Grrr...surprise! "Kids Will Be at the Show!"

[ChefBeckyD]

Yes, I remember the days when everyone in town had permission to discipline everyone's children. I grew up in a small town and you better watch out because wherever you were someone was watching you and they would either correct you or call your mom and dad. But the biggest thing is that we respected adults and didn't want to get into trouble. Today it seems most kids have no respect for anyone...not even themselves.

I remember the first time I spanked...actually just a swat on the behind...my niece. She was standing in the refrigerator...yes inside...screaming at her mom because she told her to get out. I pulled her out and swatted her. She in turn hit me which got her another swat. She yelled you aren't my boss...which got her anothe swat and me telling her she wasn't going to talk to her mom or me or anyone else that way and she needed to calm down. Needless to say, when I tell her to stop doing something...or to do something...she does it without yelling. My sister doesn't let her act that way but she thought since she was at grandma's house she would see how far she could go. Kids really want to be disciplined. They will all see how far they can push, but they just want to know their limits. I firmly believe in spanking, but realize that it doesn't work for all kids. My 3 were all different and so their discipline was different. I believe it is the parents job to discipline their children because they are going to be in charge of our society some day. And, I firmly believe that teachers need to be able to disciple our children. Whomever is in charge of my children have the authority to discipline them. I signed the paper that says my child can get a spanking at school. They know that the teacher is in control of them while they are at school...and I have only had one to receive a spanking (with her daddy standing there watching because they called him first). It was embarrassing for her and she has never had any problems at school since. They have to know their limits. Remember when you signed a paper to say that they couldn't be spanked and it was rare to have a parent sign it.

But, I have hijacked this thread. So we will get back to the original topic. Having a seperate room for children is very helpful. Most kids will sit quietly and watch a movie and eat a snack.

Wow - that must be a difference in where we live, because that would not even be an option here. I wouldn't even mention that my DS has been spanked at home to an educator here!

 

[vtodd71]

Wow - that must be a difference in where we live, because that would not even be an option here. I wouldn't even mention that my DS has been spanked at home to an educator here!

That is because the educator would call Family Services on you, claiming you are "beating" your child.

 

[RebelChef]

It's still allowed here and my kids both know I won't do a thing to prevent it if they've done something to warrant it. They also know if they get it at school, they're going to get it worse when they get home. I can't stand the way some kids act today and my mom would have made it impossible to sit for a week if I'd tried some of the things I see today. Mine know that I expect them to show respect and act respectable and responsible. I don't play games when it comes to acting up in public. Luckily, I have good kids and I get complimented on them by older folks quite often.

As far as children at shows, I haven't had any problems with young ones. The ones who were a pain were the teens who had to come in and interrupt every few minutes asking to do this or that. I have taken my daughter with me as a 'sitter' just in case. Now my son keeps asking when he can go with me but he wants to be in the kitchen too, not watching kids. lol

 

[beepampered]

I don't think asking would help. Many times when kids come, it's a last minute thing. Something like "my husband had to go on a business trip and I had to bring the kids."

If you feel like you say something ahead of time, you might just casually say "if you think there might be children there, do you have a room where they can play or watch a video? I don't want them to be bored during my demo." At least that way, the host will think about it and ask her husband, older child or neighbor's kid to help contain the children.

If you're trying to keep your time down, you could just announce at the beinning of your show that all products can be touched/used at the end but that in finishing in a timely manner you want be able to allow non-buying guests to help.

 

[pamperedcheermom]

I had posted this response on a different thread when I first started with PC but I think it belongs here too.

"Several years ago, (before I became a PC consultant) I had a Pampered Chef show for a consultant and she had to stop the show and ask the mothers to control their children. Two little boys were here and they were going wild (jumping off the couch, screaming, wrestling, etc.) When they started acting up, so did the other 5 that were here. The mother of the two boys did nothing, saw nothing and said nothing. After the consultant asked them to control their kids, the mother of the two boys jumped up and grabbed both and spanked them, which only caused more drama. It was the worse show I've ever had at my house and I've done several different types of shows. When it was over, I was in tears and the consultant was very upset. A few months later I called the same consultant to see about her doing a bridal show for my neice. She flat refused!! She said she couldn't do another show here with all those kids and that it was the worse one she had ever done. I assured her that it would only be my family and the kids that were here before lived up the street and wouldn't be here. She finally agreed and it went great! I guess that whole experience scares me from having a show with a bunch of kids."

So far, since becoming a PC consultant, I haven't had many shows with kids but I always wonder when it will happen. I've had kids at my shows but they always behaved or are in another room doing something. A friend of mine who is also a PC consultant did a bridal shower and I went to help her. There were at least 4 kids under the age of 4 at the shower. One little girl tore up the bridal board she had made and then she wrote all over the bridal apron AND a chair in the kitchen. Another boy came in the door screaming and continued the entire time he was there. It wasn't pleasant and I felt bad for my friend because she was trying to talk over the screaming and running around.
I have two kids of my own but I always made arrangements for them when I had a show of some kind or went to one. Their Daddy took them off somewhere but I always ended up with everyone elses.

 

[wickednoodle]

Try getting bookings BECAUSE of the kids...

During the show, when you're discussing bookings, explain that you offer a "playdate" pampered chef show for mom's with young children. Team up with a sign language teacher, a face painter, or just hire someone to do organized crafts with the kids...tell the mom's that for $2 per child (or whatever the price may be, but keep it cheap), their kids can enjoy some play time, learning to sign, etc., while the mom's can enjoy relaxing, eating delicious food and shopping for awesome PC products! I know I for one would attend something like this in a HEARTBEAT.

 

[tabnat80]

I've got a delima like you Mary Rose. I've got a show this Thursday. The lady hosting the show goes to church with me. Our kids are in the same ss class. Now, don't get me wrong. I enjoy a play date just as much as the other girls, but there is a time and a place for playing. This host is dropping her daughter off at mother's day out, but told me the other girls are bringing their kids. Most all the moms have 2-3 kids, over half have 3 each. Now, the host doesn't have a play room and told me this. She also wanted me to do the recipe b4 i get there since the kids will be running around. Now, tell me this, if she's expecting the kids to be running around, how am I suppose to do a show for them? Basically she wants me to cook for them and just show up with books. I did this for another girl at church last summer and had to yell over elmo on the tv. It was not a good experience. I'm not looking forward to it at all.

 

[lkprescott]

I go with the flow and don't even think about asking if kids will be there or not. At a recent show, I had two toddlers who were supposed to be in the other room but they came out and well, found out there were chocolate chips and after I tossed them a few and everyone laughed they got bored and went away. LOL... the older child who was at that show helped collect drawing slips and was my unbiased chooser to see who won a prize. I also had a teen aged person help unwrap all those blessed rolos for the warm nutty carmel brownies... another child helped me clean up at the end. It really depends on the parents and on the kids. I can also imagine a few kids I know who I would NOT want to be at a show. LOL... thankfully that person knows her kids are a little... wild and shipped them off to relatives for a kid-free show... where the distraction was a loud talker..

So I don't ask.. and I don't tell... I let the host lay down the limits and establish boundaries and so far that's been working.

 

[ChefBeckyD]

I go with the flow and don't even think about asking if kids will be there or not. At a recent show, I had two toddlers who were supposed to be in the other room but they came out and well, found out there were chocolate chips and after I tossed them a few and everyone laughed they got bored and went away. LOL... the older child who was at that show helped collect drawing slips and was my unbiased chooser to see who won a prize. I also had a teen aged person help unwrap all those blessed rolos for the warm nutty carmel brownies... another child helped me clean up at the end. It really depends on the parents and on the kids. I can also imagine a few kids I know who I would NOT want to be at a show. LOL... thankfully that person knows her kids are a little... wild and shipped them off to relatives for a kid-free show... where the distraction was a loud talker..

So I don't ask.. and I don't tell... I let the host lay down the limits and establish boundaries and so far that's been working.

I often have a child who is at the show help with this too. They love being the one who gets to choose!

 

[susanr613]

Wow this stirred up a lot of thought! I have done a few shows where there are kids, including the interactive format. As long as you are making sure the kids are safe, and as long as you involve the other guests, I think it's good to involve kids. The parents see that many of our tools are safe and easy to use, the adults are usually charmed by the kids' enthusiasm and may pick up on it too, and THE KIDS ASK THEIR PARENTS TO BUY STUFF.

Playing along with the kids/dogs/cats and keeping your cool also show the guests that you are a nice person and that they may want you at their house too!

On the topic - I have a funny story. I had to bring my 11-year old son to a party with no other kids. He mostly played his Gameboy, but at one point he wanted to help. I had him shake herbs, and at the last shake he said BAM! ala Emeril. Everyone just fell out laughing! I have also brought my dog to a show (snowy night) and she charmed everyone.