The County Fair

We hit the county fair yesterday. The girls get every Monday after Labor Day off to attend the fair and I always take the day off too so I can take them.

We get to see the animals (read: horses and ponies), ride the carnival rides as provided by Poor Jack’s Amusements and eat fatty/sugary fair food.

A great time is had by all.

Well, by all except that little brats who run around and try to cut in line and get called out by the mean mom (me) who tells them, “Hey, the back of the line is that way!”

It’s taken me to this point in my life to do that.

In years past I’d have rolled my eyes, sighed and shrugged at the girls, saying something like, “I’m sorry some people are so rude, Sweetie.”

But these days? Forget it. I’m so sick of rude kids thinking it’s okay to just step in and take the place of someone who has waited their turn.

Olivia and I were waiting in line to ride the ferris wheel. Two boys ahead of us called out to two boys who had just gotten off the ferris wheel. The boys who’d just ridden came over to talk to the boys in front of us. As we moved closer to getting on the ride, one of the boys who was standing talking to the boys who were actually in line announced, “I’m going to ride it again.”

“Really?” I asked. “You’re going to cut in line?”

He grinned this obnoxious grin and said, “Yeah?”

“Really?” I asked again. I looked deliberately back at the line snaking through the crowd. “You’re going to cut in front of all these people who have waited their turn?”

He had the grace to leave the place he’d tried to take and go to the end of the line.

I was really proud of myself. I’d stood up for myself and my child and all the people who were waiting in line like we were supposed to do so.

As we were leaving the fair, Alyssa asked if she’d be allowed to run around the fair with her friends when she’s 13.

“You mean without an adult?” I wondered.

She nodded.

I suggested that she’ll be ready when she’s 16. She rolled her eyes. Someday, that girls eyes are going to roll right out of her head.

I know this is a rinky-dink county fair but there are some sketchy characters hanging about. I can’t possibly say how I’ll feel in three years but right now? I’m not letting my kid run around with a few other kids her own age. But then I remind myself that I only see her as ten. I don’t know how I’ll feel when she’s 13 or 15 or yes, even 17. She might be a really mature (emotionally, I hope, hope, hope, she’s not overly physically mature at 13) 13 year old. Or she might be a really emotionally immature 17 year old.

I told her I wasn’t going to make any hard decisions about that right then. I reserve to make these decisions at the time they’re needed. Right now? No, my ten year old is not going to run around the county fair with her friends and no adult supervision. Not going to happen. I don’t care how many groups of her classmates we run across who are doing just that.

I’m not ready and I definitely don’t think my kid is ready.

And seeing all those brats who cut in line in front of kids littler than they are? They’re not ready for the responsibility of being without adult supervision either.

I don’t know what to say about the parents who WATCH their issue walk up and cut in front of other people. I just…I can’t fathom thinking that is okay. What is wrong with some people?