She will never let me take her kid anywhere again.. - Page 2

[UnschoolnMa]

You do not owe her an apology, IMO.

It sounds like you went to a place for some relaxation and fun and there happened to be bikers there also enjoying their weekend. Not only were they not behaving rudely or dangerously, they did not evn interact with you. Totally a non-issue.

[bigeyes]

She's probably really sheltered.

FTR, I worked in a bar owned by some bikers and one night they took me to meet some friends of theirs at their clubhouse.

This place was surrounded by barbed wire, patrolled by pit bulls and cameras, and inside was pretty creepy. I was actually afraid I would say something to get myself beaten up, and I think there are a few people here who can attest to my knack for spouting off. The whole evening was uncomfortable and made me wonder just what they were up to that required that kind of security.

I've known some (most)real teddy bear bikers too, but maybe 'scary' bikers have been her only experience. It's sad, but some people really don't know anything but what they see in the movies, kwim?

[Marcee]

Well unless you brought my child back with a hangover and a tattoo...I really cant see "seeing bikers" as a big deal. And I am a VERY conservitive "BIBLE THUMPING BAPTIST"!...lol so I just dont get it!

[mommy68]

I wouldn't have been upset. A child has a way of exaggerating things. I try hard to teach my kids not to do that and to only give real specifics about things they do when I'm not around to witness it myself.

There really isn't much you can do I guess. The mother has to rely on her own DD and will believe her over someone outside her family I'm sure. I'm sorry she feels this way. I can totally understand what type of bike rally you are describing and they aren't bad at all. Now the ones they have at Myrtle Beach, SC (not far from me) can be very bad sometimes.

[LoveBeads]

Obviously this woman has never been to a chili cook-off.

(maybe it's a regional thing but where I live, the annual chili cook off is all bikers with their delicious chili recipes. We go every year and have a blast.)

[NaturalMamma]

One year when I was single I wanted to go on a retreat to the Black Hills area. When I phoned the tourism center they told me about the bike rally. I said, "that's nice, a bicylcing community." But then she informed me it would be a motorcycle haven for those days and I realized that I was not likely to get some R&R so I cancelled my trip. Still have it on my wish list to visit that beautiful area.

Just thought I'd share that.

Sounds like the mom may already have it in for you. :

[ChristianMomOf2]

My church has a "bikers club" hahaha

I guess we have some scary christians!!

[Stinkerbell]

Originally Posted by Moonprysm

Um...wow. That's...: Can we say closeminded???

word. she's uninformed and ignorant and it's sucky because her child will grow up that way, too.

as a biker, I am insulted. I would have been tempted to say something about not judging people based on the vehicles they drive for recreation but i can be sensitive like that

Attatched Mama, there is a large festival for a week here that is culturally focused on a certain ehtnic group in my city. During that week, our crime rate goes up pretty high, too (petty crime). So, I guess I should be upset if I find out my kids' have been exposed to a Portuguese festival with their friends?

That is NOT the way to teach tolerance, understanding, and individual vs. group behavior.

[momto l&a]

If I trust you enough to take my dd somewhere and you feel comfortable taking your dd there then I see no problem.

[carmel23]

Originally Posted by nextcommercial

My family and I have a small cabin in the mountains in Arizona.

My 14 yr dd likes to take friends up for the weekend with her, otherwise, she gets bored. Her best friend has been up there with us before, and went with us this weekend.

This weekend was the "Too Broke for Sturgis" Motorcycle ride in a very small town nearby. We wanted to see two friends who lived up there, AND see the motorcycles. (Harley's and such)

Her freind was horrified by all the bikers. Only a few looked like "bikers". None of them was cussing, or behaving badly at all. In fact, they were extremely polite. The motorcycles were pretty awsome. There were at least a thousand bikes and bikers.

SO, Mom now thinks I took her child to a "Biker" community. I explained it was a rally, and not a community. Most Bikers are regular 9-5 people during the week, and they put on a leather jacket and a bandana when they ride.

um, the OP makes me laugh because most of the folks who ride bikes around here are like dentists and doctors/lawyers! They're the only ones who can afford the bikes!!!

So, I think it is hysterical that someone would freak out... but I haven't read the whole thread so... :

[MillingNome]

Hee hee- I'm one of those 9-5ers that has a motorcycle. Every first Thursday there is a meeting at a local pizza place. It has gone to be almost as big as the one your described. I can attest to the fact that most of the people there are nothing to be afraid of. It might be hard to understand unless you're a biker but there is an incredible feeling of freedom when you're out on a bike for some people.

I guess I could understand if your daugher's friend's mom was surprised. I think being angry might be pushing it. It sounds like she doesn't have a grasp of what was involved in your trip and the bikers.

[Bekka]

Funny--we were in SD last week and we didn't know about Sturgis and there were bikes EVERYWHERE! Our 3 yo LOVED it. But they were nice people with protective biking gear, helmets, etc., which makes them look tough. ...

[aprilushka]

I would be upset if they rode on a bike or went to a biker bar, but just looking at them -- no. I mean, they could have been in any town where bikes just happened to come in and they looked at them -- I also wouldn't want my kid going to Daytona during bike week, but that wasn't what was going on here. I actually was in Daytona during bike week at the age of 19 for about 6 hours and we just rolled our eyes at the idiots acting like animals on the corners. Of course, it made me not want to ever go there again.

In DC the bikers come in every MEmorial Day and go on the Mall -- I would think that parents generally wouldn't be upset if their kids happened to be at the Vietnam Memorial at the same time as the bikers.

[mommaduck]

Originally Posted by ~Megan~

She must have a terrible twisted idea about bikers. Not all of them are Hell's Angels!

This was what I was thinking. You may want to explain people that just enjoy riding bikes (just like others like trucks or skateboards or whatever) vs Hell's Angels image that is exasperated by old movies or such. And if gets on the image thing, explain that leather is a practicality of protection while riding. Heaven's cowboys had to wear chaps also!

Truthfully, I'd be more likely to get help from a motorcyclist than I would some joe in a spiffed up BMW...most are VERY decent people, they just have a hobby.

[mmace]

I'm giggling that this thread came up again - I was just thinking about it last night when I saw a commercial for the movie Wild Hogs - John Travolta and Tim the Tool Man - not very scary, are they?!

[shanagirl]

My company does marketing research and one of our biggest accounts is a motorcycle manufacturer. Amazing to learn that the 'typical' motorcyle buyer/rider is caucasian, mid 40s male with a middle class job. Shhh. Don't tell anyone, it would tame the badass image that makes it all so appealing.

[mmace]

Every single time I come back to this thread I get a new giggle! This time because shanagirl just described my "tough" Harley riding boyfriend to a T! kekeke

[TiredX2]

I really thought the OP's story was going to end with, "And she really wanted to ride oen so we let her and blah blah blah...."

Looking at motorcycles? Hmmm, I don't have a kid that age, but I wouldn't be upset if a friend took my kids (8 & 5).

[InaX5]

different pepole, different ideas of what they want their kids around, got to respect that. Next time you take your child's friends with you some where, inform the parents of the plans 9even tentaive ones), especially if something is considered by many to not be mainstream, & you gotta be smart enough to know that bike week is not mainstream to most people.