Making the neighbors angry

[jamnw]

Don't go to a family campground like Lakewood in Myrtle Beach on July 4th if you don't want to see/hear kids running around.
It says in big letters FAMILY CAMPGROUND.
That typically means kids.

Older couple behind me gave us the stink-eye all weekend. I tried and my mother in law tried to say hi, but they turned their backs on us. Literally turned their chairs the other way.
4 families all around them with kids. We didn't know each other, but our kids had a great time. I think 4 girls an 2 boys from 6 to 12 years old. They're gonna scream a little.

[Mountain_Mama]

I'm sorry the couple made the wrong choice of campgrounds and were unhappy. We usually don't camp on holiday weekends either but it's our choice.

We were camping about a month ago and had 4 or 5 little girls (6-10 yrs old I'd guess)come running up to our site while we were sitting outside and ask if we had any cans(soda/beer). We had a few in the trash DH went & got for them. We think parents had sent them out on a game to see who could collect/find the most cans.! They had made two teams and were having a ball! We figured parents had come up with the idea to give them something to do, but thought it was a good idea as it helped clean the park (as long as they stayed together). Later we heard children's laughter from a distance from us and it made us both smile. We love camping families. It's one of the few things that gets kids outside and away from electronic gadgets! Many kids never get the opportunity to camp!

We're picking our 8YO DGD tomorrow. She told me the other night she is ready to go camping! We're leaving with her the first of next week to go to Grand Tetpns & Yellowstone!!! Can't wait!

[GMandJM]

Glad you and the kids had such a good time despite the stink-eyed neighbors.

Just curious though....did you ever figure out exactly what the kids were doing that were so annoying to them?

[jamnw]

TucsonJim wrote:
Here's how the DW and I handle kids near us.

We quietly ask the parents if we could share some ice cream with their kids. They almost always say yes. The kids get some ice cream from the old folks in the next campsite, and we get to meet some good people. It works out well for us.

Last month, we were camped next to a family with four boys ranging from 6-12. They were very curious about my satellite dish. So I took the time to show them and their parents how it works. They were fascinated. They were very smart young people and had a good grasp on the technology. They asked great questions and were fun to talk to. Then, I found out the dad was a Marine Corps Colonel, and he was moving the family to their next duty station. Great people.

So if folks just want to ignore the kids and they are missing out on some good conversation and possibly making some friends with the parents. If children have positive experiences with other campers while they are young, there'll be a good chance they might become the campers of the future.

You are so right. We had another couple come in behind us with no kids the next day. I talked to them about the "neighborhood kids". They brought out about 20 packs of sparklers, and snap pops and gave to the kids. The OTHER neighbors went inside after that.
We ended up making friends with the personable ones. He showed me his new electric smoker, shared BBQ. His wife showed us how to make fried doughnuts out of canned biscuits. It was awesome.

[jamnw]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I like sitting out under the awning and watching kids explore, play, interact, discover ...........not enough of that goes on.

Watched a toddler 'discovery' her shadow......put a smile on my face and a good chuckle.

If the kids get unruly......I spray them down with my hose.

Otherwise......kids should be outside, going camping, playing with other kids face to face. Dang make some mud pies, eat a little dirt, catch a bug...scare the girls with it. In other words be a kid and have FUN

Grumpy old people.......go push them over. They're almost dead anyway cause they have forgotten about FUN

If you sprayed mine with a hose.... You would NEVER get rid of them!
One of their favorite things.

[Greyghost]

My wife and I are old geezers similar to the ones you described. The difference is that I love the sound of children playing and having a good time. Heck, that's what camping is all about (it's the kids having fun). My wife on the other hand finds that the noise created by kids having fun goes right through her so shes very much like your neighbors. So,,,,,,,,,,,you can come and camp by me any time you want to. :B:B

Oh, and bring those other folks that had kids.

[toedtoes]

sdianel wrote:
...We would never camp in a family friendly campground and then complain about kids. Let kids be kids!...!

I agree. However, I would have no problem complaining about the parents if the kids are out of line (racing through my campsite; harassing my dogs; etc.). 🙂

[Old-Biscuit]

I like sitting out under the awning and watching kids explore, play, interact, discover ...........not enough of that goes on.

Watched a toddler 'discovery' her shadow......put a smile on my face and a good chuckle.

If the kids get unruly......I spray them down with my hose.

Otherwise......kids should be outside, going camping, playing with other kids face to face. Dang make some mud pies, eat a little dirt, catch a bug...scare the girls with it. In other words be a kid and have FUN

Grumpy old people.......go push them over. They're almost dead anyway cause they have forgotten about FUN

[sdianel_-acct_c]

We always consider what campground fits our needs when it's a holiday weekend. We would choose campgrounds not popular with families if we wanted peace and quiet. (kids don't bother us - we have grandkids!) We would never camp in a family friendly campground and then complain about kids. Let kids be kids! If we are parked next to a family with small children on the weekends, we know more than likely they will have to leave Sunday afternoon and then we can get back to our naps in the camp chairs!

[Samsonsworld]

Live and let live. I love kids, dogs, music...those are the little things in life that bring joy. A little noise doesn't bother me.

[Tom_N]

We were at Apache CG in MB about 8 or 9 years ago for the month of Oct. Some teenagers, with their parents, on the site directly behind me. The parents left for the day. I could smell a herbal smell and heard some people talking and laughing behind me. I turned on my rear view cam and saw them passing around and smoking some pointed cigarettes.

[toedtoes]

People get annoyed over many things. A while back, someone was annoyed because there were two couples at a campground who chose to just sit outside in their campsites and watch all the families playing. Apparently, they should have tried to ingratiate themselves with the families (of course, the person who posted was too busy trying to control their kids to have interacted with the couples - but how dare the couples just sit outside enjoying their time).

[millerak49]

There were a lot of kids around where we were camped in the Adirondacks over the Independence Day weekend. Most kids were great, but there were a few that were just screaming and running around the whole weekend. I escorted them out of our campsite more than once, but they kept finding their way back!... Just kidding, It was fun visiting with the nieces and nephew. I like to see kids out camping and having fun outside instead of playing video games.

[jamnw]

toedtoes: you make a very good point. We didn't try to chat them up, just waved. But, you could tell it was the kids bothering them. All the parents noticed it, and we told the kids to make sure they didn't run through their camp site.

That is a BIG NO-NO for my kids. They know better, we preach that all the time.

It didn't upset me. I just find it amusing that someone would get annoyed in that situation.

By 9:30pm we made sure the kids were winding down and by 10pm in the camper playing games or watching a movie.

[TucsonJim]

Here's how the DW and I handle kids near us.

We quietly ask the parents if we could share some ice cream with their kids. They almost always say yes. The kids get some ice cream from the old folks in the next campsite, and we get to meet some good people. It works out well for us.

Last month, we were camped next to a family with four boys ranging from 6-12. They were very curious about my satellite dish. So I took the time to show them and their parents how it works. They were fascinated. They were very smart young people and had a good grasp on the technology. They asked great questions and were fun to talk to. Then, I found out the dad was a Marine Corps Colonel, and he was moving the family to their next duty station. Great people.

So if folks just want to ignore the kids and they are missing out on some good conversation and possibly making some friends with the parents. If children have positive experiences with other campers while they are young, there'll be a good chance they might become the campers of the future.

[toedtoes]

How do you know it was the kids that bothered them? Maybe they just didn't want to interact with you and/or the other families? Maybe it wasn't the kids playing that annoyed them, but rather the adults trying to chat them up?

Without having talked to them, you're making an assumption about them.