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Children & Bad Manners – Is ADHD Getting The Blame?
By Rory Stern | February 20, 2008
Welcome back! Be sure to leave your thoughts in the comments below!
Yesterday, my family and I (wife, two kids) went to the Museum of Science in Boston, MA. For many in the Northeast US, it is school vacation week. I am not sure we really thought of that when we ventured out to the museum with some cousins (who were also on school vacation).
As you might already be thinking, the museum was crowded. It was packed. I can’t really compare it to any other non-school vacation day because I haven’t been to the museum in years. But anyway, I think it’s safe to say the museum was packed.
Children were running around everywhere – like children do. And of course, this museum is also very interactive. From the moment I walked in the door, I was pushed, poked, shoved, and bumped into. It lasted all day. Now being someone who doesn’t really like crowded places, I was almost frustrated just knowing we were going there.
But what really got to me was the lack of manners and apparent total absence of parents watching their children. And what really almost threw me over the edge was when one 7 or 8 year old was swinging around a metal chain that almost hit my 6 month old son in the eye (despite even being in his car seat on a stroller).
Now – it would be easy for me or anyone else to immediately blame “ADHD” and bad parenting.
But – the reality of the situation is this:
- I was in a public place
- Kids were everywhere
- It was interactive
- People get distracted and overwhelmed
And, listen, I am not immune. Did my toddler run off and probably steamroll over some other parent? Yep – she sure did. But I was following right behind her, apologizing and saying excuse me for her…
Does that make me better? Is that what I am going for here? No! If you know me by now, then you know that is not what it’s all about. Not one bit.
My frustration came at the apparent lack of manners I saw yesterday.
But I guess kids are kids, and knowing I don’t like crowded places – maybe I should have stayed home or gone somewhere else.
Topics: Beliefs, Children | 1 Comment »
February 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Dr. Stern,
You’re right, kids are kids but with proper adult supervision, regardless of ADHD, they can be well behaved kids. I’m a teacher and a father of 5. When I take my students to field trips or my own children to museums, I make sure that they are well supervised and that they are conducting themselves accordingly. This doesn’t mean that I am better than anyone else. I am just doing what a parent or a teacher should do. ’nuff sed’