Fourth Grader Ruins My "Harry Potter" Reading

Earlier this week I take my sixteen year old to her orthodontist. I'm happy because it gives me an excuse to read (finally reading the Harry Potter series and book five is 850 pages). You know, a doctor's office: tranquil, quiet.

On this day, the place was packed. It's an orthodontist for kids. So, there's a Pac-Man game in the office, coloring books, and a PSP or a Playstation or an Xbox (I'm pretty sure it was not an Atari) to keep the kids entertained while they wait to be called in the back.

I'm sitting there reading about Ron Weasley and his awkwardness but there's this boy, maybe nine years old, literally yelling while he's playing an Indiana Jones Lego game. He's standing up and jumping about and yelling at the screen. Now, I'm not ticked off at the kid. I get it; he's totally engrossed in the game, and he's probably worked his way up to this level of craziness.

I'm guessing a parent will stifle him or someone who works at the reception desk will kindly remind him about noise level and respecting others. So, I read holding the book in my left hand and the index finger of my right hand stuffed into my ear hole to help reduce the distraction.

But, no one ever approaches the child. Guess the parent is in the back and doesn't realize their kid has become the spectacle of the office, I suppose. Maybe this Indiana Jones loving fourth grader has a sibling getting braces and Mom's gone back there to hold her hand.

So, I bear with it, trying to focus on Dumbledore and his beard with one of my head holes plugged, when the orthodontist emerges and comes to the woman sitting right behind me (so I can't see her). Doc says something, I don't know what because I'm reading about Harry's scar burning once again, when I hear mom respond. Then, Doc says, "Looks like he's really enjoying the game."

He's talking about the crazy yelling boy! Mom chuckles and tells the doctor, "Feel free to pull him into the back. He really gets into video games."

What!? She was there the whole time? She just sat there in a room full of people as her son yelled and jumped up and down and made a spectacle of himself? 

Look, that's fine (I guess) if that's the way she runs things at home. If her Baby Boy is allowed to fill the entire air space in their home, then that's her prerogative (but, then it also teaches Junior that there are no limits; so he'll probably struggle with boundaries at school, at birthday parties, at church, etc...), but when her odd-ball-parenting encroaches on my Harry Potter reading time, it's time to step in.

I was just shocked that Mom was actually in the room the entire time and said nothing to her son, "Keep it down, Anthony," or "You're a bit too loud." Nope, nuthin'.

If you are that mom from Monday morning at the orthodontist office, just so you know, I had to go back home and reread those pages, time I'll never get back. Very Voldemorty of you! Parent your kids, if not for them, for the rest of us.

image courtesy of ©MorgueFile.mzacha