Teenager at the Kennedy Center behavior with parents

[Anonymous]

You have to spend less time stressing about other people’s parenting. Set your own boundaries related to your own business and stick to that.

In this case I would consider the teenager to be an adult. What would you do if an adult encroached on your space?

Probably start by saying “excuse me, your knee/foot is on my seat.”

If that doesn’t work or causes a backlash, speak to the usher.

Obviously the kid and the parent are not doing what they should but that’s not your problem. Just figure out your move based on your stuff and then do it and stop worrying about them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the teen was special needs.

Perhaps, but putting your knees and feet on other people is unacceptable. I would tolerate the fidgeting and singing, but not the encroachment into my personal space.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the teen was special needs.

Perhaps, but putting your knees and feet on other people is unacceptable. I would tolerate the fidgeting and singing, but not the encroachment into my personal space.

It’s on the parent. I have a kid with special needs who can’t sit still to watch a show, but I try to set DC for success. We go enough that my kids know loud talking is rude. We also attend matinee performances; I bring fidgets and sit next to DC to stop their legs from kicking the seats in front.

[Anonymous]

I feel sorry for Op.When you pay $150/ticket, you expect nice mannered customers. That is annoying to sit near the loud, kicking family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You could have asked herto stop disturbing you or spoken with her mother, but you were a passive aggressive a-hole. Sounds like you also behaved poorly.

It's dangerous to directly address behavior like this. People who can't function well in society often become violent.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for Op.When you pay $150/ticket, you expect nice mannered customers. That is annoying to sit near the loud, kicking family.

I agree, OP. I was on the fence about buying tickets for Frozen, partly because my experience with other kid-oriented shows has been horrible with singing, talking, seat-kicking, etc. No one wants to be in a position where they have to have an uncomfortable conversation, whether with the parent or an usher, to stop behavior that interferes with their enjoyment of the show.

But it's not just kids. I work as a volunteer usher at another theater, and while audience behavior is not a huge problem, there are many inconsiderate people. Signing along is out of hand. PSA - people pay a lot of money to see these shows, and they don't want to hear you signing. Please stop. I saw one show where all of the teens had their hoods up which blocked the view of the people sitting behind them. And for goodness sake, if an usher or house manager asks you to do something (stop singing, put your cell phone away, etc.), please do it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Perhaps the teen was special needs.

It's not an excuse for bad behavior and needs to stop being used as one.

My cousin is SN and he has never behaved like this. He understands that during movies and shows, he can bob his head and mouth the words but not talk or bounce a lot in his seat. SN people can be taught appropriate behavior if their caregiver isn't lazy.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to assume she is special and blame the parents for not corralling the behaviour/teaching her/reminding her of social norms. It must be exhausting to constantly have to parent but when you don't, you leave it up to frustrated strangers who will not be as nice.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So there's no rude kids anymore, just kids with mental problems?

Both exist. But you knew that.

Not really. Because the minute you complain about a kid someone always says "special needs". See, this thread for proof. PP is right, that will be the knee jerk response to any complaint about a badly behaving kid. Do you think the child OP posted about is just rude?

Exactly. Everyone has a reason now and is justified. When in fact, it's not justified at all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I feel sorry for Op.When you pay $150/ticket, you expect nice mannered customers. That is annoying to sit near the loud, kicking family.

I agree, OP. I was on the fence about buying tickets for Frozen, partly because my experience with other kid-oriented shows has been horrible with singing, talking, seat-kicking, etc. No one wants to be in a position where they have to have an uncomfortable conversation, whether with the parent or an usher, to stop behavior that interferes with their enjoyment of the show.

But it's not just kids. I work as a volunteer usher at another theater, and while audience behavior is not a huge problem, there are many inconsiderate people. Signing along is out of hand. PSA - people pay a lot of money to see these shows, and they don't want to hear you signing. Please stop. I saw one show where all of the teens had their hoods up which blocked the view of the people sitting behind them. And for goodness sake, if an usher or house manager asks you to do something (stop singing, put your cell phone away, etc.), please do it.

On the other hand, I’m basically mad at every theater I attend for making the seats too close together and not pitched enough so that people are cramped with blocked views.

A couple years ago someone (Folger?) put on A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the building museum. They built the whole thing in the giant, cavernous space. You had to walk through a whole evocative opening maze thing. Then when you arrived at the stage, cram yourself onto tiny bleachers.

[Anonymous]

Seriously?
Perhaps she has ADHD, or on the spectrum
And she fidgets and moves a lot.
Did she sit in your lap or kick someone in the head?
‘Oh baby careful careful your knee is in my lap’
Big smile, whisper ‘sweetie can you please move your leg?’ Big smile, thank you.
Grace and adult ass manners go a long ways
Instead you drag your tail to DCUM to complain about petty behavior.
Glad your kids are perfect, see where they got from.

[Anonymous]

Oh my god she’s touching me
Ohhhhhhh Nooooo!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously?
Perhaps she has ADHD, or on the spectrum
And she fidgets and moves a lot.
Did she sit in your lap or kick someone in the head?
‘Oh baby careful careful your knee is in my lap’
Big smile, whisper ‘sweetie can you please move your leg?’ Big smile, thank you.
Grace and adult ass manners go a long ways
Instead you drag your tail to DCUM to complain about petty behavior.
Glad your kids are perfect, see where they got from.

Stop being defensive about your kid with SN and start being a parent. As in put the kid with SN in between the two adults that she was sitting with. That way the one saying “oh sweetie” and getting knees put on them is YOU AND GRANDMA, not complete strangers who paid for tickets to a show, not ticket to having to parent YOUR child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Seriously?
Perhaps she has ADHD, or on the spectrum
And she fidgets and moves a lot.
Did she sit in your lap or kick someone in the head?
‘Oh baby careful careful your knee is in my lap’
Big smile, whisper ‘sweetie can you please move your leg?’ Big smile, thank you.
Grace and adult ass manners go a long ways
Instead you drag your tail to DCUM to complain about petty behavior.
Glad your kids are perfect, see where they got from.

NO ONE WANTS TO PARENT YOUR CHILD. That is your job. If your child touches me and is distracting to me, there will be no “sweetie” about what I say to them, and if you don’t like it, you should parent them yourself. We get it, you’re too lazy and want to check out, but trust and believe you will not like it if I get involved. No one paid to parent your kid. If you can’t handle it, stay home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Oh my god she’s touching me
Ohhhhhhh Nooooo!

It's all well and good when another woman is being harassed and touched without consent. If OP was with a man she could have switched places and watched how swiftly mama Bear moved herself between the man and her daughter when she noticed they were touching.