up. My Mom would have yanked me by the ear, made me apologize, and ripped the cone out of my hand and thrown it away. And I saw a little girl in Blue Apron yelling, and I mean yelling at her Mom because she wanted one of those cupcakes in the window. The Mom did nothing and just kept going about her business while the daughter got worse. I left after my purchase so I don't know if she got the cupcake or not. I see this sense of entitlement alot and it really is disappointing. These kids are the future.

I hear you.

Kids don't raise themselves. Parents should be ashamed for allowing their own kids to humiliate them in public and afflict innocent bystanders with headaches.

rose

I definitely don't think my dogs are well-behaved or perfect, in fact they are quite annoying (though you will not slip in their crap because I clean it up). My kids are much more polite than my dogs.

I do think there are a lot of obnoxious and entitled children, but even more obnoxious and entitled adults.

Metropolitan Diary is, if possible, even more annoying than Smartmom.

linusvanpelt

GiGi wrote: I remember an incident last year when I was walking by Haagen Das and this 5 year old was wacking his long Darth Vader sword back and forth. I walked around him to avoid him but he got me in the back of the leg anyway. I actually think he was being mischievious and wanted to do it. He had that oblivious I don't care what you tell me face on. So I turned and gave him the look of death and his mother said nothing to me but started to talk to Jaden in one of those rational tones as though he was a grown up. My Mom would have yanked me by the ear, made me apologize, and ripped the cone out of my hand and thrown it away...

1. Again, you need to begin that last sentence, "In my day, my mother would have..." and end it with "...five miles, uphill both ways!"

2. Seriously, I think (I hope) we would all agree that the light-sabering was unacceptable. It was also not running up a friggin' sidewalk, the crime against humanity that precipitated the comments in Metropolitan Diary.

3. The parents and kids you describe may be part of a culture of inconsideration and entitlement. Much like the (I believe) young singles walking four abreast down Sixth Avenue yesterday who preferred that I walk off the curb into the street rather than interrupt their deep conversation so one of them could move over and make room for me to pass; or the childless meathead up my block who lets the car alarm on his muscle car go off all hours of the day and night.

4. I pretty much assume every letter in Metropolitan Diary is fake.

gigi

Subject: no more complaints

OK, I woke up this morning and decided not to complain about one thing today - especially kids on the block. Let them live and be free, and laugh, and draw in big chalk on the stoop, and scream for cupcakes. They could be growing up in orphanages. This board is a great distraction and I like reading everyone's posts. Maybe some time we can start a thread about good things that happened today. I could use a little inspiration now and again. It seems I'm getting very very cranky since moving to New York. This place has a way of wearing me down! Have a great day everyone.

linusvanpelt wrote: [quote=GiGi]I remember an incident last year when I was walking by Haagen Das and this 5 year old was wacking his long Darth Vader sword back and forth....

1. Again, you need to begin that last sentence, "In my day, my mother would have..." and end it with "...five miles, uphill both ways!"

2. Seriously, I think (I hope) we would all agree that the light-sabering was unacceptable. It was also not running up a friggin' sidewalk, the crime against humanity that precipitated the comments in Metropolitan Diary.

3. The parents and kids you describe may be part of a culture of inconsideration and entitlement. Much like the (I believe) young singles walking four abreast down Sixth Avenue yesterday who preferred that I walk off the curb into the street rather than interrupt their deep conversation so one of them could move over and make room for me to pass; or the childless meathead up my block who lets the car alarm on his muscle car go off all hours of the day and night.

4. I pretty much assume every letter in Metropolitan Diary is fake.

anonymous

Subject: Re: no more complaints

GiGi wrote: It seems I'm getting very very cranky since moving to New York. This place has a way of wearing me down! Have a great day everyone.

Maybe that is the clash between hipster singles and children--New York IS exhausting and (I love well behaved, not entitled children) children are EXHAUSTING. (Hence many parents just let them do what they want because disciplining children takes consistent energy).

But I really think the problem is that we are becoming an impatient culture and kids do require patience. And New York can wear you down at times.

friendlypitbull

2 observations:

1. I am unaware of how old the average poster on this thread is but assumming under 50 - arent people embarrassed to essentially say "kids today are so..."? When we all know the same B.S . was said about us when we were kids (and probably every prior generation)

2. Why is it that when I complain to my PS neighbors about people playing dice on the sidewalk, or hanging out drinking and selling weed or playing music out of their cars at 100db I am accussed of being a gentrifying scum but these same psuedo-easy going people find a running and laughing child to be such a nuisance?

drano

1) I'm under 50. I hate to say it, but I feel that the child behavior issue is more a geographical than chronological phenomenon. Of course, not all Park Slope kids suck. If you're reading this, your kid is awesome.

2) Where is the dice game at and what odds can I get on the hard ways?

joanjettofarc

i am more want to yell, "Take care of your things!"

C-Town is the worst, in my opinion, for wild children. A man watched his kid on a scooter run past me, over my foot and into someone else and didn't acknowledge it or apologize to anyone. I had an insane bruise too.

Fun has a limit.

aseidlitz

If I had kids, they would be unruly. I wouldn't have the patience for them. They'd scream and I'd be like "do whatever the fuck you want, I don't care", and then I'd be just like many other PS parents.

I'm going to go buy some condoms.

armchair_warrior

screw condoms just get guys to talk on their cell all day long, they sperm stop working!

ckbknyc

armchair_warrior wrote: screw condoms just get guys to talk on their cell all day long, they sperm stop working!

what's your number, AW?

armchair_warrior

Flexichick wrote: [quote=armchair_warrior]screw condoms just get guys to talk on their cell all day long, they sperm stop working!

what's your number, AW?
too late mines arent functional . cell phone might resurrect them instead !!!!

plus you know its in the classified age hehe.

I mean its 867-5309

erikka

Come on people--you know I am not complaining about kids laughing too loudly or frolicking or acting like kids. I'm complaining about the kids that wipe their nose and rub thier hand on the subway seat. And the ones who have restless legs and won't stop kicking you under the table. I'm talking about the ones who go zooming through the Tea Lounge, dump all the books on the floor, then leave. I used to work at a toystore on 7th (which is now long closed) and I could tell you hundreds of stories about the little monsters who came through that place and the mommies who, instead of asserting any authority, would try to rationalize with them by telling them that breaking all the books "hurts mommy's feelings". They'd buy nothing and leave a mess behind. That is the sort of kid I am referring to--and for the record, I'm not too fond of their mommies either.

armchair_warrior

erikka wrote: Come on people--you know I am not complaining about kids laughing too loudly or frolicking or acting like kids. I'm complaining about the kids that wipe their nose and rub thier hand on the subway seat. And the ones who have restless legs and won't stop kicking you under the table. I'm talking about the ones who go zooming through the Tea Lounge, dump all the books on the floor, then leave. I used to work at a toystore on 7th (which is now long closed) and I could tell you hundreds of stories about the little monsters who came through that place and the mommies who, instead of asserting any authority, would try to rationalize with them by telling them that breaking all the books "hurts mommy's feelings". They'd buy nothing and leave a mess behind. That is the sort of kid I am referring to--and for the record, I'm not too fond of their mommies either.

those kids are indeed free ranged!! how bout we cook them as compassionate meat? anyone read the new york times article about free range meat?

friendlypitbull

erikka wrote: Come on people--you know I am not complaining about kids laughing too loudly or frolicking or acting like kids. I'm complaining about the kids that wipe their nose and rub thier hand on the subway seat. And the ones who have restless legs and won't stop kicking you under the table. I'm talking about the ones who go zooming through the Tea Lounge, dump all the books on the floor, then leave. I used to work at a toystore on 7th (which is now long closed) and I could tell you hundreds of stories about the little monsters who came through that place and the mommies who, instead of asserting any authority, would try to rationalize with them by telling them that breaking all the books "hurts mommy's feelings". They'd buy nothing and leave a mess behind. That is the sort of kid I am referring to--and for the record, I'm not too fond of their mommies either.

Actually erikka, kids wiping their runny noses on everything, making a mess in a toy store and creating a ruckass is KIDS ACTING LIKE KIDS. Maybe it has been too long since you were a kid, or you choose to forget. Kids have been loud and annoying since Adam and Eve and parents generally dont know what to do about it; and other adults have been saying "These kids today......." for just as long.

Sorry but the biggest change from "years ago" is that you got old and forgot what being a kid was like.

shishkab

Weeeeelllllll, yes and no. if kids are left to their own devices, then sure, they're gonna create a ruckus sometimes. we excuse that behavior because they are children -- they are too self-involved to be otherwise, and that's absolutely fine (seriously -- no sarcasm attached to that). but there are times when it's okay to act like a wild child and times when it's not.

i was raised in a strict household where my mother made it perfectly clear from the beginning what behavior was acceptable in public, and what behavior wasn't. when i misbehaved, she removed me from the environment (in a house of worship, in a store, in a restaurant, in a friend's house, whatever) so that i would not disturb others. she made it clear my entire childhood that it was not okay to act up in public. once she removed me from the environment, if i continued to misbehave, i was summarily punished. there was no conversation, no rationalization, no putting me in touch with mommy's feelings. there was, "you are being punished because you are being bad. stop being bad and i'll stop punishing you." and these were not idle statements -- she followed thru every single time so i always knew she meant business.

and heavens to mergatroid, know what happened?!?!? other than a few "off" occassions, i was a pretty well-behaved child who knew how to have fun but also knew to respect her surroundings and her elders. i went to fancy restaurants and grown-up parties, and people always remarked at what a well-behaved kid i was. at home, or in the playground, i was a lunatic kid just like everyone else.

now that i am an adult, i have a powerful appreciation for how hard my mother (and my aunts, and my friends' mothers) worked to have decent kids. it can be done. it just takes a lot of effort and dedication, which i find to be sorely lacking with some of the parents i see here. it's the parents i blame, not the children. call it "entitlement"if you will -- i just call it "lazy."

escap

friendlypitbull wrote:
Actually erikka, kids wiping their runny noses on everything, making a mess in a toy store and creating a ruckass is KIDS ACTING LIKE KIDS.

Pitbull, this is where you're missing the point. It's kids acting like kids that's precisely so annoying about them!! [-(