Growing up if we were corrected or gotten in trouble by family friends it was because we deserved it and our parents didn't mind. The way I am, if my boys did something and I wasn't there I would want my friends to put them in there place the same I would. If I saw them say something to my kids and I know they boys needed it, I would correct them too, especially if they knew better. Make sense? Anyhow, we have friends that have a boy, almost 9 and a girl, age 5. These kids are pretty good but don't have manners. I am always shocked at how they will be here and say something like "I feel like having a glass of water". So I will say, "oh ya, I feel that way sometimes too". Meaning, kid, you better ask better than that if you want something. I have told them that if that is what they are trying to do, ask me for something, the word to use is please. I swear, the boy laughed one day and waited and didn't get one. Finally a half hour later he came and asked properly. The parents don't correct them. And they don't say thank you, so I tell them to say it. They do but OMG! Last night they were here and we were all eating outside on the patio. Well, the foot warts of one kid comes up by the kid (the cousin of these two) and I stop them right away. Please, not a conversation to have while my dinner is in front of me. Well, these 3 kids wouldn't shut up. And I kept repeating for them to stop. The parents/aunt/uncle of these three are right there not stopping them. I got ticked off and told them that if they were my kids, boy they would be in for it. Meanwhile, my own are sitting there waiting to see if I was going to walk away from the table in disgust because I was close. The dad said, what? my kids? I said yes, the three of them. If it were mine, they would have noses in corners and not able to finish eating until a time out was over. They didn't say a thing to the kids. She just said, oh ya!. He sat there in silence. It was my kids who changed the subject.
I have had it with the terrible manners on these kids. We are supposed to go camping with them this weekend for one night and I don't know how far I should take correcting or giving &*!# to these kids. I don't want to offend my friends but at the same time they don't seem to be worried about their children offending us. Please tell me some advice! lol I would appreciate any. Thanks.