Is this acceptable? Someone brought their five year old in today and the kid is just all over the place, being "watched" by one of my coworkers. Every time I settle into working, the kid's over here trying to play game or f'ing with my stuff. I normally don't mind kids all that much, but when I'm trying to work, I get a little less understanding. And its not like the kid is too thrilled about being in a quiet office all day, either.

If I say something like, "Keep that kid away from my sh*t." then I'm an a-hole, right?

If you have kids and you bring them to work, what do you do with them all day?

Z, by the way, you dodged a bullet by not coming in today. guess who brought the kid in... grr.

you fucking leave early is what you do. although i sympathize SLIGHTFUCKINGLY with parents who suddenly have the schools close on a day that they have to work. are the schools closed?

I don't have a problem with parents bringing kids to work. I have a problem with parents not being able to control their kids.

Benadryl in the chocolate chip cookies...you won't hear a peep from him for the rest of the day.

wait a minute, you work with Z?

I could never bring my kids to work. I'd never get anything done.

i've only had to bring my kids to work a few times and it's hard to keep them entertained and try to get anything done. even when i work in the studio alone.

i get very distracted by other people's kids cuz i want to talk to and play with them. way more fun than working.

i sympathize as a parent but really people, you gotta keep an eye on the little buggers.

oh, no. i'm sorry that you have to deal with that. i'm also really glad that i stayed late yesterday to finish the miniscule amount of work i'd've had today.


yes, we work for the same company.

You guys don't have kids.

As long as parents are minding the kids, I don't care. But 9 times out of 10, that's not the case here, and we have shrieklings running up and down the hallways.

we can bring our dogs to work here...so sure...bring your kids...i don't care.

Yea, I have a few...

If I had to bring them to work, though, I sure wouldn't let them annoy my co-workers. I'd be very embarassed if they acted badly, and they would be in serious trouble.

I know you can't control them all the time, but you CAN teach them the correct way to act in different environments, and make sure they understand the penalties for not doing so. All kids are going to throw a tantrum in the toy department, but the way the adult handles it decides whether it is a one-time occurance, or an every trip problem.

I dunno, people put up with my shortcomings all the time. It's a team effort, deal with it.

This is true... I have to deal with irritating adult co-workers on a daily basis too!

kids are for fags.

Let me rephrase.

You don't have my kids. haha.

I guess I haven't gotten to the point where I can trust them in public to behave. We are pretty strict with discipline, but my boy just likes to push it. You tell him no, and he'll turn and look at you and do it anyway, nice and slow, then all hell breaks loose. Maybe once I get past the 2 1/2 year old stage, he might be better in public. He is just oo little to understand these things. I think he is just understanding that if he makes excessiev noise while his baby sister is sleeping, then it wakes her up, and then everyone is mad.

i agree tj, your kids are way too young to get it.
i would just take the day off in your case.

I think if you have your own office and can keep your kid within that room, I'm fine with it. IMO, they can as loud and annoying as they want in their parent's office, I just don't want them around me.
None of the people I work with have really young kids, and they never bother me in my basement office, so I don't really know how annoying it is.

Milton?

Kids shouldn't be in an office unless the office has a chimney that needs sweeping.

Chicago Public Schools are open today, and as far as I know, so are all the private and parochial, so this parent is an asstard.

this woman lives in north suburbs. the kid is apparently a trainwreck. i thought she was younger than five, but i've only ever seen a picture. (this woman is my director, for at least another week.)

In response to Phil:

My son is in a CPS and they had early dismissal today. He got out at 11:30. So not all the schools are open.

Luckily he has an after care program to go to otherwise I'd be trying to figure out what to do with him right now.

And frankly, I've been in this woman's shoes before and yes it is embarrasing if the child acts up at all in the workplace. Unfortunately nowadays some bosses just don't care and they won't let you take the day off.

Sometimes the whole working mom thing can suck donkeys. My boss however and her sister both have kids under 3 so they're cool to those of us here with children when problems arise.

Sometimes I wish I was like him and had an office in a storage room. I happen to shair an office with three other people next to our part-time employee break room. I always have people coming in and asking what I'm doing or what they should do.