Biting Commentary

I went with my mother and daughter on a guided tour of a historical mansion in our town. We were part of a group of about twelve people, mostly families with kids. The youngest member was a girl of around four years old who was with her mom.

From the beginning of the tour, the girl was a menace. She kicked gravel at our tour guide as she was giving the opening spiel, kept touching things that weren’t supposed to be touched, darting under velvet ropes into areas she wasn’t supposed to enter, talking loudly over explanations, etc.

There was no discipline from her mom, just redirecting and sheepishly smiling at the rest of us in a “kids will be kids” sort of manner. Sure they will, but my daughter would never have dreamed of behaving that way, because she learned that actions have consequences and we live in a society that has rules for social interaction, but I digress…

Towards the end of the tour when we were in the scullery area of the kitchen. The girl’s mom had had her hands full keeping her from messing with the heavy antique tools and dishes. As she gently prised her away from yet another instrument which could have caused serious damage, the girl apparently reached her limit and lashed out, by BITING another of the kids on the tour.

Her victim was around fourteen years old and thankfully tough. She cried out:

Teenage Girl: “She bit me!”

The girl’s mom pulled the girl away and feebly apologized, admonishing the girl:

Mom: “We don’t bite.”

I think one of you does!

The tour guide immediately offered first aid, as the little gremlin had left teeth marks and nearly broken skin. We all kept a much closer eye on the girl for the remainder of the tour and were happy to get away unscathed.