From: Balloonpop@aol.com
Date: Tue, 15 Feb 2000 18:30:33 EST
Subject: Re: Handling Parents
To: jhvh212@juno.com, balloon@balloonhq.com

In a message dated 2/14/00 11:53:49 PM Eastern Standard Time, 
jhvh212@juno.com writes:

<< I was wondering just how others told parents that one can not make a
 balloon for a child to young? There have been many parents get upset,
 because I would not give a child balloon due to  being to young. The last
 thing I want to happen is to end up hurting a child.  I've heard them say
 I'll watch them, but when you look back at them you see it in the mouth.
 Yet it seems parents do not realize just how hazardous a balloon can be.
 I've tried many way, but still nothing seems to work. My clients know I
 am more concerned about safety than a dollar. I look forward to hearing
 back from other >>

I try to watch my line and catch anyone who is to young before they wait in 
my line for  too long. I have the T Myers plastic animals to give out. I 
explain that I'm not allowed to make balloons for anyone who is under three 
because of the choking hazards with balloons. They assume that it is the 
rules of the event I'm working. If they don't ask I don't say any more than 
that. If they ask if it is the events rules I'm honest and tell them it is my 
rule. Usualy that works and they leave my line with a plastic animal and no 
hard feelings. Then you get the folks who just like to whine and complain. 
This is a very small percentage of people but it can still ruin your day. Too 
many people say "oh he/she is fine with balloons, He has them all the time, 
he will scream all the way home, etc. I've heard them all but I hold fast to 
my rules I don't want anyone to get hurt either. I also don't need a law 
suit. I don't mean to be cold but I have a family to support and don''t want 
their lives ruined because someone was not watching their child. Even if they 
were watching their child it only takes a second to go into the mouth. I'm 
sorry to ramble but this is a very important subject to me. I do what I do 
because I love performing for kids and if someone ever got hurt because of a 
balloon that I gave them... well I don't know what I would do. I see to many 
other balloon twisters giving balloons to children who imediatly put into 
their mouth. I'm not flaming other people. My point is parents don't and 
can't watch their kids every second and some don't understand that balloons 
can be dangerous. Wow I have not typed so much in a long time!
Ed  
<A HREF="http://www.edpop.com/">Ed Popielarczyk's Magical Moments</A>