# Parenting conflict: How wrong was I? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 8, 2011, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649 "2011-02-08T14:57:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![GrandWino](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grandwino/32/67_2.png) [@GrandWino](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GrandWino)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 4:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/61 "2011-02-11T16:49:09Z")
> [@diku](#): > > Thirdly, it’s actually all been settled, at least from my side. I attempted to apologize, and he just laughed me off again and walked away. So, I did what I can do. Kids are fine together, wives are fine, and I’m not required to be around him usually (this was the first time in the year that our kids and wives have been friends), so I’m putting the matter to rest. Was this immediately after the incident or a little later after a cooling-off period for everyone involved. If the former, you should give it another shot. If the latter, you’ve done all you can do. ---
**Author:** ![diku](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4af34b/32.png) [@diku](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diku)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2011, 6:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/62 "2011-02-11T18:36:09Z")
> [@Bob Ducca](#): > > Was this immediately after the incident or a little later after a cooling-off period for everyone involved. If the former, you should give it another shot. If the latter, you’ve done all you can do. Last night, so five days after. ---
**Author:** ![Ibanez](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/a4c791/32.png) [@Ibanez](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ibanez)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/63 "2011-02-12T20:00:30Z")
Next time just throw water on him. If he asks why you did it, just respond I thought you were on fire. ---
**Author:** ![RaftPeople](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/6f9a4e/32.png) [@RaftPeople](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RaftPeople)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 2:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/64 "2011-02-13T02:18:23Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Ahh. I look forward to the 5 page shitstorm this will turn into. > > Unfortunately for the OP: This just in! Most people are shitty, inattentive parents. Also unfortunate for the OP, it may cost a friendship or two. Besides the fact that your statement is incorrect on the surface, I’m sitting here wondering what you must be angry at to make that statement. Do you know what is driving you to post something like that? I’m curious. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/65 "2011-02-13T04:42:06Z")
Invite them out for bowling again, exact same scenario. Only this time, let his son run off and get hurt. ---
**Author:** ![Taomist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@Taomist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Taomist)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2011, 7:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/66 "2011-02-13T07:09:19Z")
> [@diku](#): > > Yeah, that bugged me to no end. Probably had a lot to do with what happened. I hated that my son and I had to go up there to help him. > [@even\_sven](#): > > You are going to have decide if you can get over that or not. Honestly, I’m torn about this. Someone else’s being a jerk doesn’t justify getting up in arms about something as cute as showing a 4-yr. old how to throw a ball. You, the general ‘you’…ok, ‘we’…can’t go through life being annoyed at other people’s problems and point them out in ways that will not help. It doesn’t make you look better, it doesn’t make you better, it doesn’t help the situation. Helping the kid bowl = awesome. Watching out for an unattended child = basic humanity. Understanding that people make mistakes and it doesn’t mean you’re a genius because you help them out of it = priceless. And yeah, that sounds really snarky. I swear I’m trying to find a way of putting it that doesn’t sound snarky but I’m not coming up with one. Don’t take it personally; just pick your battles. ---
**Author:** ![Irishman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b487fb/32.png) [@Irishman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Irishman)\ **Post date:** [February 18, 2011, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649/67 "2011-02-18T19:57:09Z")
Actually, I think you should apologize to your wife, if you haven’t already. Whatever the guy deserved, it was her party and you made a scene. > [@Shark\_Sandwich](#): > > An apology containing the word “but” is no apology at all. This. If you are going to apologize to somebody, take responsibility for your own mistakes. An apology “I did this because you did that” is really just a backhanded way to criticize the other party again, and isn’t a real apology. It’s just replacing one dick move with another. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/parenting-conflict-how-wrong-was-i/570649.md?page=3)