I just can't take OP srsly after she says she had 4 kids just so she wouldn't have to entertain them but she gets why other parents choose to only have 1. First of all, bold assumption its a choice. But really? The reason she's saying she has 4 entire kids so they all entertain each other? I'm not saying she's fabricating. Just...what...is her thinking process behind a few things. Lol.

The target is female. Nobody would do this with a male parent. Had this sort of c**p happen to me where other parents were like "we want to watch a movie and will be back by ten". I would say I worked and couldn't do that. They would then withdraw the "playdate" on my kid. Because it wasn't a playdate it was unpaid baby sitting.

Single child parent here, YES we want our children to socialise with other children (funny that 🙄) No i do not expect you to 'look after them'. I expect you to casually observe to make sure its 'nice play' and nothing dangerous as i am doing. I will play with my daughter up to the point she finds a friend at which point i back off - if you choose to keep yourself in the middle of the games (and are incapable of sending YOUR kids away to play at an observable distance) that is on you.

Did everyone miss that OPs kids were all teens and the hanger on was 8? This is not making friends on holiday, it’s teaching your child they are entitled to others attention. No teen wants to hang out with an 8yo, most 8yos waoud like to hang with teens but have parents who recognize their child is not entitled to invade older kids’ conversations for their own personal entertainment. Same with people who bring their kids to adult gatherings. Seems like they’re always bragging about how mature their kid is. No Helen, the adults do not love discussing middle school social dynamics with little Suzie, we think you’re an entitled twat and wish you’d come pay attention to your kid instead of forcing her onto others.

Also there's a sweet sib trio in our neighborhood who seek out my 1 kid whenever we're out. They adore him and he has to say "ok i need space" after hours of them fighting for his attention lol it's all-around v cute.

I always ended up as 'mom' to other kids. A lot of parents don't care enough to be involved with their kid's lives and it is sad.my DD is nearly 30 now. I've had a couple of her childhood friends or cousins who now have their own kids admit that they appreciated my and my husband's support throughout their childhoods and indicate that their parenting style is modeled after ours.

I am a 1 child parent. When I'd take her to the park, sometimes, the other moms, most with multiple kids, would be standing in a cluster gossiping. My daughter was the only one who would bring toys, so all the kids would crowd around. There was no way I was taking care of all those kids, especially when they'd play with her toys and not let her join. A few times I'd pack up the toys nnd say it's time to go home. The chorus of whining was almost deafening.

I was brought up not to talk to strangers. These days particularly, I can't imagine letting young children go off with other adults. Madeleine McCann still hasn't been found...

Fourteen years ago, I was 49, on vacation in Las Vegas and I have no children. I was sitting at edge of the pool at TI, when a boy of 9 or 10 asked me if I was getting in. Long story short, I ended up entertaining him for the next hour while his parents relaxed on the chaise lounges. I did go and introduce myself so they wouldn't think their kid was hanging out with some weirdo. I had a great time. Six weeks later, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. During chemo, I would take myself back to the happy afternoon at the pool on a hot day in Vegas.

It's funny, I don't have any children, but I notice when my middle aged friends and I are in the pool together, the mothers make themselves scarce.

I find it funny that OP doesn't like when other parents don't like to entertain their kids but then had more kids so she didn't have to do it either 😅. She's getting mad because she doesn't want to be around and entertain kids, yet she had....Kids. Kids make fast friends with one another, what did she think would happen? I also don't get the mentality of thinking she's "babysitting" when other kids play with her kids. If the parents are actually leaving their kid with her that's one thing. But if they're just coming over and playing with her kids while still within sight of their parents what's the issue?

I'm an only child, 36/m and this made me cry. Is this how I made people feel?

I DO understand. I , as an adult, always attract those kids whose parents doesn't play with them. If you are good at playing... you get others kids with you. And if these or that kid is really understimulated... they can't stop. I understand. It is like heaven for them... really sad...

Imagine a lonely child on holiday. They've no one to talk to their own age and Noone to play with. That was me. The few childhood holidays I went on were so lonely. My mother was lovely but I couldn't play ball or tag chase whatever with her, my father was a very poor parent who couldn't relate to me Ever. I would have Loved to be able to have fun with friends on holiday 😔 Holidays were so miserable as a child that I've only ever had one holiday as an adult and I'm 51. I absolutely get that you don't want to be put upon or taken advantage of, but your children are lucky to have each other, However socialising is incredibly important. It's not up to you to make a strangers child happy but how lovely it would be, if that child remembers the difference that you and your children made to their holiday still Decades on ❤️

An only child kid finds others his age and wants to play with them is normal. If you need to leave the area with your kids the tag-a-long goes back to his/her parents. Same if you're breaking for lunch. It's not your responsibility to feed the kid. Might even be more than one tag-a-long. Kids are just making friends. Let them play, but you aren't obligated to care for them in your personal space. If you give your kids money to get ice cream or something you certainly don't have to give the tag-a-long money. They're likely and should go back to their parents and ask for ice cream money too. If they do, great. If not, it's up to the kid to want to go back to playing or stay away out of embarrassment.

Those poor singles are hungry for the company of other children. You've got a banquet, OP, yet you begrudge the crumbs to another child. I would never expect another to tend to or watch my children, so I'm choosing to believe your gripe is with the negligent parents and not the kids. Your kids seem to have much compassion for others, so you're doing a good job. Remember, children are not responsible for their parents.

I honestly think OP is an a*****e. The whole string of complaints is totally stupid. I feel sorry for her children. She sounds like the kind of person who's always sour about everything.

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First and foremost: there is no such “thing” as “random kids”. No person is “random”, never. “Random things” happen nonetheless, all the time. That’s alright. Thank you.