Other People's Children

Okay, stepping on a soap box for a minute here, but we try really hard to teach Owen manners, sharing, being kind to others. And it is so irritating to me when I try to reinforce those teachings out in the world and a child who is not being taught that way ends up interacting with Owen (I realize this is going to happen his whole life, but still). Case in point - at Carters on Saturday and there is a lego table, 4 chairs, 4 kids, no parents staying nearby except for me and one other dad. They are all playing great until this little boy starts taking blocks from the other kids' 'pockets' (right in front of each chair to hold the blocks). First a little girl gets upset about it, then he comes over and takes some of Owen's. Owen, of course, says, "hey, that's mine" and tries to grab it back. The kid is kicking and screaming and I intervene, talking to Owen about how he can build with the blocks he has, trying to distract him and redirect. Owen is frustrated because obviously rules we ask him to follow are not being followed - sharing, no kicking/hitting. So he goes back to his side and kicks his chair, right up against the dad and baby/car seat that are standing nearby. I remind him that he can stay in the store as long as he doesn't cause a problem and he kicks the chair again. So, out we go to the car, Owen crying, kicking, screaming; meanwhile the other Mom hasn't come anywhere near her kid, she's still shopping somewhere in the store.  Yes, I know Owen should not have kicked the chair, but he is 2 and was frustrated from what happened before that. And I can't not be consistent and not discipline for things we would normally at home, but it frustrating to me when he was just responding to a stinker kid at the store.