Kids these days

John had a friend over today and it was great.  The two of them played well together, there was very little negetive interaction with Kitty, and the time flew by. I sighed a big sigh of relief and thought, "I should do this more often."

(I should clarify that while this good friend was present for the following situation, he was in no way part of it.)

And then the new friend from around the corner rang the bell. Side note: our door has a sign that reads, Please knock, baby sleeping. So the bell rings and I see a face in doorside window peaking in. I quickly tell John that if he wants to play with new friend they have to go outside.  John answers the door and I answer a simultaneous phone call. I catch bits and pieces of new friend introducing more new, older friends. Then it gets crazy.  There are eight and ten year old boys pushing their way through my house.  One wanders downstairs, another into John's room and yet another into the kitchen. 

I hear Jared, who was downstairs, say, "Can I help you?" and the kid mumbles something but stays put.

I get off the phone and say rather loudly, "Hey!  I said you guys could play outside, I don't like kids I don't know roaming through my house!"

One of the new friends says to me, "Then get me a weapon- we're playing cops and robbers."

I say, "Where do you live?" as I show him the door.

Apparently not in our neighborhood, the two new friends are being "babysat" by original new friend's parents.

What in the world?? Why aren't parents teaching their kids manners? I am soooo sick of kids who think they can question my authority. I mean, I deal with my own kids all day, I don't need to fight with some stranger's kids too.

Just this morning Beth and I were discussing the apparent rude-friend epidemic. Here are some examples:

"Sorry John can't play now."
"Why?"
"We are eating dinner."
"How long will it take? I'll just wait."
"John won't be able to play after dinner.  Maybe another day."
"Why can't he come out after dinner?"

Or if John answers the door, before any words are exchanged, rude-friend pushes his way inside and into the house. Rude-friends often take ownership of the entire house and roam freely.  These friends often approach me and ask for something to eat.

Is it just me or do these kids seem to be getting worse? I can only hope my kids remember some semblance of manners when they are at another person's house. I hate that I have to be picky, but the list of kids who I feel comfortable letting into my children's lives is small. At least we had one good playdate today... the problem is that rude-friends like new friend seem to never take the hint.