Bebe's Kids

You may or may not be familiar with the deceased stand-up comedian Robin Harris but he was a funny man. His most well known sketch was about Bebe's kids. A woman that he dated was sitting for a friend "Bebe" and had to bring the kids along. Bebe's kids were terrible and while I can't do them justice whenever you refer to Bebe's kids in the black community everyone knows the type of children and the associated behavior that you are referring to.

Well, yesterday I met one of Bebe's kids. And please don't get it twisted, I apply this term to any child regardless of ethnicity that is acting like they have no home training. I took Mekhi to the orthopedic doctor to have his feet examed. He is pigeon - toed and I have been concerned about it for some time. While filling out the requisite forms Mehki saw another child (Bebe's Kid) with a toy and went to explore the playroom. Bebe's kid subsequently ran over Mekhi with a riding toy. This little girl had to be at least 5 and should have known better. I promptly corrected her and asked that she say excuse me, which she did.

But the behavior continued. Any toy that Mekhi picked up she tried to snatch. I wanted to take him out of the playroom but that would have led to a meltdown so I had to monitor the situation while filling out paperwork. To add insult to injury, Bebe was nowhere to be found. A friend "tried" to get Bebe's kid to behave but just gave up and walked away. Leaving Bebe's Kid to terrorize my child.

Luckily I had to change Mehkhi's diaper so we left the room and immediately after the diaper change we were called into our room.

Oh, and I forgot to mention Bebe's kid had a half -leg cast on and was still a super terror. So in honor of Bebe's kid and with hope that Bebe learns better parenting skills here is a clip from the show Bebe's Kids. This song Straight Jackin' is appropriate because this Bebe's Kid was straight jackin' Mekhi (translation: taking toys from Mekhi).





What do you do when you encounter a Bebe's kid and Bebe is nowhere to be found? Do you correct him/her or just remove your child from the situation?

Comments

anymommy said…
I tend to remove my kids. And then bitch like crazy to my husband later. Except when my kids are the wild hellions and then I just try to hide my face.
T.Allen said…
Aah yes, the ubiquitous Bebe's kids...we're kinda in the perils of that right now. My gut is to 'put it on' Bebe. But, gentle parenting, peace loving, unicorns and rainbows mom that I am cannot come undone in these situations and go 'there'. So I generally will remove my child from the situation albeit with a bowling ball in throat, clenched jaw and throbbing temple. The little ones eventually forget what went down and the older ones can understand that while they just wanted to play not everyone plays nicely. Sorry, Mekhi :(
LOL Bebe's kids. I haven't heard that one in a longtime. Unfortunately, I have seen Bebe's kids just the other day. They are all around me. That might be why I am homeschooling mine now. To correct or not correct-- I say CORRECT! If Bebe has anything to say, I welcome the exchange.
Anonymous said…
I think *we've* met Bebe before too!
I've done both. I am not above gently correcting another's child.

I've said "Oh no sweetheart, that's not how we would act. Would you want someone to do that to do?" before and I've whisked him away telling him the same. He usually came back with "Where was that mommy!!??"

I think it's true. It takes a village to raise a child. Just because WE don't accept a certain behavior, a child needs to know that the general society doesn't either.
Anonymous said…
I know exactly what kind of kids you're talking about. I think all kids have the ability to act up, which is exactly why when in public a parent needs to monitor their kid at all times, not disappear and let the little scamp terrorize the younger patients. That would have made me nuts too. I hope Bebe is listening. ;-)
Oh, I'm the queen of, "Sorry sweetie, we don't do that!" when Bebe's kids get out of pocket around me and mine. And I say it REALLY loud so that the mom/dad/whoever-is-in-charge-but-sleeping-on-the-job can hear me. Usually, they ignore the behavior and my corrections, but I think it's probably because they're embarrassed their kid is acting a fool and someone's called them out on it. I do have to say, though, that it's not always someone else's kid; my little ones tend to have their Bebe's Kids moments (and they get The Eye and a mouthful when it happens). But it's important to understand that ALL kids have those moments. It's how you handle it, right? Mannequin is right when she says "it takes a village." Let's hope Mekhi recovers!
ha! I remember Bebe's kids! I see them all the time. Little bad butts, make me want to choke another person's kid! I have the whole evil eye down to an artform so I can scare them without having to do a thing! Funny thing, the parents of these kids behave like unruly kids themselves and then wonder why their child won't listen. There are some people that just don't know how to teach discipline or lack it themselves.
Aracely said…
Want to find Bebe? She usually rears her ugly head when I raise my hand to smack her kid!
Maternal Mirth said…
I knew EXACTLY what you were talking about as soon as I read the post title. I love that movie!
Ali said…
I've removed my child from the situation before but now that he's gotten older, I try to encourage him to stick up for himself.

The other day at soccer practice another boy was sitting on Big pup's soccer ball. I was so glad when Big pup spoke up and told the kid that it was his ball. It was really hard for me not to go over and kick that ball out from under that kid!
Lisa @ Serah's said…
Although I'm not a parent, I have ran into Bebe's kids while having my nephews and my friends' children with me. I think you handled the situation well. I would have tried to correct the child and then removed my child as well. I have a couple of Bebes in my family so I know that they lose their mind when you try to discipline their child so that's why I just remove the other child from the situation.
CaraBee said…
Oooh, Bebe's Kids are everywhere. I generally remove my daughter from the situation and explain to her, hopefully so Bebe can hear it, that Bebe's Kid's behavior is unacceptable. If it's really bad, perhaps causing physical harm, I will say something to the kid. It takes a village, right?
Marinka said…
Sorry you had that experience. I'm always monitoring my kids' behavior, but if I see another kid acting like that, I try to remove us from the situation. If a parent is around, I totally tattle.
Barbara said…
Ha! @ what threeboys1mommy said. Girl, we are here: eye to eye.

I find myself doing both though. It depends on how crazy the situation is. Sometimes I snap right away, sometimes it takes a minute for me to really get annoyed with what Bebe's kid happens to be doing to my kid.

I damn near lost it at the park on one of Bebe's kids one time when she pour a bag of melted ice cream all over Miss J., and then the little heffa busted out laughing about it! At that point, we had to leave because it was about to be me and her!
Anonymous said…
When I encounter Bebe's kids at first I try to correct them. If that does not work I try to find BeBe and let her know what is going on. If that does not work I remove my kids from the situation. When I do come across Bebe's kids in a restaurant or somewhere like Chuck E. Cheese I also talk to the management.
Anonymous said…
I hope to never encounter BeBe's kids. It won't be a pretty sight.
Vodka Mom said…
I tend to reprimand. It's that damn teacher in me!!
ImitationAngel said…
When I'm out in public with kids that act like that I tend to remove any kids with me from the situation. As much as I would like to reprimand that bad child or even hit them (when they really get on my nerves) I won't do it. We live in a time where correcting or even reprimanding another person's child (even when they're doing something wrong to your own child) leads to a fight or some other sort of drama.

I don't blame you for doing what you did because you were looking out for your own child. That is the number one thing I cannot stand and that's kids running around proving they don't have any home training. I don't even call it acting because chances are they act the same way at home as they do in public.
Jenni said…
I am a teacher so my instinct is to correct even if Bebe is sitting right there! LOL!
Michele said…
Wow...that took me back. Haven't seen Bebe's Kids in a long time (at least on TV!). When I run into rogue kids harassing my little crew, I tend to just move - after giving the parent or designated caregiver a "you should know better!" look.
Anonymous said…
I also try to encourage my kids to stand up for themselves. But if Pookie n'em are agressive or don't get the hint, I get involved (sweetly, of course ;-)).
Bebe's Mama was once a Bebe kid herself. That's the problem right there.
Anonymous said…
I lean over and whisper in my mama whisper:

you REALLY need to get it together. immediately.

LOL.
nikkicrumpet said…
I remember those days...mine are all grown up now so they can defend themselves...so my mommy claws are dulled. It makes you wonder how the little darlings behave at home...when they are such beasts in public. Parenting is hard work and some people just are too lazy to do it. Thanks for stopping by my blog today...the whole "tummy rubbing" thing gave me a good laugh!
Zip n Tizzy said…
Sadly it's MY kid who's been acting like Bebe's kid lately, but I'm no Bebe. I always make him go up to the children and apologize and promise not to do it again.
Having been a nanny, I'm not opposed to stepping in when kids are misbehaving, but if their parent is right there and not doing anything, I usually take it as a lost cause and leave if that's an option.
Unknown said…
lmao! whew! the memories. now i'm gonna have to rent that movie. (or watch it on youtube)

well, i have no child to be terrorized by bebe's child, however i see them all the time out in public actin' a fool. and it's true, the parent is usually nowhere around or somehow oblivious to what's going on.

come to think of it, though, i have been in situations where i was looking after someone's child and there way a bebe's child raising hell, bullying, etc and the caregiver was M.I.A. i kindly and politely showed 'em how to play together and share, and all was well.
Carrie and Jim said…
Wow...this is a tough one. I know that I would want to correct the other child but leaving the situation is much easier.
Unknown said…
Nothing infuriates me more than being faced with Bebe's kids and Bebe is nowhere to be found! This was great...as always! Also wanted to tell you I love your blog: http://www.christiecrowder.com/2008/10/blog-love.html
Amarie said…
I think I rode the bus with BeBe and her kids just the other day! (lol)

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