What's the most disgusting thing you've encountered whilst painting?

the belching ones are...

New guidelines:
Please have your well-mannered, healthy child ready with lice free hair,nose well blown, potty run completed, clean face, hands, hair pinned back design & colors chosen and stand back 5' while we interact! This helps our line move much faster & prevents the artist from becoming sick and throwing up all over your child!

Love it, Anniel!
I've had a puker. He was a drunk man, who had accidentally swallowed some of his chewing tobbaco, and I was too distraught to tell him to get the heck outta my chair.
And wiping children's faces seems pretty normal. They are almost always sticky with something or other.
Sometimes I hand the parent the wipe, sometimes I just do it myself.

I have an awesome agent I work with sometimes, she directs the next kid in her line with--oops, go wash your face and come right back here, I'll hold the next spot in line for you...

anniel wrote:New guidelines:
Please have your well-mannered, healthy child ready with lice free hair,nose well blown, potty run completed, clean face, hands, hair pinned back design & colors chosen and stand back 5' while we interact! This helps our line move much faster & prevents the artist from becoming sick and throwing up all over your child!

HaaHaa! But, you'd have to get the parents to read it.

I had 3 under 3 yrs of age at one crazy time in my life. I remember what it was like trying to keep them clean. That's probably why I just aby wipe the child myself, hand sanitizer & move on. Not much grosses me out. As long as I don't have a puker... Pukers wouldn't like me because I'd return the favor

Linda...what ages? I have twins. Tell me more!

I had a 3 yr old, a 17 month old & a newborn(they are now 18, 16 & 15... you will survive ).
I have 5 kids(24,18,16,15 & 10.. 3 girls & then 2 boys). The hubby & I have been married 25 yrs!

So you've hit the tough years Psalmbook...wasn't it so much easier just keeping them clean and fed?

You are killing me w/these stories...esp. the puddle in the chair & the need for a "pooper scooper"!!! Started painting everyone in sight for practice last summer & finally, our local Science Museum offered to give me "...the exposure." (translation, paint for free) last Sept. I actually took them up on it, since, at that point I'd only painted friends & family in my house. Figured it would be a Baptism by fire to see if I could handle various requests. Little did I know.
First child in the chair leaned over & barfed!!! Luckily, he missed me & had leaned away from my table. Being an RN, I not only had a pump type antimicrobial cleanser, but a spray bottle of alcohol too! After cleaning off the chair, I continued with my line, taking it all in stride.

Wow, what an exciting first customer!

I haven't had any really bad encounters. Just the typical snot-noses and faces crusted with food. *crossing my fingers*

I have RA which means my immune system is compromised so I keep mask and gloves in my kit when I worked for the park and only had permission to turn away kids with lice and belligerent parents. Now that I'm working for myself I have no problem turning away sick kids. I have a problem with gum chewers. Tell them they have a choice getting their face painted or chewing their gum.

Lol Hillybilly. That particular thing makes me crazy too!! ok.. don't chew! *8 seconds go by* "don't chew!" *15 more seconds* "don't chew your gum sweetie". I sound mean.. but I say it in a sweet voice, I swear! By the end of the gum chewing face I am usually laughing and so are they. I'm growling "don't cheeeeeeeewwwwww".

Okay...
This has completely made my day! I feel so... validated!
Ditto to everything y'all said, and here's another one for me.

SWEAT!

A lot of inflatables companies where I live won't let kids with FP in their structures because it comes off. So the kids will get ALL of their jumping done, and THEN come to get painted! You wipe away the sweat, but they are STILL sweating for another 10 minutes!!

To the older gum chewers: "Did you know that when you chew, it moves my brush and changes the shape of your face? Works on the older kids.
For the younger ones we could say... Hey Mom, hold out your hand. And then have junior place the wad of nastiness in her palm until the painting is over .

Now... about the baby wipes. Personal pet peeve: When parents walk up to your table and help themselves to the baby wipes (even those who aren't in line). Yes, I brought these for YOU! )

Great thread!

anniel wrote:So you've hit the tough years Psalmbook...wasn't it so much easier just keeping them clean and fed?

I actually enjoy having teens around. In general my kids are pretty good, respectful & self driven. They are also my minions They cook, clean, take out trash, etc.... If done right, life gets easier & since I'm busy running them around, etc, the ones that are at home have their daily chores. They also do their own laundry now!!!!
The girls work w/ me and make PPF events worthwhile.