SarahJo Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Just back from taking boys to dentist - he is new so the boys were apprehensive anyway. We parked in a small car park and noticed a very nice car parked with the drivers window 1/2 down . Now forgive my 2 boys aged 8 and 10 - but they do like fast cars and the 8yr old had a closer look. Not a problem till he put fingers ontop of open window to take a look at how fast this car could go, and the alarm went off . We stayed till it went off again - then checked with the dentist to see if (by deduction) it was his. Either way I was going to inform them of the open window, as not really at the best part of town He was "seriously not amused" and told YS this - totally destroying any young patient/dentist relationship that could have been developed Now my question is - should I call in tomorrow and have a word as a) He is the adult and should not leave his nice car window open in the 1st place b) We were good enough to inform him of the open window before something more serious happened - how many patients had already seen and not mentioned c) Has he never taken a closer look at a nice car himself at that age d) My YS now has a very bad opinion of him - even he said we could have just left it to get robbed or nicked, and now questions whether you should try to do the right thing Any thoughts - greatly appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 Sounds like a bit of an over-reaction by the dentist Young lads do things like this, no harm is intended. Obviously the dentist isn't very in touch with his younger patients. As to whether you follow it up...I would be tempted to leave it unless you genuinely think you'll get an apology or a sympathetic response. If you do, I would stick to the way he spoke to your son as a reason, even though your son had owned up to setting off the alarm (he could have denied it). It is up to the dentist whether he leaves his window open and not many dentists I have come across would appreciate being told how to look after their flash cars Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Olly Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I think you did the right thing, and he should have (a) appreciated the fact that other people like his nice flash car and (b) been grateful that you told him about the open window (presumably he didn't hear the alarm when it went off!). However I query whether there's anything to gain by going in and speaking about it. He doesn't sound as if he's the sort of chap who's going to offer an apology to your son, which might be the only thing that would make any of you feel better about the whole thing. I'd leave it and just mark him down as ill-mannered. Doesn't stop him from being a good dentist though, hopefully your sons will get over that and feel confident with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Thanks for the reply - I was a bit taken aback at the time, and did not want to get into a "discussion" infront of the boys. I take your point about his choice of leaving the window open - and I was more miffed about the way he spoke to YS. Irony is he was quick enough to get one of the receptionists to go and secure it - so obviously he does care Would have been better for him to say something like - at least you have good taste, and thanks for letting me know before something more sinister could have happened. Makes my boys think that its better not to try to do the right thing. Do wonder though where he is from as cannot place the accent - not local though, and not savvy about where he can and cannot leave his car unsecure (IMO) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 Olly - you posted as I replied. I think ill-mannered is a politer way of describing - YS has been a bit more blunt with words of choice . Thing is I had told them he was a nice bloke - as I saw him 3 weeks ago, and tried to eleviate their fear, then he does that Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Looney Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 My mum used to work for dentists and said that many of them were highly skilled and intelligent but sadly lacking in manners and people skills I would try persuade your son the dentist is OK but reacted badly because he felt stupid for leaving his window open! One of the dentists Mum worked for, well known for lacking in social skills, bragged about the new boat he was buying, how much it cost, the plush fixtures and fittings etc....and then when it was delivered it was too tall to fit under any of the local bridges Sorry, irrelevant story, but makes me smile! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SarahJo Posted June 30, 2010 Author Share Posted June 30, 2010 that made me smile too - the boys also have the lesson that even if you do work hard and reap the rewards (which boats and nice cars may be) - don't become a "not very nice person" in the process. I think he has no children as he seriously did not know how to converse with them - shame he has also lost sight of what its like to be a young boy looking up to people like him Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Redwing Posted June 30, 2010 Share Posted June 30, 2010 I'd make him feel bad by sending him a letter saying how sorry your son is that he set off the alarm but he just wanted to look at the car up close and how he wants such a lovely car when he is older, how he was concerned that the window was down etc etc... maybe get your son to draw a nice car to go with it It might make him think twice in future Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
