Comments on: Play Dates from Hell

By: Ann

Ann — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 04:50:18 +0000

The Climber–Checked on my daughter’s bedroom to find my daughter’s friend standing on a stool on top of a chair trying to reach the top of a tall shelf. After this, they had to play where I could watch. On the same playdate, the friend tried to climb on my kitchen trash can in order to sit on it thereby spilling all the contents right in front of me. After I picked up the trash, she tried to do it again. I’ve come to recognize many of the other types, but I really could have used a warning label on this one.

By: lindsay

lindsay — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:10:05 +0000

The Little Adult- followed me around asking questions as if I was the playdate-again defeating the purpose of giving me a break from childs play!

By: kim shimer

kim shimer — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 12:47:07 +0000

I think we know the same Weasel. And should I mention that Noah invited himself over for dinner last night?

By: Patti

Patti — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 03:21:22 +0000

A variation on the glutton-the picky eater, “I don’t eat ______________” (it doesn’t matter, whatever it is that you are trying to serve is no good)always accompanied by a whine.

My other favorite, the Hanger On(an extension of the social boor.) Pick up one kid for a play date after school, there’s another one, usually with his harried parent, begging to be included; “well, if it’s OK with you. . .” as the other parent makes a break for their car. . .

As for the CriticalKid, a friend of mine was hosting a play date one day and shared this exchange: CK-”this is your house?” Child-”Yes, it is” CK (to the mother)-”You really need to get a job”

By: rjga

rjga — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:51:31 +0000

You missed the “let’s play hair salon” girl who empties a entire can of hair spray on your daughter or makes her look like a street walker.

Then there is the parent, who invites themselves in when they drop their kid off. (I am not talking about other mom-friends). The reason for a play date is to have your child busy so you can get some stuff done! I had one mom invite herself in, the ask if I had any food b/c she skipped lunch. OY!

By: well read hostess

well read hostess — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 02:25:10 +0000

Hi. Remember me? I’m the one who always says, Let’s do something! Then flakes out b/c she’s disorganized? Yeah, anyway. Nice to be here.

I think this is actually a great business idea: color coded clothing for the kids. The informer could be wearing red, the glutton could wear yellow, etc… that way, when the kid shows up, we know what we’re dealing with.

Of course, I guess my kid would just be naked. Because he’s PERFECT.

Ha.
Ha.

By: ladyrock13

ladyrock13 — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 00:48:34 +0000

I’m with Ruth. We used to know a KleptoKid. This kid lived in a house bigger than Ofer Nemirovsky’s palace in Back Bay (slight exaggeration) and she was often seen leaving with necklaces hanging down from under her dress … I’m sorry, it was tucked where? You can keep that, really … or a favorite lovie would disappear only to be discovered by the mother who would claim that it was put in the wrong nap bag at daycare even though the lovie had never left the security of my daugther’s bedroom since she was born. And so on….KleptoKid was also CriticalKid because she came up to me once and said “do you really live here?”
Ummm, yes.
“No, I mean all the time?”
Ummm, yes. “Wow, it’s like a doll’s cottage.”
Doll’s eyes don’t shut. Mine are shut. See that? When I open them, I want you back in the playroom playing. Ready? Go. Now. GO.

By: Ilicia

Ilicia — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 20:02:11 +0000

Emily-so funny-thankfully all of syd’s playdates have been great and we really have never encountered any of these yet-she is however only 4 so we shall see!

By: terry

terry — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 19:43:54 +0000

I’m telling you I’ve met them all. You make me laugh every day! You are a fantastic writer. I can’t tell you this enough times.

Are you getting the hint.

By: Elizabeth @ Life in Pencil

Elizabeth @ Life in Pencil — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 17:49:47 +0000

The Bully. When I was little, I had a friend who used to say “let’s play,” and then wrestle me to the ground and hit me repeatedly. As an only child, I was completely unprepared for this kind of horseplay and usually curled up in the fetal position and cried before my mom suggested that the friend GET OFF OF ME.

The Mooch (I suppose this could fall under “The Glutton”). I have a friend we used to take on vacation, without so much as uttering a “thank you” when we dropped her off at her house at the end of the week.

Now here’s my question: do you think these people grow into or out of these personas as they age?