Tackling the yobs!

joanlawson

Yesterday I saw a group of teenage boys of about 14/15 playing about in a small children's park where there is a big sign up saying it's for children 12 years and younger. They were jumping heavily on all the small children's rides and swings, kicking a football really hard against the railings and climbing frames, and behaving in a totally unacceptable way.

There was no-one else around except me, so I was tempted to ignore them and walk away, but then I felt angry that they might break or vandalise some of the equipment which my grandchildren enjoy when they come to stay. I shouted at them, and told them off for their bad behaviour, wondering all the time how they might react; but to my amazement, they left the area straight away, hanging their heads in shame as they passed me by :shock:

I'm glad that I didn't just walk away, although I know it was a risky thing to do with no other people around (just my elderly and rather soppy dog as witness!)

Maybe I haven't lost my teacher voice after all :!:

Joan

Colin1

Well done joan more of should stand up to yobs

Numptydumpty

Well, I think you were very brave. I would probably have said something, but that's because I know most of the young lads around here, and their parents.
I do think you have a point about your "teacher voice". The only discipline some youngsters get is at school.
Numpty

dachshund

Hello Joan
Well done that took nerve and you must have said the right thing.
take care
joan xx

fowls48

Well done joan

I am thankful they just walked away .


karen xx

stickywicket

Well done, Joan! I confess, I probably wouldn't have dared but I'm sure that, if more people challenged this kind of behaviour, there'd be less of it. When it goes unchallenged we put out a silent acceptance of it.

barbara12

Gosh Joan you be careful, I know they say stand up to them..but you never know how they will react .

frogmorton

Gosh Joan

they might have had a knife :shock:

You be careful please :?

Shame there isn't anywhere for teenagers to go - not many Mums are happy to have 12 teenagers in their houses like me are they :shock:

Love

Toni xxx

joanlawson

Thanks for your replies everyone. I haven't seen the yobs around again, so hopefully I scared them off, at least for now.

Toni, the sad thing is that there are lots of places for teenagers to go in the village where I live. We have a brand-new leisure centre with all kinds of activities going on, as well as a lovely swimming pool. There's also a very good youth club, and a super playing field, so no excuses for yobbish behaviour.

Like you, I used to have dozens of teenagers in the house when my twins were younger. Sometimes I used to think that we had the whole sixth form here, but I didn't mind at all. The house went suddenly very quiet when they both left home for uni at the same time, and I missed all the teenagers.

frogmorton

Joan I am already dreading mine going like you I have two the same age....next October it will be quiet

The youngest had better get ready to fill the house for me

Love

Toni xxx

knuckleduster

Well done Joan. More of our generation should have the courage to speak out loud when we see bad behaviour instead of passing by.

But it's not always the youngsters. A few weeks ago we were following a car and the driver threw a bag of rubbish out of his window. Luckily it didn't hit our windscreen!

Janet x