Mommas, don’t let your babies grow up to be vandals
Posted by aunt mommy on 26 Mar 2008 at 12:00 am | Tagged as: mundaneities, works for me wednesday
It seemed like a good idea a the time. Bored kids. Rainy day. After a day out exploring in the rain, we figured we should get under cover for the deluge and to grab a snack. To keep the kids busy, I grabbed a busy bag I’d prepared, and set them loose to vandalize the place while our food was made ready.
“I’m so blogging this,” I told my companion mom. We watched the kids mark up the floor, asked them to not write on the walls; I kind of surprised her when I admitted I’d never set my little graffiti artists loose before. Of course, I wasn’t thinking it was vandalism at the time … but is it? Tell me what you think in comments. Follow the jump to see evidence from the scene of the crime.
Sad chalk man in the rain - by M.M.
Weapons of Mass Distraction - photo by A.M. - art by varies
My thought was that this is an outdoor eatery. Raining. Quiet. No masses of customers to annoy. Why not set three kids under five loose with some chalk?
But another parent I mentioned this to was horrified. Vandalism, hooliganism, or worse, no matter what “toddler tip” we gave at a generally no-tip-establishment.
I suppose as a “works for me wednesday” contribution, this is a pretty crappy first entry; encouraging defacement of property … yes? No? What are your thoughts about it as a parent or restaurant manager? Should we encourage them to think up handles and practice tattooing each other instead? Let me know what you think.


I’m not exactly sure which establishment you were frequenting, but I would just check with the server or cashier. If they gave the go-ahead, then no problem!
I never had an issue with sidewalk chalk- I don’t equate it with ‘graffiti in training’. My kids all loved it and none of the three (two of whom are now teenagers) have turned out to be hooligans!
Oh, for Pete’s sake…that other mom needs to lighten up. It’s chalk! Last I heard…it washes away! It’s not like you turned them loose in the bathroom with permanent markers.
Although I do have to agree, it might be a good idea to speak to the management first, next time. Just to be polite about it. I’m pretty sure any establishment that wants you to come back would say ‘yes.’
Comments on my first WFMW! Glad I didn’t chicken out on this entry.
Think about your recent driving lesson, FrazzMom. (That’s a hint!)
Hey, thanks to you too for stopping in, mom2fur.
I think that’s part of it; on the one hand, it was empty, on the other hand, when I asked if they minded, the kids were already going to town.
I keep forgetting that from their perspective, they had no idea that if they said “Uh, no, and please stop,” it wouldn’t have been a problem on our end; the kids aren’t total hooligans yet and we would have occupied them another way ( ten crayons and three kids? Maybe doable …) without a fuss.
Musta just left my manners in my other pocket. Thanks for the visit and reality check, ladies!
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