Should I have?

On Friday, last week, I spoke to some kids.

Brave of me I know.

• I did not raise my voice.

• I did not swear or cuss at them.

• I did not tell them what they should do.

• I just asked them questions.

  
  

As I approached the bus stop one child was repeatedly pressing the talking bus announcer, usually used by blind people to hear when their bus is going to arrive. I stood and listened to it.

Once is had finished and I had moved a short distance away, they came back to press it again.

I asked if they had, had problems hearing it the last time.

They withdrew and huddled with their mates.

One of the other people waiting told me that they had been doing it constantly for the last five minutes.

But no one else had said anything!

They say it takes a village to raise a child.

Where has it gone?

Is it a wonder that our children are struggling.

Where are the boundaries?

What interest are we showing in them?

Standing around and tutting, does not make things better, it just demonises the young people more.

I did not tell the kid off, I just asked a question.

Having spoken to one child another group caught my eye.

They were mock fighting, having a laugh, away from the main waiting area.

I approved.

Then I noticed one drop some pieces of paper, which turned out to be parking tickets.

Ones designed to be taken by visitors to the hospital, so they can find which level they parked their car on.

I then noticed that one of them had a whole handful of these tickets.

I asked if they needed a hand throwing them away in the bin.

“No I’m good”, was the reply

“So you are all good throwing them away in the bin later, that’s good to know. I ask because when they end up on the floor it means someone needs to come tidy them up, and the people working at the hospital have sick people to look after, and don’t really need the extra work”

One of the kid’s friends piped up and asked why I was picking on their mate.

I pointed out that all I had done was ask if they needed help to throw the paper away, and as they were the one holding the paper, they were the one I was talking to.

They again refused my help, and I just thanked them for their time.

Another lady looked at me with wide eyes.

I just commented that if no one says anything, they will never stop and think.

They will continue to believe that what they are doing is just a laugh.

I did not force them to pick up the paper.

I did not pick up the paper.

I was a little shaky with adrenalin afterwards, but soon got on my bus and went home,

and pondered if saying anything was even worth it.

Would you have said anything?