Do You Know This Kid?

smellslike$tome

Go on a call the other day. As I drive up, before I even park I'm greeted by two old dogs with wagging tales. This is a good sign but that was the only one. There are also about a 4 year old boy and a grandpa. I park my truck and before I can even get out of it the kid starts talking to me and does not stop for the next 30 minutes. I love kids, well, I love my kids, and I like some other kids pretty well but I don't have a great deal of patience with rude, ill mannered kids no matter who they belong to. So anyway I learned early on that when there are children present in a clients home you make friends with them fast because this will quickly win the heart of the mother. Believe me I tried but at some point the grown ups need to talk business, ... uninterrupted. So where is Grandpa in all of this? He acts like there is no kid! Kid? What kid? So in one ear I'm trying to hear Gramps tell me why I'm here in the first place and in the other ear all I can hear is "hey, hey, hey, that's my dog he's sick, hey, hey, hey, what's your name, hey, hey, hey what's that, hey, hey, hey, blah, blah, blah. This goes on for a solid 20 - 30 minutes. I'm trying to follow Gramps' lead and just ignore him but Gramps is having waaaay more success than I am. Oh yeah and it's not just that he won't shut up, he alternates between slapping me on my side and yanking on my arm, shirt, anything he can get a hold of. When he finally started climbing on my truck I drew the line. I don't let my own kids climb on my truck. I turned around, stared down all 36" of him and said "get off of my truck and don't get on it again" in that fatherly tone that always is sufficient for my own kids. I'm not mad at the kid. It's really kind of tragic that he is that starved for attention and hasn't, apparently been taught even basic manners. Gramps however really ticked me off. How do you let your kid behave like that?

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cleveman

You are coming in loud and clear. I hope you get the job and they come to your house to do some planning and bring the kid with them to tear your place up.

People don't understand that they are doing a disservice to this child by raising him like this. They may as well teach him to swear or dump in the sink and brush his teeth out of the toilet.

So do the best you can with yours and maybe they'll rub off on the others. When they come to visit you, put your rules in effect. Maybe they will come to appreciate the "asshole" who made them take off their shoes when they came to visit his kids. Make them wash their hands as well when they come in your house.

I know people who have received birthday party invitations for children's birthdays, and it says on the invitations, "your children are not welcome" or something to that extent. This is like to a cousin's birthday party. They ask me, "who in the hell invites you to a children's birthday party and tells you to leave your kids at home?"

Obviously, they, the hosts, are at their wits' ends. They can't take the kids anymore.

So be a prick and let their parents reap the harvest.

Heloise

CPlumb

Been lurking a few days after I signed up ,,,,,,, first post .

Feel your PAIN on this kid thing ! Being Italian , this kind of behavior lasted about 10 seconds in an Italian household ! Then it was hand to A#** !

I like kids . Love my own . HOWEVER ,,, When was it put into law that the little ones should rule the roost !! ?? If the parents don't correct them and the teachers /coaches/ school admin CAN NO LONGER ,,,, We are in trouble !

Yeah I like kids and don't feel they should have their little spirits crushed but COME ON !! Discipline is a good thing !

Looking forward to this forum .

CPlumb

threaderman

WElcome to the Forum CPlumb.Always great to have another plumber in here with us.Kids and animals.I've had little ankle biters get me more than once while working in a home.One house in particular in Vegas.The dog bit me twice and drew blood and I plain out told the owner if it bit me once more that my reflexes would get the better of me and the dog probably wouldn't survive to the end of the day.They locked up the dog! Idiots!

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wrenchman

I met a kid just like that, stood by my side as I repeatedly augered his grandparents toilet only to pull out an action figure. I smiled a mile wide when he grabbed it (dirty) from the bulb and ran off with it.

woodmagman

Everyone will react differently in this type of situation. You will likely hear your own parents voices in your head. expressions and solutions. And if you are a parent you will react.
My best advice would be that if you do get the job, make it clear the due to safety and insurance reason the boy can not be on the site while work is being done. Be prepared to put up with him in the morning, at coffee and he will likely want to share his lunch with you.

smellslike$tome

Yeah well this problem has already been solved. I don't want the job. Wouldn't take the job.

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Herk

And that's why the kid acts the way he does. He isn't getting attention or caring from the adults in his life. He isn't being treated as if he's important enough to speak to unless it's to tell him to get out of the fishing tackle.

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masterk

The kids can drive you crazy but they are just kids. What about the guy that wants the cheepest price and wants to help. Now thats what causes me to explode.Cramped into his 18 inch vanity, go to turn around and bang heads with the guy.