Comments on: A Personal Rant

By: Theodora

Theodora — Tue, 26 Jun 2007 13:15:19 +0000

Janelle,
I am just happy your husband wasn’t further hurt by the blatant disregard of those teenagers and the reason they are so self-centered was stated by how you raised your daughters to respect others. Too many parents today want to be friends with their children instead of doing the tough job of actually parenting them which means at times they will not like you. All kids are not the same and some may have empathy as a part of their personality. I’ve seen adults in stores with toddlers standing up in the shopping cart and rather than tell the child to sit down before they hurt themselves and because they are the parent, these pathetic people would try to cajole the child into sitting down by telling them the security person nearby doesn’t like them standing up. Talk about spineless! If all children were raised with loving kind of discipline at all and respect for others, there would be no need for metal detectors in the schools. I’m also happy nothing happened to you when you brought this to their attention that the world does not revolve around them.

By: Patty

Patty — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 17:17:51 +0000

Janelle - here’s hoping Don is mobile and well soon.

To those of you experiencing rude behavior just because your handicapped - what a rotten thing to have happen!

Right now I’m experiencing a lot of problems with arthritis in my hips and can’t walk for long periods of time, so I’m “riding” when I go to places like WalMart. Most people are wonderful but like you, I occasionally encounter the rude of society. Want to know where I’ve found the most friendly and helpful people? At our local indoor pool. I’m doing water aerobics to strengthen my legs and build my endurance. The lifeguards there are all young, late teens or early twenties and they are the most friendly, helpful and courteous bunch I have ever run into - it makes you remember that not everyone is like that crowd the tried to knock over Don, or those who have almost made one poster homebound.

My recommendation, keep going out, eventually you’ll run into some people who re-affirm your faith in mankind.

Patty

By: Becky Cruz

Becky Cruz — Sat, 23 Jun 2007 05:46:01 +0000

Boy, did I happen across this blog on the right day! This is a major pet peeve of mine and I see it every day and across the board, not just teenagers. Our society as a whole has become rude and self-centered. So many people have the “me” mentality and think nothing of others. Thank goodness, we occasionally come across people who show basic manners to others. They are the bright spot of our days. I think you handled the situation well, you were actually nicer that I would have been! All we can do, is teach our children the right way and when we encounter rude people, let them know what we think (it takes a village)!!

By: Ingrid

Ingrid — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 18:06:13 +0000

I feel each and everyone of you! I agree that todays teenagers have gotten much more disrespectful. Its a no brainer that these kids’ parents did not give them the basic skills of a simple, “please, thank you, your welcome” Unfortunately i have also seen kids that have great parents and have been taught better manners but they are so afraid of not fitting in with their peers that they simply follow along. I hate to be those kids when they get into the real world and see that life is not always going to look the other way when they act up. I also hate to say but sometime these are the kids who end up getting trouble(i.e. pregnant, gangs, drugs, etc.) It is a shame what is happening with our youth. But from reading everyones comments, there are still people out there who care about their children and raise them accordingly as best as they can. I salute myself since i am a proud parent of a seven year old and i salute each and everyone one you great parents out there.

By: Dena

Dena — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 17:23:41 +0000

I definitely feel kids today have very little respect for elders and others who should be treated with kindness and manners. I comes down to not being raised properly,sadly parents aren’t doing their jobs. Not sure why,maybe they think school or television will do it for them.
I am disabled and am astounded at the lack of respect and courtesy I get out in public. I understand stares because children are curious but when teenagers and adults are so obvious it annoys me. Several times I have been treated rudely by teenagers and my daughter has said things. Thankfully my daughter has compassion for others because of my circumstances.
I hope Don is having less pain.take care

By: ev

ev — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 09:33:20 +0000

Jodie- My daughter was diagnosed at an early age with emotional disabilities, the same as your son. I hated taking her grocery shopping, if she got in one of those rages, everything on the nearest shelf would go flying. I had one woman walk by me and tell me to take a Valium. Thankfully, she has out grown most of it but still has problems controlling her anger at times.

It is a shame that in this society we are supposed to be PC about everything except the handicapped. And there is nothing like being a “norma” person who developes an even temporary disablility like Don has, to bring that whole thing to someones attention.

By: Patricia

Patricia — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:57:51 +0000

Janelle, So sorry that you & Don had to endure those self-centered & inconsiderate teens. I can really relate. As you may remember, my daughter is Down’s Syndrome, & my son 2 years younger. When Lisa was around 16 & my son 14, we were walking to our car after a doctor’s appointment. I heard some giggling behind us, & when I turned around, there were 3 girls, around 13 YO, with their tongues out, walking straight-legged, &, obviously, making fun of my daughter. I turned around & said, “Well, your actions must REALLY make you feel good. How proud you must be that you can make fun of someone who has a much harder time in life than you.” They kept looking away & fingering each other as to who was the first one who decided to do this, & that they just followed. Later, my son said, “Why did you do that?” I said, “I’ve always thought one good thing that could happen raising Lisa was that we could teach others to be kinder to handicapped people. They were embarrassing themselves, not us.” I thought those girls would never do something like this again, but, frankly, if they had to be told what was acceptable at 13, I wouldn’t bet on it. There’s no doubt that manners & consideration for others is hard to find these days. Such a shame.

Hope Don is well soon.

Patricia A.

By: Janelle

Janelle — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 04:47:03 +0000

Tina — yes, that Sweet 16 show makes me SHUDDER. Those girls are so spoiled, bratty, bitchy, and disrespectful! Hard to imagine any guy ever wanting to marry any of them!

By: Tina Martinesi

Tina Martinesi — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:32:09 +0000

Karen, I second what Julie said…..People can be such a$$ holes sometimes!!! Excuse my french but your post really made me angry
Please don’t let these poor excuses for humans get to you! Don’t let them make you a prisoner, you deserve better!

By: Tina Martinesi

Tina Martinesi — Fri, 22 Jun 2007 03:27:19 +0000

Lynn, I couldn’t have said it better myself!!:thumbsup2:

Has anyone ever seen my super sweet 16 on MTV? I sometimes cringe when I see these so called SWEET girls screaming at their mothers because they didn’t get the car they wanted delivered to the party so everyone can be jealous!!! It’s unbelievable!! I just can’t imagine my children ever treating me that way?!

Janelle this was a great topic today! And I hope Don is on the road to recovery!!