Can life GET any worse.....

[Kalshion]

Hmmm..... perhaps I had set my expectations to high

A year ago I used to help teach at the private school I attended, at least until the headmaster sadly passed away and we got a new one (an idiot mind you who only cares about money, which is why I stopped helping out. It was becoming more problematic than enjoyful)

Now, mind you, I helped to teach 6-7-8 year old students and never had any issues. In fact, I enjoyed it so much that I knew I wouldn't have problems with children that young

(FYI - I helped teach at the private school I attended from K-12th grade, so the headmaster knew me VERY well, but that was the ONLY reason I was allowed to help teach)

The problem it seems though is this:

My family just came into town my sister, brother... and his son (Sever years old)

Now, I have no trouble with children, I respect them and actually am rather over-protective of them (I have a saying - "Only a coward would harm a child" )

A couple days ago we took the kid out to dinner, it was a treat from my father and I for him first coming here to Vegas.... well things crud hit the fan real quick

The saddest thing is, my father and I, along with my sister, KNEW this was going to happen. The kid craves attention and when he doesn't get it, he tries to do 'other' things to get it

One being at home where he terrorizes my cat (my cat's to afraid now to come out and hides in my room, he even hides from ME now.. and that REALLY makes me mad, my catÔÇÖs sensitive and if that kid continues to terrorize him then I know heÔÇÖll end up being injured because my cat will get TIRED of it and put that kid on a ÔÇ£IOSÔÇØ list *Injure on sight*)

Another being how when we where at dinner that day, he wouldn't eat anything and so his father (my brother) ordered him some food and the kid just broke down and wouldn't stop crying. In terms of money.. err... lets not go there... lets just say the bill was well over $80 (it was a special treat and my brother said he would be fine)

The thing is... I hold onto grudges VERY easily, especially when that person down-right insults my father or myself, that's when it goes to a 'no holds' type of grudge where I ignore the person outright and don't help them out

In this case, my brothers son; the kid didn't like how his father was getting the attention and not him so he cried his way into the attention and then also on the way home he wouldn't be quiet. It took every ounce of discipline I've learned from martial arts to keep my own anger under control and even then I still had to take a two hour walk in order to calm down

I don't take to kindly to anyone insulting my father like that. My friends FIVE year old little brother, who was also new in Vegas about four months ago, was completely calm when we took him out to enjoy a dinner with the folks

Now, I know all people are unique and that no single person is the same. However, that still doesn't cut it, I run by a philosophy that everyone is accountable for there actions.

The kid may be seven years old, but the way he acted in front of my father in that restaurant.... embarrassed both him and myself....

I've never had such anger and disappointment aimed at a kid before, I understand he's young... but still... What hurts more is that all three of us (sister, father and I) where completely right about this going to happen and that scares me

My father told me that his vacation was ruined that day and that he would rather be at work than have to deal with this crap all over again (he had to deal with it when I was young, but he says I behaved a lot better) I think it's because my brother baby's his son way to much (sits him in front of a TV all day and doesn't seem to do anything else.....)

I really don't know what to do anymore, if this was a classroom environment then I'd know what to do.. but it isn't!

If anyone has any suggestions, man, I would really appriciate it. Because right now my patiance is at it's end and I've even gone as far as locking myself in my room (only a week and a half left, but still, this is NOT how I pictured MY vacation to be....)

[Wolferz]

The child should have been removed to the car the moment he acted up.

I used to have a similar problem with my two children acting up in a public place, that is until I removed them to the car. It didn't take them long to learn that negative behaviour carried consequences.

Since it's your nephew, Kal, there isn't much you can do except talk to your brother about it. Next time you go out, make sure that young'un knows where you are going and tell him why he isn't invited. Eventually he'll get the picture.

[Ben Zwycky]

Yep, wolfie's right, if the child wants to get attention by causing a scene, it needs to learn that that is the fastest way to get sent somewhere it can't cause a scene. A bit of consistent discipline can work wonders, the most important thing is to teach them that the same rules apply everywhere, and that you won't back down before they do.

Unity among parents/adults is key to that. Discuss and agree on what is and isn't acceptable and what to do about it, then when one of you make a stand, all the others should back them up immediately (if you weren't in the room when the stand was made, ask what was said, checking with the adult in question wherever possible), that way they can't play you off against each other and get away with anything. If you make a mistake, apologise, but don't just appease them to avoid making a scene, that's exactly what they're counting on.

[Kalshion]

I understand where you two are coming from

Today though things just took a new turn. The kid got ahold of one of my swords that I collect, an exthremely sharp edge mind you that if you just touch it lightly will CUT you

Well.. he decided to try and 'mimic' what he had seen at training on Wednesday( I don't train with this sword, it's purely a collectors item that was custom made for me.) The sword is to heavy for him and so he dropped it....

The sword cut right through the surge bar's power cable, the circuit breaker tripped and shut off the power. But the sparks from the cut cord had already started the fire, thankfully due to me being safety concious I had a fire extenguisher in my room, so I was able to put it out

The surge bar will need to be replaced. I also need to replace my speaker power pack (7.1 surround sound)

Thats the worst of the damage. I've taken the PS2 and Xbox away from the kid, since they are mine and I bought them, I do have a say in who get's to use them.. this is the only type of punishment I can give him (The kid has tried to apologize, but that won't help him in this case.)

How the hell do you people DEAL with these kids, I've NEVER encountered THIS many problems before! =

[aramike]

quote:

---

How the hell do you people DEAL with these kids, I've NEVER encountered THIS many problems before! =

---

You have him removed from your home.

[Guest]

LOL, dude, you have NO idea!!

My 3 year old boy is, oh, how did race put it?

The evil one? Yeah, that's it, the evil one.

The Evil one was in the back yard yesterday, and walked into my shop, grabbed the sawzall and started running around the yard with it, I caught him, and made him put it down, then, when I went back into the house, he grabbed my chalk line refill bottle, pulled the top, and proceeded to pour it over himself and the dog, what a fricking mess, THEN, he began tearing the fence apart, yes, it's a little rotted, but the little bugger tore 3 slats off, and then started chasing the dog with one, the dog ran through the hole he had made into the neighbors yard and ended up falling in the pool, so I had to save the dog, she's 5 months old, and can't swim worth a crap, and patching the fence.

All in a matter of about 20 minutes.

The kid is a fricking terror.

The evil one personofied, sometime I wish that y chromosome had been an X.

Girls are SO much easier.... OMG

I feel for you, I really truly do.

[Kevin Trotter]

Never forget he is a child. Having this much anger and resentment at a CHILD is not healthy. Children are our responsibility and they are reflections of the people who raise them

You have a problem with your brother and that is where you need to start. I would also make it clear that until your brother exerted more control over his son, neither is welcome at your home.

Lastly ,and i know this wont be popular, if you are up to it , try to find a way to have fun with this kid in an environment that is conducive to him beimg who he is. ( I had a similar incident and took my nephew Paintballing. It gave me the chance to show him that things were different we he and I hung out, and that I expected more of him.) Kids really want structure and discipline and they act out when neither is provided. What happened was that Pat, (my nephew) conducted himself diferently around me cause I had higher expectations. If we were at Chucky Cheese and he acted out, I immediately took him home. No empty threats, no deals, and importantly no screaming or *****ing, simply removed him from a pleasant situation without acting out in anger. Do that a few times and you will see that he recognizes you not he , is in charge

[John Prezioso]

Children are spectacularly smart creatures who learn at an amazing rate. They certainly will learn quickly if you follow the excellent advice that Ben and Race have given.

Of course, just like Bill Cosby said, all kids have brain damage, so don't expect your dealings with them to be on a completely rational level! If parenting were easy, everyone would be good at it. And looking around it's easy to see that's DEFINITELY not the case.

[Guest]

Id've taken the kid to the car and used my tazer on him.

Instant behaviour improvement. One time application.

Gotta love technology.

[Wolferz]

"Insanity is inherited"

"You get it from your children"