CircleBumpCheckedFilledMedicalBookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxCheckBoxFilled

Why Adults Should Change Their Behavior When Kids Are Around (Even if They’re Not The Parents!)

save article
profile picture of Daddy Nickell
Updated March 2, 2017
Hero Image
Image: Thinkstock / The Bump

As an adult, I love to watch new shows on HBO, Showtime and other cable TV networks. I know that if I miss a season, I can download it to my laptop or iPad and watch all the episodes at my own leisure. It’s perfect for those nights when all the kids are asleep on time and I can finally relax! As an adult, I think the shows are great. I love watching Nip Tuck, Boardwalk Empire, Sons of Anarchy, Dexter, Homeland Security and so many others, but the sex scenes appear so quickly and frequently that they seem to be absorbed by my brain as just part of the show. So as a parent, I think the shows push the limits way too far.

Last week, my family (my wife, our 3-year-old son, our 2-year-old son and our 5-month-old baby girl) were coming back from vacation on a plane. As it happened, my 3-year-old son was sitting in the aisle seat. With an aisle seat, you can get a pretty clear view of other passenger’s laptops, especially when they’re opened up and in use. Plus, my son is still a kid — so a shiny light-up screen is totally going to grab his attention! He was watching a girl, most likely in her twenties, play a video game on her computer.  She was one seat to the left and one row forward from my son, so he had a clear view of her screen and was watching intently. Of course it wasn’t an ideal situation, but the video game was pretty PG; so it seemed alright to me and I closed my eyes to rest for a few minutes.

Related Video

I felt my son acting a little more fidgety in his seat, so I glanced over at him and noticed him still staring intently at the young woman’s computer screen. I happened to glance over at the woman’s computer screen again only to see a scene of two people having wild sex on a desk in an office. They were completely naked and to a 3-year-old, it likely looked as if the man was attacking the woman. I didn’t know what to do. We were thousands of feet in the air with absolutely nowhere to go. I couldn’t take him away from the situation so I tried to distract him. Eventually, we coaxed him into switching seats (so he could look out the window!) and that solved the problem.

But, here’s my issue: Should we be allowed to watch them whenever and wherever we please without taking into account who is around us, who might be offended and who may not comprehend the images they might happen to see? If I was a single, childless adult, I would think it perfectly acceptable; however, as a dad, it infuriates me.

Do you think adults should change their behavior when kids are involved?

save article
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

jennifer garner and her children next to a headshot of jennifer garner on the red carpet
Jennifer Garner on Why “a Little Benign Neglect” Is the Key Parenting
By Wyndi Kappes
baby tooth in child's hand
Toss or Treasure: Jake Johnson Sparks Debate on Keeping Baby's Teeth
By Wyndi Kappes
mom and baby dancing in living room
Kid's Music Ruining Your Spotify Wrapped? These Parents Can Relate
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
36 matching family pajamas for the holidays and beyond-hero
36 Matching Family Pajamas for the Holidays and Beyond
By The Bump Editors
gifts-for-pregnant-friend-HERO
42 Gifts for Pregnant Women That Are Cute and Congratulatory
By Martina Garvey
hanukkah gifts hero
The Best Hanukkah Gift Ideas for Babies, Toddlers and Caregivers
By Cassie Kreitner
gratitude tablecloth for thanksgiving
The Viral Gratitude Tablecloth Tradition You Can Try This Thanksgiving
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
friends giving pregnant woman gifts
45 Best Mom-To-Be Gifts That Celebrate Her
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
mom talking to son
The Parenting Hack Going Viral: Mastering the 'When/Then' Reframe
By Wyndi Kappes
andy cohen and kids
Bravo’s Andy Cohen Shares His Best Piece of Parenting Advice
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
mom and dad holding newborn baby at home
Viral Post Shares How to Raise Your First Baby Like It’s Your Third
By Wyndi Kappes
mombies dancing to raise money this halloween
Meet the “Mombies” Raising Money for Cancer Research
By Wyndi Kappes
kids trick or treating for halloween
These Are the Top 15 States for Trick-or-Treating in 2023
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Christmas Gifts for Grandparents Hero
36 Festive and Fun Christmas Gifts for Grandparents
By Danielle Halibey
Christmas Gifts for Parents Hero
45 Christmas Gifts for Parents on the Nice List
By Martina Garvey
New Dad Gifts-hero
The Best Gifts for New Dads to Suit Any Budget
By Emma O'Regan-Reidy
Breast Cancer Awareness Hero
14 Gifts That Give Back for Breast Cancer Awareness
By Martina Garvey
ADVERTISEMENT
Big Sister Gift Hero
23 Big Sister Gifts to Celebrate Her New Status
By Cassie Kreitner
dad and daughter drawing at home
How Dads Can Help Boost Their Child’s Early Educational Success
By Wyndi Kappes
US actor Josh Duhamel (L) and his wife US model Audra Mari pose during a photocall for the Golden Nymph Awards ceremony of the 62nd Monte-Carlo Television Festival in the principalty of Monaco on June 20, 2023
Josh Duhamel’s Son Axl Has Adorable Reaction to New Big Brother Role
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List