Veterans Park — Attraction in Arlington

TO ALL PARENTS: I am not the type to write a post like this but I felt the urge to after our experience today at Veterans Park. Be aware of this group of moms of about (4-5 today) and their children that visit the park. They speak what sounded to be a Russian dialect (but I may be wrong) to each other and their children but the ones that I spoke to knew English as well. All the other children in the group were girls and they also weren't very nice to my son But the One boy in particular (the only boy in their group, 4 or 5 years old) was extremely rude to my eldest son (2 1/2 years old) the entire time since said boy stepped foot onto the playground. My son being who he is just wants to play with anyone and everyone regardless of any exterior differences that you could possibly think of. My son doesn't understand this hurtful behavior that was displayed to him because all he knows is who he is and how he interacts with others which is all inclusive. I knew one day my son would experience complete and utter bad-mannered and abusive people but I didn't think it would be this soon and with a child of all people. But today I had to try to explain to a 2 year old why people behave this way to a child, and why other children may interact with each other in this manner and of course he didn't understand and continually approached them regardless of their ceaseless rejection. I am the mom who is on that playground playing with my boys, I'm up in the playground, going down the slides and etc, I'm aware of what is going on and I hear what is going on and I was watching this unfold since the beginning and the other moms were not. They were off in a little circle most of the time unaware of what said boy was doing, never interjecting when said boy was behaving in a hateful manner. Myself and my two boys were the only ones on the playground until the first mother from their group showed up with twin girls. Then shortly after another mom showed up with that said boy and I thought great a little boy for My son to play with and man was I wrong! Said boy was continually evading My son and yelling at him when my son would go over and try to play with him and the two girls. Said boy would always get the girls to move and run away from where they were playing if my son approached them. If my son was messing with a toy or being on a part of the playground that the boy was also playing with he'd yell at him to "stop" In the beginning he was just being rude and I noticing what was going on would intervene and try to get My sons' attention somewhere else. However that was short lived because my son with the purest of intentions just wanted to play with them. At one point They were all playing in the dirt with sand toys and of course my son wanted to join in. In some manner Said boy would always get my son to leave. My son is such a trooper, I watched as He continually approached them after being rejected time and time again and walking away. Every time he would go back trying to play with them once again, Every time. It broke my heart to watch but my son insisted on being a part of their group and would not listen to me. The last straw was drawn when my son yet again tried to approach their group to play with them and that boy turned to my son, pushing him away and yelling at him "You can't play with us!" After I watched that happen my Mama bear blood boiled and I approached my son and confronted the mother of said boy. Btw at this point they had seen what had happened to my son and did nothing. Among many words exchanged, *The mother of said boy told me if they don't want to play with my son then I should get my son and take him somewhere else to play. That the kids are a group and they just want to play with their group. That she wasn't going to make their kids play with my son. One woman interjected and said that said boy was just being "protective" and looking out for the girls because my son was being "abusive" ...CONTINUED IN NEXT...

Once upon a time there was a lovely princess. But she had an enchantment upon her of a fearful sort which could only be broken by love's first kiss. She was locked away in a castle guarded by a terrible fire-breathing dragon. Many brave knights had attempted to free her from this dreadful prison, but non prevailed. She waited in the dragon's keep in the highest room of the tallest tower for her true love and true love's first kiss. (laughs) Like that's ever gonna happen. What a load of - (toilet flush)

Allstar - by Smashmouth begins to play. Shrek goes about his day. While in a nearby town, the villagers get together to go after the ogre.

NIGHT - NEAR SHREK'S HOME

MAN1 Think it's in there?

MAN2 All right. Let's get it!

MAN1 Whoa. Hold on. Do you know what that thing can do to you?

MAN3 Yeah, it'll grind your bones for it's bread.

Shrek sneaks up behind them and laughs.

SHREK Yes, well, actually, that would be a giant. Now, ogres, oh they're much worse. They'll make a suit from your freshly peeled skin.

MEN No!

SHREK They'll shave your liver. Squeeze the jelly from your eyes! Actually, it's quite good on toast.

MAN1 Back! Back, beast! Back! I warn ya! (waves the torch at Shrek.)

Shrek calmly licks his fingers and extinguishes the torch. The men shrink back away from him. Shrek roars very loudly and long and his breath extinguishes all the remaining torches until the men are in the dark.

SHREK This is the part where you run away. (The men scramble to get away. He laughs.) And stay out! (looks down and picks up a piece of paper. Reads.) "Wanted. Fairy tale creatures."(He sighs and throws the paper over his shoulder.)

THE NEXT DAY

There is a line of fairy tale creatures. The head of the guard sits at a table paying people for bringing the fairy tale creatures to him. There are cages all around. Some of the people in line are Peter Pan, who is carrying Tinkerbell in a cage, Gipetto who's carrying Pinocchio, and a farmer who is carrying the three little pigs.

GUARD All right. This one's full. Take it away! Move it along. Come on! Get up!

HEAD GUARD Next!

GUARD (taking the witch's broom) Give me that! Your flying days are over. (breaks the broom in...

Lovely park. I disc golf here so keep that in mind reading my review. The course is fantastic and it shares the property with a memorial and regular park with playground, etc. For the people who come to just hang out at the park: Please pay attention while you meander around. I cannot count how many times I've seen people set up picnics, hammocks and the like on the disc golf course. There's signs at every entrance that warn you about flying discs. Because those signs are there you take liability upon yourself if you get hit with a disc while on the course. Can't count how many times I've yelled out "heads up" "watch out" or "You are on the disc golf course" while people just sit and chill waiting to be hit by my or others discs. If someone warns you that they are about to throw, as they should, and you do not move off the course and get hit = THAT IS YOUR FAULT, YOU HAVE NO ONE TO BLAME BUT YOURSELF. It hurts my heart that I have to share that in this manner but people apparently have no common sense left these days. If you're on the disc golf course and someone or a group keeps coming up behind you on every hole, let them play through you. It will save everybody a lot of headache.

This is a great disc golf course but there's a bunch of harebrained people who like to saunter out where they do not belong. If you enter the disc golf course which takes up 60% of the entire park be prepared to dodge or move out of the way.

Disc golf dudes and dudettes always remember: 1: Play smart- Never throw into a blind area or when players, spectators, pedestrians, or other facility users are within range. Use a spotter. 2:Respect the Course-Observe all posted rules. No littering, graffiti, or abuse of the equipment or flora. 3:Represent the sport- Be positive and responsible. Teach others.

Thanks...