Dealing with the public

[valeriedl]

I have a real problem dealing with kids in general, I don't have any myself, but I have problems dealing with adults in public too.

Younger kids I really don't have a problem with. It's when they get older they drive me crazy. I've found myself yelling at peoples kids in stores and other places. I've also done this with adults too, but not as much as the kids. I think it's too that parents just let their kids run wild in public and don't care what they do. They let their 7 year old push the grocery cart and the kid just runs through the store with it bumbing into everyone like it's a game!

I complain about it too if I am in resturants or other places. I've gotten free movie tickets more than once because kids wouldn't stay quiet during the movie or people won't quit talking. I've gone to 10pm movies hoping not to have to deal with kids but they are still there too. One kid wouldn't stay off his cell phone during the movie sending text messages, so every 5 minutes this kids phone would light up and he would type in a message.

When I complained to the movie theater manager he asked me why I didn't come and tell them, but why should I have to get up and miss part of the movie because of the things that others are doing that they shouldn't be?

My family hates it when I do it, but I just can't help myself. The words just come out of my mouth before I even realize that I am saying them.

Does anyone else do this too? I don't think I did this before I had epilepsy.

[Brent]

I can't say that I can directly relate to this. I can say that I become less tolerant of other people the more aggravations I have going on in my day/life. I use a service dog, and although she is great, I find that people around me in public tend to be oblivious, not expecting a dog to be there, and often not considerate of how certain small things might be annoying.

For example, people just walk up and talk to her or even pet her, people crowd us, make distracting noises (accidentally and on purpose), don't control their children, etc. Most of these things individually are small. I also don't really blame people for most of them. People just aren't used to dogs in public, and most just have no experience with the situation and aren't aware of the small things that can be huge inconveniences or aggravations.

Anyway, I find that I am less tolerant of people when I have my dog with me. This is partly due to the fact that I have to not only consider my own comfort, but hers as well. It is also partly due to the accumulative effect of small iritations.

-B

[Nakamova]

I have ten nieces and nephews so I'm not particularly phased by rowdy behvior. And I've found that adults can be just as annoying as kids! Especially at movie theaters, or with cellphones, or in traffic...

[CathyAnn31]

While I do understand that rowdy kids can be annoying you must remember kids will be kids. Next time at the movie theater move to a different seat if someone's distracting you. You have no control over anyone but yourself. If you tried to correct my kids, let alone yell at them I would be incredibly pissed off. You have no right.

Also you shouldn't assume anything. Maybe that boy texting at the movies was trying to communicate with someone in the hospital? You really have no idea and frankly it's none of your business anyway. The child pushing the cart- would you rather he be screaming at the top of his lungs? Maybe he had ADHD and issues with impulse control?

I am a mom of 3 kids and I do expect them to behave in public and if they don't then we leave. I have no say on how other kids/moms handle themselves in those situations.

Try to spend less time worrying about the behaviors of others and concentrating on learning more patience and tolerance. You can always walk away from bothersome situations before your temper escellates. You aren't doing anyone any favors by trying to correcting them.

Off my soapbox now, and I don't mean to sound harsh. But if anyone yelled at my kids, or tried to correct me for whatever reason, it wouldn't be pretty.

[Brent]

I don't mean to sound harsh. But if anyone [...] tried to correct me for whatever reason, it wouldn't be pretty.

I hope the irony is not lost here.

[CathyAnn31]

I hope the irony is not lost here.

Nope it isn't. I am not very confrontational. I'd probably turn around in a huff and walk out. But I am not gonna stand there while someone tries to correct me or my kids.

I am a firm believer of minding your own business.

[tam bam]

I tend to get in people's faces young and old all the time without me realizing it. It is usually apart of my aura's. I hate that I do it but I cannot help it. I don't realize it half the time either. You probably cannot help it either. It is probably related to your E. Doctor's get confused with me at times and think that it is a psychological problem with me but I can tell it happens just before a seizure with me. I can get very confrontational with others without realizing it so WATCH OUT! After the seizure I am not acting that way anymore.

tam bam

P.S. I have told innocent people off due to my seizures without realizing it and they told me about it later on and I have felt terrible about it later on. Gosh, having E can really do many strange things. Sometime the auras are worse than the seizures I think.