Our neighborhood is filled with kids. Have I mentioned this? Each corner house has at least 30 children living in them. My afternoon assistant lives around the corner and has nine brothers and sisters.
I love it because Maile goes to school with many of them and it’s great for her to see familiar faces and get to know them outside of school. I also love that when someone rides past the house on his bike, one of the girls will run to the window and shout, “OH IT’S JUST ELIJAH!”
It’s really cute.
And because there are two parks in the neighborhood, I often take the daycare kids to play and run and be merry.
On Wednesday, as we made our way around the block, three kids came whizzing by us on a moped. They actually weren’t going that fast, but I can guarantee you not one of them was sixteen years old.
And NONE of them were wearing helmets. And ALL of them took turns driving the moped. And for sure TWO of them were under the age of ten.
I thought about what I would do…and how bad they would be hurt…if the moped just tipped over with them riding it. My small troop of daycare kids looked on as these three boys continued to circle the neighborhood.
“Boy that’s dangerous!” I said to them.
Maile looked on smiling at her friends who appeared to be having a marvelous time.
“Oh they’re being careful.” She shrugged.
“Being careful? Maile little boys are not supposed to drive mopeds…and certainly not without helmets…and definitely not three squeezed on at once waving their hands around like that!” I wanted to be clear that this behavior was not condoned by me, but the point seemed to be lost on Maile. She liked watching her friends have fun. I cringed every time they passed.
Should I be doing something? I don’t want to be the mean old mom, but geeeeez…if something happens to one of those boys I’ll never forgive myself for not stepping in!
I also realized that my daughter (and the daycare kids) needed to see that there are repercussions for blatant disregard for laws and rules…and that there are reasons certain laws are in place…and that it doesn’t matter if your friends look like “they’re being careful”…it’s still not safe.
In that moment, as Carabee so eloquently put it, I said goodbye to the girl who used to be the idiot on the bike and I said hello to the cranky old lady calling the cops on the idiots on the bike.
I embrace my new role.
A police officer came cruising through the neighborhood about five minutes after I made the call.
Next thing I know, the three boys were slowly walking the moped back to the home. “Seeeeee….” I said, “when you break the law a police officer will have to come talk to you about it….” I didn’t want to threaten jail time just yet.
And I have to say I feel a little silly about the whole thing…I know it was for the best, but could I have just waved them down and told them to take the bike home? Am I that big of a pansy that I had to resort to actually calling the police?
One of the boys told Maile he thought her mom was the one who called and I received the third degree on the way home:
“Did you call the police Mom? Who were you talking to? I saw you on the phone, who was that? It was Grandma? Why were you talking to Grandma? What did you say to her?”
Apparently I’m not just “the cranky old lady who calls the cops on the idiots on the bike”…I’m the “cranky old lady who calls the cops on the idiots on the bike and then lies about it in order to avoid being the Mom who embarrasses her kids in front of all her friends.”
Here’s hoping none of those hooligans breaks into my car in retaliation.
And here’s hoping my daughter learned a lesson and doesn’t become one herself.
{ 70 comments… read them below or add one }
Aw, thats a funny story! I would have probably done the same!! And even had the same conversation with myself about whether I should or shouldnt call the police… =)
I get almost physically ill watching kids do stuff like that now. If we knew our neighbors like we used to, we could call one of the parents and get THEM to put a stop to it – certainly as scary (if not more) than the police officers.
I won’t be moving into your neighborhood anytime soon – surely, you would be calling the cops for some of The Boy’s antics.
True…and that would just make things awkward for our relationship.
Sad thing about calling a parent is that now a days there are even many of THEM that wave it off and say “They’r just being kids, they’re not hurting anyone…” And then they DO. *sigh* I think you did the right thing. Why should anyone HAVE to be fingered for calling? Who’s to say he didn’t just happen to be driving by? Besides, it was good for the younger impressionable minds to see that there are consequences. ((HUGS))
That’s what I said…that maybe someone saw them from the window and called it in.
And why can’t I just admit to doing it? That’s right!! I called it in and I’ll do it AGAIN!
Now who took my camera!?!
I am one of those moms that would call too. Maybe I would have warn the kids too. I was the mom glaring at my daughter and her friends when they kept on talking while I was trying to watch “Eclipse” at the movie theater. I had driven most of the kids there, paid for 2 of them. 3 tickets at $12 a piece is a lot of money!! yikes..I’m going to matinee next time. It was a 4:00 movie. After the movie was over I walked over to them and said remember I’m the one that paid and I’m the one with the drivers licence and the car. When we got out to the mall I told my daughter I was going for a walk. She later told me sorry and I told her she wasn’t sorry otherwise she would have been quiet. I was livid! So yeah I’m a squeeler too when it’s an issue of safety or courtesy.
So funny – I read this in my feed first and the pic didn’t show up, so I clicked on it to see it on your site and the picture made me giggle!
And don’t feel bad, I did actually throw in the jail time talk into a conversation I had with my son recently! LOL!
Ha! She’s such a delinquent in the making.
I would have done the same thing, too. As soon as I had kids, I became the cranky old lady who calls the cops. In fact, I almost called to report gunfire last night, until it turned out that they were leftover firecrackers.
Nothing wrong with the good ol’ scare tactics…..
IF it is any consolation I would have called them too. Like you if they had had something happen I would have felt horrible..
Great move! In the past, I would have talked with the kids, but they probably would have just continued. You did good! And, it’s a great lesson for your daughter to see that there are consequences. Otherwise, when they become teens and think they are invincible, the antics get a little more serious.
Want to join my “cranky old lady” club?
Yes! I’d like to be vice president of the cranky old lady club please. My sisters will need to get in too, because they’re ten times crankier than me.
I definitely think that you did the right thing – I would probably do it too. I have called the authorities regarding littering – and it feels SO good. I think it’s important to be a good member of society and look out for each other. And to learn that there are repercussions for your actions. You need to be safe – and sometimes it takes outside influence to keep that safety. Good for you for being a good neighbor. What if there had been an accident and one of those kids had been seriously injured? That would have been the real tragedy.
I never would have forgiven myself if one of them had been hurt!
And you’re right…calling in is kind of addictive…maybe I’ll start calling in all the cell phone users I see on the road.
I wonder if it’s legal to call the police when you’re driving, to report someone who’s driving while on the phone (illegal here now).
I’m in for Liz’s Cranky Old Lady Club. I too would have called the authorities or police or (depending in their size ;-) had words with the children myself.
You were totally right to call the cops. The boys probably wouldn’t have listened to you. Plus, the fear of seeing the cop come towards them will make them think twice before they do something like that again.
And I totally would have lied about it too.
I’ve totally been that mom. Very recently I called the cops on some 8 year old’s that my daughter is friends with…..maybe I need to post that story!
I wouldn’t have called the cops. I would have stopped them, demanded they get off the moped and threaten them with the cops if I saw them on it again. Then I would have walked them and the moped home and made sure they know the laws. Their parents may have said it was OK. You never know. IF they did not listen to me, then I would have called the cops. But, most times, kids that age are trying to get adult attention by doing these things anyway.
One of my kids’ friends one time was driving his dad’s car at 16 with no permit or license while his dad was in the hospital. I took the keys and made sure the car got home. I kept the keys until his dad came home. He still, to this day, thanks me for taking the keys from him because he knows now that he was too inexperienced to be driving on his own.
You’re like that gutsy friend that I make do everything for me.
“YOU call him! YOU raise your hand! YOU say it!”
Where were you when I needed you!?!
I’m definitely in the Cranky Old Ladies Club too. I realized it a few months ago when I yelled and gestured aggressively at some ‘punk’ driving through the neighborhood too fast. And also when I threatened to grab a broom chase after the people setting off fireworks and ‘causing a racket’ at 9:30 at night. I’m only 31… I would think my default time to get mad at noise would be at least 10 or 11 :-)
Thank you for telling the kids the police would come talk to them. My husband is a police officer and it breaks his heart the number of parents that come up to him and say things like “I told little Johnny that if he didn’t buckle up, you’d throw him in jail” and then make their kids think the police are the bad guys.
I hate that too! I don’t want my kids to FEAR cops…I just want them to understand that they’re here to make sure people are following the rules and staying safe. They were definitely concerned about jail time!
Oh, I so know what you mean. I often feel that way about various things. As an adult who is a recovering idiot, risk-taking, lucky teen/young adult, it’s so hard to know when to draw the line.
Actually I think you did the right thing. Good for you.
I’m totally guilty of wreckless decisions when I was younger too…thank God no one called the cops on me!!
better safe than sorry, right?! i’ve turned into that cranky old lady too. and i’m ok with it. because that cranky old lady is a mommy who loves her kids and their friends and would HATE to see anything happen to them.
so…way to go, you crotchety woman you!
Yes for sure! Let’s just keep the babies safe now…why do they make it so difficult?
I think you did the right thing too. I can totally relate, I am working at our Y’s summer camp and today, I sought out a young lady to make her throw away her trash that I could have just as easily (actually it would have been easier) thrown away myself. She was not happy with me and I’m probably the “mean old lady counselor” now too. Oh well, next time perhaps she’ll throw it away herself.
Keep up the good work Cranky Old Lady.
I would’ve done the same thing! I once called the police on neighborhood kids teasing, throwing rocks and harrassing a special needs boy who just trying to ride his bike.
That’s horrible! Did the police come and do anything about it? Kids are ruthless.
I would have done it too! I have realized I’m a cranky old lady now with some of the things that come out of my mouth- but I’m proud of it! What if the boys had crashed into the kids, ya never know.
One of my very, very good friends held a teenage boy in her lap after he crashed a dirt bike right in front of her front yard with is head busted open and as she said “his brains leaking into her lap.” He wasn’t wearing a helmet, was going too fast, pulled around a car and there was another car there. It was a tragedy.
You did the right thing. Don’t even second guess it.
I have goosebumps! What an awful story…thank goodness that was not the case here!
Good for you for embracing your new role!! ^_^
As embarrassing as it can be, if something had happened you would have felt horrible!
Good mom!!!!! And I love that you lied about it….kids don’t understand doing the right thing all the time and that would have just made your daughter feel uncomfortable around her friends.
Hey – action is always better than inaction. And if it was my kids on the moped, I’d be glad there was someone out there looking out for them.
You’re better than me. I would have stopped the boys and said something to them. But thats not a good thing to do. My wife is home all day with our 4 kids and she gets made when I yell at the speeding cars going by.
After I yell this is what I get. “You dumbass, I have to be ALONE here all day by myself and you act like a jackass” I then say “Sorry dear”
You did a good thing.
Ohhhhh…I know we’re going to be *those* parents, both my husband and I. We’re already cranky old people and in our early 30′s with no kids yet. But I can see it happening already. You definitely did the right thing.
I would have done it too!! I would have thought the same thoughts and done the same exact thing.
Just call me the fun hater!
:-)
Megan
http://reddirtandcrazy.blogspot.com/
LOL! You party pooper! Just playing…..
I totally agree with you 100% on this. We talk to our daughter all the time about safety and laws, etc. It’s so important that they follow rules.
Good for you!!! We always have to remember…we’re the parent 1st and foremost, not their friend and we are only looking out for their best interest. :O)
I would have done the same lol
I would have lied about it too. It’s crazy when you feel the need to save face in front of a kid, but at the same time they can be really judgy…and then cry.
I don’t blame you one bit! We have called the police on our neighbors’ kids’ party next door twice & it’s always interesting. We even have teens drive WAY too fast in the neighborhood and so we have done our civil duty and called before. No shame and no blame! It’s okay to call. :D
Think about it like this:
What’s worse? You calling the cops or one of the parents of those children calling a hospital or funeral home? Dial away, sister. Dial away.
You could think of it this way…the boys may have blown you off if you dealt with them directly, and then if you called the cops anyway, they would have known you turned them in. This way they got a good scare without having you to blame.
I totally think that you did the right thing but you should have had the police search the kids houses to see if they were the hoodlums that took your camera.
I’ve met moms of kids with traumatic brain injury and let me tell you, you totally did the right thing. I hate seeing kids ride bikes w/out helmets – and even worse? I hate when they’re biking w/ their parents and their parents are not wearing helmets. I mean, wha?
I was lucky enough to be the house where kids hung out and some mean mom/teacher stares and lectures ready to pop out at any moment! I rarely had to use them.
but, lemme tell you- if it were my kid on the moped and I was unaware of what he was doing, I would want you to either tell him off, let me know, or call the cops for a stern warning. I know, being a tattletale isn’t a great thing to be, but sometimes it is necessary.
Good for you!
you did the right thing.
I think you were spot on. In today’s world it’s never too early to teach them about safety. I would have done the same.
This is my first time here and I plan on joining your writing workshop. Wish me luck.
Oh! am visiting from SITS.
It’s both a sad and liberating day when you become *that* person. The other night my husband and I called the cops on the neighbors because we thought 2 AM on a Tuesday morning was not an appropriate time to be singing/yelling Bohemian Rhapsody on your front porch. As my husband dialed I thought about all the times I got the cops called on me.
We now call the cops on our neighbors who have teen daughters and lots of parties. There’s is the house where all the drinking happens. I’m fine with that, we had a house like that in H.S. where we were allowed to get drunk as long as we stayed there and didn’t drive. My issue is that they think it’s OK to have their bass blaring at 1am.
It’s funny, because they were the ones that used to call the cops on my brother’s parties way back when ;D
I don’t know if another commenter mentioned this (I am working and not supposed to be blogging;) but even if you had said something to the boys, they would have thought you were just an old crank and made jokes about your butt or your boobs.
Calling the police made a waaaaayyyy bigger impression. Husband (police) has followed/escorted many ambulances containing children to the ER and waited there while frantic parents most likely blew through lights to get to the hospital.
I guarantee you that all those parents wish that the police had talked to their kids BEFORE the trip to the ER was made!
Besides, it is poetic justice that we stop kids from doing all the fun things that we were stopped from doing….it is the cycle of life :)
I’m a cranky old lady, too. That is, if 33 is considered old. Regardless, I’m cranky and I think you did the right thing. Kids don’t always listen to adults, but they definitely listen to an adult with a gun and a badge!
I’ve had the call the cops a few times on loud partying teenagers on my block. Not fun.
-Aimee
It’s funny how once you have your own children, your philosophy almost instantly changes with these situations. I would have done exactly what you did. Even if your daughter doesn’t understand it now, she will definitely understand it when she has her first child.
I think you did the right thing, and if you can’t tell your daughter that you called the police that is ok too! There are a number of people who could have called and it isn’t the worst thing to have the kids think that there might be some neighbor hood watch guy calling the police on bad behavior. Plus, I don’t think the kids would have listened to you if you were the one who told them to stop. Sometimes they need to have someone they are a bit intimidated of to set them straight like a cop. When you get a group of kids together, especially boys they want to be cool and they could have easily brushed you off but they wont do that with a cop yet they are too young. I hope you have a great weekend! Here’s to turning into cranky old ladies LOL! I am right there with you, even if I don’t like LOL
Let us know if anyone eggs your house! At 27, Sexy Nerd is the grouchy old man of our neighborhood. He once chased a group of boys after their baseball hit his truck (no damage done). They split up and climbed the fences to get into each others yards, so he went and had a chat with one of their moms. Our house was egged the following day!
http://lambaround.blogspot.com
This story sounds like something out of that “What would you do?” show!! I think you did the right thing! Kids these days would have never listened to you had you went up to them yourself….Your reaction may sound silly but better than sorry right!? =D
Stopping By From SITS!
My dad was being an idiot and told my little brother (who was 13) that he could ride a mini bike on the street. It just so happened that a cop was driving down the street at the same time and pulled him over. No helmet, escorted home by the police, and he had to go to court. He was mortified and crying and totally upset by the whole thing all because my dad was being an idiot and told him it was fine. He used to do it as a kid and didn’t even THINK about it.
Some people are dumbasses.
My neighbors do stuff like this ALL the time. They bought one of those mini-quads for their 10 year old. I think he was 8 at the time. Ummm we don’t live in the woods, but apparently they’re rednecks. Anyway, they ride around on it all the time. Even used to take the then weee little baby on rides with them. Never with helmets. They also have a mini-motorcycle thing (not a moped, not sure what it’s really called) and they never wear helmets.
Add to this the fact that the uncle will take the younger boy (he’s almost 4 now) on rides in his van, and have him sit on his lap and pretend to drive (ummm NJ suburbs people, not Alabama dirt roads!).
ANNNNND they let the same little boy sit in the front seat of the car when his mother drives him around.
UMMMMM I really feel like I should be calling the cops, but I don’t…and I often wonder if they’ll make it to adulthood :-/
Luckily, I live in a neighborhood populated by geriatrics so I can rest assured they’d call the police first.
I wish you would call the police on all these kids riding ATV’s in my neighborhood. Not only without a helmet, but none of them are older than 13. I worry constantly about the kids. I’m the only parent that seems to care, so if the police comes, they’d all know it was me. I’m already embarrassing enough to my kids without that being on the list.
I’m still trying to pinpoint when I changed from carefree kid to the cranky old lady that will get in your way while I’m calling the cops.
Although it is scary to call the cops nowadays. Waay back when they would just escort you home and ratted you out to your parents (back when kids were scared of their parents), nowadays they might get a worse thing like jail time or a ticket.
My kids were in your neighborhood?? I told them to only ride their moped out front.
Haha! I told would have done that. I don;t get the no helmet thing?! Good for you, and that cranky old lady! :)
we live on a hill worthy of San Francisco – thus kids LOVE to ride down the hill at breakneck speeds on their bikes, their infant siblings ride-on toys, skateboards and in shopping carts.
I draw the line at shopping carts – I walked out (phone in hand) and very calmly told those boys that unless their mother happened to be at the bottom of the hill waiting to clean up the bloody mess they were likely to leave when they crashed that I was prepared to call the police right then.
I’m sure they just save their idiotic antics for when I’m not home. REALLY sure because any cars parked on our street on a decent day seem to develop mystery dents.
Yes, I accompanied my daughter’s Program Challenge class to Washington DC and ended up being the only parent who sat in the back of the bus for like the entire 12 hour ride and my daughter got upset when one of her stupid (yes, he WAS stupid) classmates tried to catch his hair on fire with a lighter that the assistant principal allowed him to buy as a “souvenir” (DUH! Hello??) for his dad. Yeah,and I had to “turn him in” so he didn’t catch the whole back of the bus on fire because he wouldn’t listen to me so I was the uncool mom then.
Last Saturday I was at the pool w/my 4 year old and there was only a Dad and his teenage son and toddler daughter – about 2 in my guesstimate. The teen son was playing with his sister and put her up on TOP of a circular fountain in the middle of the kiddie pool and was encouraging her to STAND UP there. I was cringing and HAD to watch because my daughter was jumping into the big pool right in front of this scene.
I could take it NO LONGER and grabbed my child and began to walk across the pool to the other side pulling her along in the water and saying as loudly as I could bear that we were moving because Mommy could not stand to watch that little girl up there because she might fall and hit her head.
The father *obviously* heard me and looked up from his paper to tell them to stop it.
UGH.
Wow. You bitch. Stupid fucking bitch its a SCOOTER.
@Tommy (as if anyone would wonder) you stupid fucking asshole. They are children, that is pavement.
If you had been wearing a helmet when your neglectful parents let you ride a scooter in the street, maybe you wouldn’t be so brain damaged.
Keep up the good work Kats. I’m a grumpy old lady too. (at 30)