Out on a run and...WWCOJD?

Boys are stupid.  Sounds like you handled it very well.

I think you handled it well and I would have done the same thing. 

Sounds like they don't know what that means (or, I hope not) and they seem to be of the age of curiosity of pornography and gossip. (I'm guessing, I wasn't a 7-12yr old boy)

Good for you going to the house and informing the parent. I would have just kept running, but hopefully they got a talkin to (or a beatin ) and it will do them some good.

But holy crap! 7?!?!?!? Call me sheltered but I am pretty sure I had no idea of kittens at that age.

No kidding!! My son is seven. If I heard of him speaking to someone that way he would be in some serious trouble.

I think you did the right thing and good for you!

WELL DONE!!!

I absolutely would have done the same thing, and I have.  The time I did it the "boys" were construction workers framing a house in my parents neighborhood that harassed me every time I ran by (there was no other way to run except to go past this house), and I found myself dreading running because I didn't want to deal with that s$#t.  Then one day I was so angry that they were impacting my run, that when they started yelling and being inappropriate, I ran right up to the work site and absolutely went off.  Their brilliant response: "You shouldn't run by here then" and "Put on more clothes."

I was outta my mind pi$$ed and ran--adrenaline pumping-- directly from there to the police station where I reported them for harassment. A-holes.

They were silent every time I ran by after that, but I was VERY glad when that house was done.

Hopefully what you did today will prevent those little boys from continuing to do that as grown men.

Was the mom mortified?  Surprised? 

That was the right thing to do.  If that mom's any good, she'll give them the Lifebuoy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epDS0h48qRk

Unfortunately I remember doing something similar at close to the same age. Not nearly as vulgar, but same concept.

Often a little kid will hear something that they don't understand, but they recognize that the older kids see it as "cool" to say, so the younger ones will repeat it thinking it makes them more grown-up. I'm willing to bet they had no idea what it meant.

I think you were absolutely right for approaching it the way you did; otherwise they likely would not have learned a very important lesson. I also agree that maybe having the kids face you directly may have driven the point home more strongly, but at least it was addressed.

Call me crazy, but I'm gonna go out on a limb and say this likely isn't the 1st time this group decided to use such inappropriate language.  I'd have taken it a step further and called the police.  If it happens again, I'd suggest you do just that.  Heck, the mother's the one raising the kid or kids and she obviously isn't doing her job effectively.  Telling her likely won't shut the little jerks up.

If the age range was 7-12 I imagine it was the older ones instigating and the younger ones just following along. All a kid has to do is turn on the radio (or TV or internets or have an older sibling) to hear that kind of language. I know I was quite aware of that kind of stuff at ~8 years old and I would definitely call my upbringing "sheltered."

I'm confused though, OP - were they saying/directing it AT YOU? Or just merely practicing saying it to no one in particular?

Personally I'm kinda scared of unruly packs of kids. I'd have probably just kept running.

Good job.  I think you did the right thing.  I have no problem confronting foul mouths in public.  Yeah, I'm that guy...and I don't care.  Kids should learn to be respectful with adults and with each other.  

Love the soap pic.  Nothing like a good ole bar of soap in the mouth.  

Awesome job, you did exactly the right thing.

Based on what you mentioned I don't think there's anything "illegal" about what they did, so talking to the parent is the best approach.  Even if the parent is a schlep and doesn't do anything or say anything you likely had those boys peeing themselves when they saw you coming which was probably far more effective than anything else. 

I'm no lawyer, but what those kids shouted wasn't illegal?  That's surprising to me.  

Good for you for not just letting it go- I think you did exactly the right thing.

AND good for the mom for apologizing and at least saying she would deal with it. Some parents would say 'not my sweet  kid' and want to somehow blame you.

I'm not either :-)  If it were illegal it would probably be under harassment, so it would depend on the wording of the local laws. 

blbriley - 2013-05-08 2:30 PM

 

I see this in somebody's future.  Hopefully...

Hehehehe....should I go ask?

Thank you for the support and feedback  

A little more info...

I was a teacher for 12 years, 4 of them were 8th grade. Kids in a backyard don't worry me much. I paused more at walking up to the house to "confront" an adult.

I have a 6 y/o boy who probably goes to school with some of these kids. Our houses are within 4 streets of the school.

I didn't jump to conclusions that they were talking to me. Some of the other phrases they used made it clear, and I went by them 3 times to be sure before I crossed the road.  A few other things tipped me off: I was the only person on the road, I was walking neither a female dog nor a cat, and I only heard it when a body popped above the wall and a face was looking at me (as in there weren't a bunch of bodiless voices running around the yard playing "Hey! Batch Over There" or "Eat Your Pu$$y".)

Well done!

The mother seemed neither. Just "I'm really sorry. I'll talk to them." But maybe she was more embarrassed than she appeared?

The younger ones might not have, but, having taught middle schoolers, 98% sure the older ones did.

I hear you! My little boy starts 1st grade next year. Definitely had him on my mind as I walked to that house.

Ahhhh, yes. Love that movie. I could buy a couple of bars and leave them, along with a useful diagram, on the doorstep.