blank stare

ok, so i made a suggestion to a client today....and was met with a blank stare....the vacant look of someone who has no clue what is meant by the idea......not so much of a poo-poo of the notion, but a complete and utter failure to comprehend that things could be done differently.......my client was accompanied by 2 rambunctious boys aged about 18 months and 3 years.......these guys were rolling around on the floor of the waiting room when i called my client in....and continued said behavior into the appointment's required elements of measuring, lab tests and the like......the mother admonished these young ones to behave.....very vague as directives go.....and at some point she turned to me to apologize for their behavior....this is where my maternal been-there...done-that light went on...and i offered kindly.......'next time you might want to bring a few small activities to occupy their time while you wait and while they are in the clinic area.....like board books, a small car...beanie baby...flashcards....things like that'........and she looked at me like i had 2 heads.......she said they are just fine without her having to bring stuff along to entertain them......omg....if she considers that level of behavior as just fine and if she does not see herself in any position to prevent such behavior in future.....then i have real doubts about the world as we know it...it became clear to me that her home was not a haven of small things to occupy time......or at least anything portable......and that the possibility of controlling her children's behavior through structured activities was way over her head........think back, gentle readers....to the mother i raved about last week...the one who was going through flashcards with her extremely well-behaved sons as she waited her turn......she had it all figured out....and my client today had no interest in figuring anything out.......so sad......