I hate lazy parents

[smokymountainrain]

Okay, hate might be a strong word. "Strongly dislike" is, perhaps, more appropriate.

Each of my two oldest children, boy age 7 and girl age 9 has an organized "playgroup" with a their friends about once a week, usually right after school. I don't know if these "playgroups" are common or if that is even what most people call these friend get togethers if they are common, but since I've been laid off, I've become increasingly annoyed with the parents (mostly moms) of these kids.

When it's my wife's turn to host the playgroup, she picks all the kids up from school and takes them home when the playgroup is over. She also feeds them while they are at our house. No big deal - or so I thought.

Combining both my kids friends, there about eight moms involved besides my wife. When it's any of those eight's turn to host the playgroup, we both pick our kids up from school, take them to the playgroup house and then we pick them up when the playgroup is over. WTF?

Today I took both of my kids to their respective playgroups and picked them up. Right on cue, the first thing each of them said when they got in the car after the playgroup..."Dad, I'm hungry!!!" They NEVER get fed by the other parents! My wife feeds the playgroups every damn time.

For those of you with kids of similar ages, is it normal to be a lazy ass like my kids friends parents, or is what my wife does normal?

Also, what the hell is the deal with playgroups? Is it just a Utah thing? Just a Sandy, Utah thing? I didn't have anything like that when I was kid. If I wanted to play with a friend, I walked or jumped on my bike and went to his house. Moms seldom, if ever got involved.

sheesh.

[il Padrino Ute]

Our house has always been the gathering place for the friends of all our kids. A lot of it has to do with the fact that most of my kids' friends come from homes where both parents work and because I work from my home and my wife works at the elementary school, it's an almost logical choice. And because my wife works at the school, our home is the "safe house" where kids know they can go if there is a problem, as all the kids know her from school.

We don't always feed everybody, unless they say something about being hungry. I can understand the frustration you feel, but it seems to me that it would probably be best to not get too worked up about it. And because you and your wife pick up the kids, feed them and take them home, when everyone is a teenager, your house will probably be the hang out house as it now is with my two oldest. That's a good thing, because I always know where my teenagers are.

[BlueHair]

What is wrong with our generation? Our parenting skills suck. Play groups sound really stupid. Whatever happened to just calling up a friend and having them come over to play. We would be gone all day on our bikes and would just come home for dinner. I fear we are smothering our kids with our need to plan everything and keep them overly busy with music lessons and club sports. A lot of kids don't get any time to just relax and play.

[YOhio]

Hey SMR, sorry to hear you were laid off. Best of luck to you man.

To your point, lazy parents are the worst!

[smokymountainrain]

Our house has always been the gathering place for the friends of all our kids. A lot of it has to do with the fact that most of my kids' friends come from homes where both parents work and because I work from my home and my wife works at the elementary school, it's an almost logical choice. And because my wife works at the school, our home is the "safe house" where kids know they can go if there is a problem, as all the kids know her from school.

We don't always feed everybody, unless they say something about being hungry. I can understand the frustration you feel, but it seems to me that it would probably be best to not get too worked up about it. And because you and your wife pick up the kids, feed them and take them home, when everyone is a teenager, your house will probably be the hang out house as it now is with my two oldest. That's a good thing, because I always know where my teenagers are.

You make some good points, and for the most part that's how my wife feels. She doesn't seem to care that she does twice as much as any other mom she deals with on a regular basis. She just enjoys doing it. I guess sometimes I feel like I have to get worked up for the both of us.

[smokymountainrain]

What is wrong with our generation? Our parenting skills suck. Play groups sound really stupid. Whatever happened to just calling up a friend and having them come over to play. We would be gone all day on our bikes and would just come home for dinner. I fear we are smothering our kids with our need to plan everything and keep them overly busy with music lessons and club sports. A lot of kids don't get any time to just relax and play.

Amen.

[smokymountainrain]

Hey SMR, sorry to hear you were laid off. Best of luck to you man.

Thank you. It's been nice in so many ways and it hasn't been a strain financially yet, but I'm starting to go crazy not going to a regular job every day.

[Soccermom]

I don't do play groups, but when my kids invite friends over to play, we just work it out with the other moms to see what is easiest as to who drops off/takes home. And I always give snacks. I am pretty sure all the other moms do as well. I guess that means I have some "cool house" competition.

[smokymountainrain]

I don't do play groups, but when my kids invite friends over to play, we just work it out with the other moms to see what is easiest as to who drops off/takes home. And I always give snacks. I am pretty sure all the other moms do as well. I guess that means I have some "cool house" competition.

It just seems normal for me to give the little farts some food. I think it helps them to play better/nicer. So in some ways, giving them food might even be a bit selfish.

I did just talk to my daughter about it and she did say one of the other moms will give them snacks most of the time. So counting my wife, that is about 2 out of 9.

[Soccermom]

It just seems normal for me to give the little farts some food. I think it helps them to play better/nicer. So in some ways, giving them food might even be a bit selfish.

I did just talk to my daughter about it and she did say one of the other moms will give them snacks most of the time. So counting my wife, that is about 2 out of 9.

I agree that it just seems normal to offer a snack. Most of the kids who play at my house are pretty well-mannered too. Except the little 7 yr. old boy who pooped on my kitchen floor and then ran home before it was discovered. But his family has other issues so I try and forget about that. I also avoid feeding him fiber now when he comes to play.

[Babs]

honestly, sometimes I prefer the other moms not give snacks, because Jeff will come home having been enlightened as to the existence of double stuff oreos or mega-cheezy cheez-its.

[FMCoug]

What is wrong with our generation? Our parenting skills suck. Play groups sound really stupid. Whatever happened to just calling up a friend and having them come over to play. We would be gone all day on our bikes and would just come home for dinner. I fear we are smothering our kids with our need to plan everything and keep them overly busy with music lessons and club sports. A lot of kids don't get any time to just relax and play.

These may be the truest words every written on CUF. Drives me crazy. I fear we're raising a generation of neurotics.

[SteelBlue]

What is wrong with our generation? Our parenting skills suck. Play groups sound really stupid. Whatever happened to just calling up a friend and having them come over to play. We would be gone all day on our bikes and would just come home for dinner. I fear we are smothering our kids with our need to plan everything and keep them overly busy with music lessons and club sports. A lot of kids don't get any time to just relax and play.

We grew up as "free range" children. Gen X was probably that last to have that freedom. Maybe Gen Y to some extent too, but I think a lot of you guys had helicopter parents.

[pellegrino]

What is wrong with our generation? Our parenting skills suck. Play groups sound really stupid. Whatever happened to just calling up a friend and having them come over to play. We would be gone all day on our bikes and would just come home for dinner. I fear we are smothering our kids with our need to plan everything and keep them overly busy with music lessons and club sports. A lot of kids don't get any time to just relax and play.

I'll agree that there are plenty of helicopter parents out there, and I'm not condoning them but the world is a different place than from when we grew up.

I have no problem with having a rotating house as the meeting point for kids to play, but I think kids 8 and older should get themselves to and from the house, not the parents. Of course that can depend on where they live and the distance involved.

[I.J. Reilly]

I agree that it just seems normal to offer a snack. Most of the kids who play at my house are pretty well-mannered too. Except the little 7 yr. old boy who pooped on my kitchen floor and then ran home before it was discovered. But his family has other issues so I try and forget about that. I also avoid feeding him fiber now when he comes to play.

LOL! This reminds me of a friend I had as a small child. Pooped his pants while sitting on our front porch. Poor Bobby. He had it bad in many ways.