Is it normal that seeing parents take their kids for granted upsets me?

91% Normal
11 Comments

I grew up in a household with two younger siblings that I was in charge of. My parents were married for 15 years and one day my Dad decided that he wanted to just bail, leaving my Mom, who doesn't like kids with me, a 6 year old and later on, a baby from her live-in boyfriend. Being that my Mom is a career woman and does not like kids, I was in charge of the kids and as a result, dealing with kids is as natural as breathing to me.

So when I see my neighbor in my apartment sitting her fat ass on her computer while her adorable little daughter pounds on the screen door, day after day, wanting to go outside and play, it hurts me. I've almost been tempted to let her out and take her to a park with me. I love kids and it upsets me when parents have kids and treat them worse than one would treat a pet. They claim to love them and I am sure that they do, and I know from experience how taxing childcare can be but it's as if they see them as simply mouths to feed and checks to collect.

I can't have kids myself because I am working and going to school, but I would love to someday, and if I can't, adopt. I also know many couples, a few of them being homosexual couples, that would almost kill for the chance to have children of their own and all around me I see parents who see their children as little inconveniences... like I said, mouths to feed.

Is it normal that I get upset when I see parents take their kids for granted and treat them that way? And yeah, I know, I'm an asshole and it's none of my business, but I can't help but look and feel so bad for them. I understand that some people have circumstances and what have you, but I highly doubt that every parent that I see taking their kids for granted has a good reason as to why they act like this.

Voting Results
91% Normal
Based on 33 votes (30 yes)
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Comments ( 11 )
  • Alyson
    11 years ago

    I definitely understand this. I lived with just my mom and I, and did so/dealt with so much, and just got shit for it. Like nothing else matters except for the fuck ups. I see so many kids taken for granted when in reality, without the kids, a lot would not get done.

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  • thinkingaboutit
    11 years ago

    I feel for neglected children as well.

    I don't really empathize with such parents, because I feel they may have aged but they are still children, emotionally. (demanding, self centered, whiners...)

    I hope that I mature into a giving, loving and supportive adult, so I can take good care of my smeagol babies. lol.

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  • hamwich
    11 years ago

    Not everyone likes the same things that you like. In some cases, the things that they don't care about/like will be kind of monumental- like children.

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    • NeuroNeptunian
      11 years ago

      That's understandable, but I thought it was common sense that children like different things and just not even humoring them or spending time with them or taking interests in their activities? Why would you have kids to begin with?

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      • hamwich
        11 years ago

        Some people don't have kids on purpose. I also think that some people have kids, but expect taking care of them to be different from what it actually is. I guess they ignore their kids because they don't truly enjoy taking care of them, or taking care of them isn't their top priority in life. They're still willing to do the bare-minimum, like taking them to the doctors and enrolling them in school- not doing these things would be transparently cruel- but they aren't interested in dealing with the more tedious minutiae like tucking them in at night and making sure they're entertained all the time.

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        • NeuroNeptunian
          11 years ago

          I understand that, but there are so many options available, adoption, abortion etc. It makes me so sad to see this.

          I agree with you, though. And some people really don't realize what childcare is like. They watch TV and see only the cute smiles and cuddly moments, which comprise 2% of child rearing. I don't know how one could be satisfied with doing the bare minimum for their kids. There are the people that will soon be running society, don't you wish to prepare them for that, or at least ensure that they will be a decent human being when the time comes?

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  • Corleone
    11 years ago

    What do you think? Of course it's normal to think that! If you'd like parents to do such a thing, then you're not normal.

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  • joybird
    11 years ago

    Honestly, if I were you I'd call on the neighbour and ask if she'd like me to take the child to the park. She'd probably be glad to be rid of her for an hour. I couldn't watch this without doing something :o( If she says no, well, at least you tried.

    This really really bugs me too!! I teach kids and only ask the parents to spend 10 minutes working with their kids 2-5 nights a week. When they don't bother they tell me they were too busy!! However, if that child were sick or injured and in hospital, they could find hours to travel to the hospital to sit with the child. Why do they only care in a crisis?

    The UK government has said women have to go out to work when their youngest kid is a certain age (eg 7yo) so a lot of new babies are being born to stop them losing their benefits :o( It's disgraceful!

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    • NeuroNeptunian
      11 years ago

      Actually, I did ask. I think I might have creeped her out though.

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      • flutterhigh
        11 years ago

        Yeah, that could come off as pretty creepy. It's probably too late now, but if you ever see any other underappreciated children, try telling the parents that you're trying to get a babysitting job if they're interested.

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      • joybird
        11 years ago

        Well, it's more than she's prepared to do!!

        You have made her aware though that people are noticing her neglect of this child. Just wave at the kid when you see her or maybe you could give her a balloon or a little doll. Poor wee thing :o(

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