Mister Softee: The Latest Menace to Society

Urban moms try to get rid of ice cream trucks.

Kudos to the New York Times for providing an endless supply of parenting trend stories to irritate and delight. There's a doozy in today's paper, about moms and dads who are trying to oust ice cream trucks from their local parks. Next week: a movement to euthanize Mr. Peanut.

One woman describes the ice cream men as "predatory" because they loiter inside the playground's gates. My favorite passage from the article is a quote from a woman who says that learning how to deal with your children wanting treats from the ice cream man is as difficult as potty training. "The ice cream truck, nobody ever mentions that” as a potential sore spot, the lady laments.

In this matter I must side with the wise Hilary Guishard of Brooklyn, who has driven Mister Softee trucks for over 30 years. “I empathize with moms when it come to health issues," Mr. Guishard says. He continues:

"But moms have a choice. ... We should be mature enough to tell our kids, 'No.'" Wanting the trucks to go away "is not a valid issue," he said, adding, "It’s like a mother being angry at a store being at a particular corner." Besides, the ice cream man isn’t forever. "It’s summer," he said, sighing. "It’s only four months."

Moms out there, do the Mister Softee haters have a point, or are they being helicopter moms to an insane degree?

Photograph of a girl eating ice cream by David DeLossy/Getty Images.

Image in mantle of ice cream and cone by Digital Vision/Getty Images.

Tags: helicopter moms, ice cream bans, mister softee, new york times, summer

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Jessica Grose is the managing editor of Double X and the co-author of Love, Mom: Poignant, Goofy, Brilliant Messages from Home. Click here to follow her on Twitter.

Comments

Changing the Image of Ice Cream Truck

By: Cool Cycles Ice... | Mon, 11/09/2009 - 20:16

I'm one of the Owners of the company that was photographed for the New York Times Article Aug. 19,2009 When Parents Rage Against Ice Cream. I was called and interviewed because our new company is in business to specifically change the negative image of the Ice Cream Truck Business. I want all of you who put comments in this blog to know that I read them and dedicate a couple days a month scanning the internet to find out what is happening out in the market with the Ice Cream Trucks. I use the feedback I find in these searches to help in our training efforts. Ice Cream isn't supposed to be "Creepy or Annoying". It's a memory that needs to be fun and friendly. I hope that no one ever gets to the point that the Ice Cream Truck has to be banned. I am an advocate of regulation and licensing. I personally believe many of the complaints and concerns in most communities will disappear if the local licensing departments would enforce the rules required for a business license and insurance requirements. I'm hoping it'll be of interest to you to know that there is a company out there that is interested in your input and concerns and is listening. We're committed to changing the overall Image of the Ice Cream Truck Industry in both the neighborhoods and festivals across the country.

Parks

By: Cat804 | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 15:09

I hate ice cream trucks in parks. They're loud, and they're selling in a place my tax dollars pay for. I wouldn't mind so much if they'd turn off the music and sit on the outskirts, but driving through the park blaring music so loud I can't think is terrible.

That said, I also think parents should be responsible enough to say no- but to me, this is equivalent to coke machines in schools. These are places set aside for children and families. Why commercialize them?

learning from experience

By: Rebecca in Tucson | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 14:45

My first reaction to the story of parents in arms over ice cream vendors was to suggest said parents get a life. But then I also recalled how it felt to be a little kid (four and five years old), when I heard the tune the local truck played. If these parents can't let up -- or say 'no' effectively -- perhaps they can consider the ice cream truck as a learning experience. For many small children, that truck provides a first 'grown-up' purchase -- picking which treat they want, making sure they have enough money, handing over their and getting change as well as a treat. I felt so adult when it was my turn at the window! Don't tar all ice cream vendors with the faults of unlicensed or unsanitary ones -- enforce the existing health laws.

Allergies

By: RCRambling | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 14:38

I see a lot of concern about unlicensed/unregulated trucks, and for that, I would agree. If it is a continuous problem, than something needs to be done to remove those trucks.

However, despite the fact that I'm a mom to a son with a severe dairy allergy (the type of allergy where hives appear and his face and mouth begin to swell, so not something minor), and have had to say "no" to many treats being placed in front of my son since the early days, I would not have ice cream trucks banned.

I'm a parent. I know how to say "no." It is rarely fun for me to deny my son something he truly wants, and occasionally causes a scene, but as a parent, I have to teach my child acceptable behavior and rules.

And, as a child, I remember my mom saying "no" to me on many things. Yet I never doubted that she loved me and somehow, despite her limiting many of the activities/treats I wanted because my friends got to do/have them, or they were right in front of us, I grew up to be a happy, well-adjusted adult.

Ice cream trucks are part of summer and the ability to enjoy a treat when the time is right is wonderful. For a child to learn they will not have every "want" met is also wonderful.

Missing the larger point

By: damone5000 | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 13:32

Parents who would rather have annoyances and inconveniences banned instead of dealing with them responsibly are doing their children a disservice by not setting limits on instant gratification. There will be many temptations in life that you wont be able to complain away. Teach your kids the lessons young when its regarding overindulgence in ice cream, instead of something more serious down the road.

And really, lighten up, its ice cream. Have one yourself. The more grotesque the color (e.g., Spongebob or my all time favorite, Slimer from Ghostbusters) the more delicious it is.

Still an overreaction

By: mmh | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:16

"They have had the scoop out and are about to serve my 3-year-old before I make it to the scene."

Where do you have to be and what do you have to be paying attention to to not notice your 3 year-old approaching an ice cream truck parked on a street?!

"They do not have sanction from any health authority to handle food and there’s no telling where their product comes from...They are run out over and over by the police or parks people but come back time and time again."

I get it. The illegal vendors aren't making "an honest living" because they aren't following the law. But the police are doing their job when they run them out of the park. Why are you so upset about these "predators" when everything that's supposed to happen to them is happening?

I just don't get your outrage. Of all the "predators" that you could get upset about, you pick something that someone (i.e. the police) is doing something about.

Learn to deal with a world that isn't exactly as you like it

By: chicagowriter | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 11:13

Oh good lord. An ice cream truck, no matter what, is not worth getting upset over. Life is full of situations you won't love, learning to deal with them and move on is a valuable lesson to learn as an adult and as a child. Learning to tell your child no is a good lesson too. Although really, is an occasional ice cream from the ice cream truck going to hurt your kid? Of course not. Jesus. You would think we live in utopia. Open a newspaper, spend 10 minutes with it and you will find 10 causes worth your time and energy. I promise the ice cream truck is not one of them.

Who are the real whiners?

By: kenny | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 09:37

In my old neighborhood, which teetered on ghetto, the ice cream truck would stop in front of my house at 11 pm. And stay. For an hour. At least. Children ... we're talking unsupervised 5, 6 and 7-year olds ... would swarm the truck. Maybe I'm now the square I always feared I would become, but what were these kids doing up at 11:30 eating ice cream???!!!

And now I'm in a nice yuppy neighborhood. I hear the truck creep up the block. It jangles for a minute, sells a few cones and drives off. Yes, I breathe a yuppy sigh of relief over the sense that a social contract is in place. You, Mr. Ice Cream Man, are free to drive up with your annoying music. Yes, it's part of summer. Yes, there is a wistful charm. But then you drive the fk away.

Ice Cream Trucks

By: lileigh | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 09:36

I would have no problem if the trucks went away mainly to stop the incessant playing of Turkey in the Straw or On Top of Old Smokey. I understand people need to make a living, but the mobility of the vehicles (child -snatching?), the environmental impact (idling engines in vehicles not made for fuel efficiency) and the scheming way in which the truck drivers/owners schedule their appearances (during the meal times at our house) are all bad marks in my book. We have a neighborhood filled with the pushcarts as well as the trucks. I find preferable the carts as they are the opposite of all the issues I've listed above.

at the age of 3 1/2, my daughter is as of yet unaware of what the trucks are for, so I simply give her the short answer when she asks me - they are trucks that drive around our neighborhood playing music. All true statements. She is satisfied, and I am not put in a position to reason with her about why we will not approach the truck and enact a transaction. When she is older and able to handle the more complex definition of what the trucks are, we'll discuss how ice cream is a special treat and something she can purchase with her allowance money at my discretion. No hysteria needed.

Thanks, Vicki

By: Fitzpatrick | Thu, 08/20/2009 - 09:02

It's amazing - though it shouldn't be anymore - how a reporter can spin the facts to fit her narrative. The NYT article clearly wants to depict anti-vendor moms as whiners, nuance be damned. Thanks for the clarification.