Children do NOT belong in a law office!

[Annoyed]

Hi everyone. I have been a lurker here for a few months reading posts. I just recently registered as a member. There is not too many stories I can share from work because I work in a law office but this one really annoyed me to no end. Thus my name - Annoyed. lol

Preface: Now I am pretty good with kids. I can usually put up with them more than adults and I am in school for Elementary Education. But these so called "parents" need a new lesson in parenting and how to call a babysitter while at important meetings. I will also say that I have no problem with people having kids with them at the office that are well behaved and will even (if I know the couple well enough) watch them in the lobby from time to time while at my desk but our office is not a daycare and we are not child proof!

Ok on with the story...
Last week I was working at my desk in the front lobby. We had a couple in for an appointment and they had their two children with them both under the age of I would say 4. Everything starts out fine. They quietly read books, talk, etc.

I end up having to take a phone call that lasted a few minutes and while on the phone I had a couple business cards come flying at my head. (we keep them on the desk and window ledge) I thought ok no big deal, the little girl picked up a couple on the ledge and was trying to reach up and put them on my desk (which is quite tall for her).

A couple more moments go by, I am still on the phone and this time it happens again with a big pile of them and actually hits my face. The father jumps up and yells at her and I go ahead and mouth that it was all right (although inside I was pissed because I know the mom was sitting there watching her). They finally sit down and I am left alone to finish my call.

When I get done - I received absolutely no apology and a bunch of dirty looks from the mom like I did/said something wrong. I in no way deserved the dirty looks at the very least.

After they left - my lobby area was trashed. Book/magazines/business cards all over the place, fliers we have on the window ledge messed up and the kids even tore leaves off of our plants (I found a bunch of torn leaves on the floor)! I know they were watching them. I couldnt see the kids over my desk but the parents were talking to them and everything and not a single word to stop pulling on the plants!

Good grief! All this before lunch!

~ Now wouldnt you apologize profusely if your children threw something at someones face while they were on the phone, whether or not they told you it was ok and not to worry about it? I dont have children of my own but I would be appalled if they did something like that. Also wouldnt you keep your kids from tearing up the plants? I hate irresponsible parents.

Anyways thanks for letting me vent. These are current clients and I know I will be seeing more of them. Oh goody for me!

Now on the good side - the very next client came up with a friend who brought him and who had a little girl with him. The MOST POLITE little girl I have seen in a long time. They quitely sat in the chairs talking/reading books and when she wanted to stand up and walk around he took her out of our office and on the second floor landing to walk around (this is a building of 4 offices/businesses, 2 on each floor). They've been in before and each time it's the same. So nice to see someone with some respect and courtsey in them and who knows how to be a good parent (at least in public). That helped to make my day better.

[wagegoth]

Hi, to another law office serf!

Honestly, if I'd been hit in the face, I would never have said it was okay. I have a look of pure ice. And mommy would have gotten it full force. It also would have been clearly suggested by the attorney that they get a babysitter for the next appointment.

[Skoobeedu]

Oh I so feel your pain! On the plus side though, we make a practice of telling people at the time they make an appointment to please not bring young children with them, as the appointments typically tend to last an hour or so and the adults need to be able to concentrate on the discussion. Most people are perfectly okay with this, but if someone does show up for an appointment with children, my boss will just go out and tell them that, as much as he likes kids, we can't watch them while their parents are having an appointment so they will need to reschedule. We've only had a few of them storm out and never come back. To those, I say good riddance!

[gunsage]

Oi, they shore DO belong in that thar law office! Ain't ya played no Phoenix Wright? C'mon now! But really...a kid THAT young? She was bored and that was really dumb on the parents' part. I like taking my little girl out, but if the last time I went somewhere "for me" was any indication of continued behavior (went to Gamestop and she got bored and tried to drag me about), I'll choose my errands more wisely and be quick about them. I have ADHD and I approve this-hey is that a goldfish?!

[Forensic Waitress]

Hiya, and welcome from a former law firm employee. Let me say never again but that wasn't so much the lawyers but the horrid accountant who shared our offices. But back to it. One of the smaller companies that hired out offices from the larger company that owned them was actually in fact a family law specialist. Most of the time the kids were fine, but sometimes they could be downright shits. We couldn't most of the time ask the parents not to bring them in for the pure fact that one of those lawyers specialised in representing the children, usually in divorce cases. It was horrible having to watch those poor kids have to go into the office on their own so they could talk to their lawyer. But it was worse to watch them act out and then have the mother or father blame it on the other partner.

[NotSoInnocent]

I have to admit to being a parent who brings her children into a law office....

But they're well behaved heathens and they know I mean business when we're in public.

I had an appointment that lasted almost 2 hours... I brought "no mess" snacks, "spill-proof" cups of juice, coloring books and crayons, small toys that don't make noise, etc. While I did have to occasionally speak to the kids (4 times the entire appointment), they sat and played quietly off to the side of the office.

I didn't have the money to hire a babysitter for three kids (newest baby hadn't been born yet) and I let the office staff know ahead of time that I would have to bring them with me. It turned out fine... and I received a look of thanks from the receptionist who had just had to deal with a bunch of kids who's parents were ignoring them the entire time.

[Amethyst Hunter]

I have ADHD and I approve this-hey is that a goldfish?!

Hi from a fellow ADDer! So, how are - OOOH LOOK A SHINY!! *runs off*

[Bobsentme]

I don't know what caused the parents to have to be in a law office, but if they keep parenting like that, they can expect to be in many more.

[zara1269]

The last place I would allow my children to act up would be in a law office. What if one of those cards scratched your eye? It was a possibility. I definitely understand how annoyed you were but you handled it a million times better than I ever would have. And WTF with the mom giving YOU the dirty look? Well I hope your next interactions with this family go better. Perhaps they learned a lesson not to take children everywhere.

[tropicsgoddess]

I know sometimes my mom wasn't able to get a sitter for stuff like that, but she always made sure me and my sisters had snacks and a couple of toys to keep us busy and quite. Man, if we acted in anyway like those bratty children, she would tear us a new one.

[Annoyed]

What if one of those cards scratched your eye? It was a possibility.

Good Morning Everyone!

Actually it usually isnt this bad when kids come in. They are the worse I've seen in my 3 years here. I also went in to the attorney before their appointment and point blank told him they were not leaving them with me up front. Turned out the mom stayed out. And if the appointments are extremely long we do have childrens videos in our back office that I sometimes set up for the kids. But come on - your children cant behave for a half hour?

Anyways - to the quote above. They actually came very close to my eyes. I think the only reason they didnt hit them is that I had glasses on (thank goodness!).

Well hope you all have a good day!

[Annoyed]

On the plus side though, we make a practice of telling people at the time they make an appointment to please not bring young children with them, as the appointments typically tend to last an hour or so and the adults need to be able to concentrate on the discussion.

Oh I so wish my boss would let me do this!

Anyways thank you everyone for your replies!

[chainedbarista]

*also likes the shiny* OOOH!

er, ahem...

i love it when parents have well behaved polite children; they're welcome anytime and it give me a warm feeling (as well as restoring my faith in our species a small bit).

when they're not? take the little whelplings and leave; if you don't want to care for them, DON'T HAVE THEM.

i can understand how difficult finding care for your kids is, but if you must take them, make sure they behave appropriately and have something to keep them entertained, even if you (yes YOU) have to actively provide the entertainment.

[princess4life]

Hi from a fellow ADDer! So, how are - OOOH LOOK A SHINY!! *runs off*

Shiny? Where? I want to see shiny too

Back on topic. I have 3 kids I always try to find a baby sitter for any appointments I have that they don't need to be there. My kids are generally well behaved, I have had to yell at my kids on the occasion for getting to loud or bouncing around in an office. I tell my kids once though and they stop if they start up it is usually when there are other kids in the office that are acting up. Then I just remind my kids that they are better then that and that they should set an example.


There is NEVER an excuse for kids damaging someone else propery or throwing things like business cards at people.