What is it with the total lack of respect with kids today??
Last night, Taylor comes running up to me, practically in tears saying, “A boy rode off on my bike!” She’d seen it from the window. I walked outside, and her bike was gone with no kids in sight. So I went over to the parking lot on the other side of the building across from me. Sure enough, there were 4 boys around the ages of 10 or 11, one on a skateboard, one on a scooter, and one…riding Taylor’s bike! I didn’t recognize any of them and I know most of the kids that live around here because they all play together at the playground right outside my door.
I called out to the little blonde hoodlum, “Hey! I believe that bike belongs to my daughter.” He rides up to me, and getting off the bike, says “Well, it was just sitting there on the sidewalk.” Ok, this was not the attitude I felt he should be taking about a bike that he had every intention of stealing. So, I responded with, “Oh, so that means it’s just free for the taking?” “Uh, I dunno” I took the bike and said, “I’ve got a very upset little girl in there right now. If this happens again, I’m coming looking for you,” in a calm, but stern voice. This kid had the gall to mutter as he’s walking away, “Well, I don’t even live here…”
I should’ve grabbed my cell phone before I went out there. I really just wanted to tell him, “You know what? You’re right. Why don’t we just call the police and get this straightened out!” and then watched them all scatter. lol
I mean, really! Why would a boy want to take a girls bike anyway? It’s pink and purple for pete’s sake! When I was a kid, I remember engaging in harmless shenanagans (yes, I really did just use the word “shenanagans”). Who among my generation isn’t familiar with the tried and true knocking on someone’s door and hiding where you could watch them come to the door, look around and scratch their head? Good ‘ol fashioned fun. BUT, when I was occasionally caught, I would dutifully hang my head and respond and agree whenever asked any kind of question.
What’s happened since then?? It’s like there’s been a total breakdown in the very fiber of respect! It’s events like this that makes me fear for our future. This kid will be voting one day!! *sigh* When my 7-year-old becomes a doctor 
, I hope she “forgets” the painkillers when he wanders into her ER. LOL
