Re: kids in public places...

Just curious and bitching; but why do parents let their kids run wild in restaurants and other public places?  It can ruin the environment for the rest of us who are trying to relax.  It's ok to take your kids places, but folks (including) grandparents... make sure they're fed and well rested before for the journey.

If I where to act like some of the small children do nowadays, my parents would have scolded me.

Thanks much!

[April2]

Amen! I hear ya! I hate to see children running wild too and the parents catering to them. Parents today almost act afraid of their own children! Maybe they're afraid to discipline them for fear of getting in trouble? It used to be you could give your child a swat on the bottom when they were missbehaving. Now days, you'd get reported to Child Protective Services for that.
I've often wondered too why parents are letting their little tyrants run wild like that. Is it laziness? Do they feel hopeless and don't know quite what to do with them? I don't know how many times I've watched a parent on their cell phone yaking away with someone and totally ignoring their child who is desperately trying to get their attention, even if it means by acting out.
You have a good point though. Where's the common sense anymore? I don't know how many times I've seen youngsters out late at night or even afternoon where you know they've missed their nap or it's past their bedtime and they're whining because they're tired. Then the parents gets irritated and yells at them. I mean come on. HELLO! Go home and put your child to bed, or feed them. I bet they'd feel a lot better then!
I think a lot of parents are selfish too. They don't want to have to make any sacrifices so they'd rather everybody else be miserable over how their child is acting rather than leaving the resaurant, etc. I remember my sister saying once that her boys when they were little were acting up and fighting. They were going to the movies. A special treat. She warned them that if they didn't stop they'd go home. They had to get up out of the movie theater and leave. Was it an inconvenience? Sure. She didn't get reimbursed for their tickets. But did it teach her kids a lesson? You bet! It only took once for them to take her seriously. She never had to walk out of a theater again. I think sometimes parents just don't want to have to put forth any effort. They think their kids will raise themselves, I guess. I mean, kids will try stuff. There's no perfect child. It's up to the parents to teach manners, etc. They don't just come into the world knowing all that stuff! But boy, it sure would be easier if they did, wouldn't it! :)

[dark69meat]

Of course I wasn't talking about kids w/ ADHD, ODD, AUTISM or anything other.  I could have clarified; of course there's special needs for families.  And 'scolded' was the wrong word; I should have used 'discipline'.

I'm talking about parents with 'normal' kids who are too lazy to get off their fat *** and teach their children how to behave in public without evading other's peoples space.  It's not that hard of a concept to mind their manners. I'm talking about common sense and protocol.  And when they 'mature' to adults, hopefully the 'good' trend will continue because normally the kids that behave indecent, act improper; vulgar when they're older.

[Avas Mom]

I too wonder why i never heard of adhd, add and all these other probs when i was growing up. Im only 20 but i cant recall one time in school where the kids had autism, adhd etc. Just like teko it does seem dr. are just handing pills out like candy. SOme of these kids just need some discipline. Though i do have to say i use to hate when i saw kids screaming in stores and making a scene, but now that i have my own daughter i kind of feel where the parents are coming from. The other day i was in a target with my daughter standing in line and she started to get fussy and wouldnt sit still(in my arms) so i went to move her and she started screamin and the lady in front of me stared at me the whole time like i had no clue i was causing a scene. I felt so embarrassed!

[mum2beagain]

I'd like to ask you a question, how exactly do you know, as some stranger sat in a restaurant or where ever, that the child (and his parents) that you are criticising does not have some sort of mental disability and is infact 'normal'? Not all disabilities are visable.

I have a 3 1/2 year old with hydrocephalus and cerebral pasly, he has many health issues and is developmentally delayed in all areas. BUT he looks like a perfectly normal 3 year old. I am sick to death of comments from "well meaning" passers by telling me I should make my child walk and not ride in the stroller, or if he is walking (as he can for a short while) that I shouldn't have a harness on him as I am treating him like a dog, I have to, he doesn't understand that a car could run him over and kill him. Or when they ask him questions and he doesn't answer because he doesn't understand them they tell me he is shy or worse still that he is rude. For the most part he is very well behaved and polite (extremely well behaved his therapists say considering his problems) but ocassionally he will have a tantrum if he doesn't understand, he doesn't speak very well and his language is that of a two year old so he throws 'terrible two type tantrums' now and then. I sometimes feel that I have to tell every stranger I meet about my son's problems almost by way of an appology for the strange behaviour he sometimes exhibits.

Dealing with a child throwing a tantrum in a public place is one of the hardest things to deal with as a parent, they sometimes come out of nowhere and there is not much you can do other than distract them until the child stops, unless of course we give in to thier demands, that will stop the tantrum but doesn't teach them much now does it?

I know many a parent who lets thier kids get away with murder, I am assuming those are the people you mean, but please remember not to judge every book by it's cover, keep an open mind, you may seriously upset the parents of a child with special needs if you don't.

[April2]

I used to kinda judge people when I'd see their kids acting up in the store. I'd think "What a brat! Why can't that mother control him/her?" Well, I think God decided to humble me by giving me my daughter! Lol! She used to throw the most horrible tantrums and they'd come out of the blue too. There were many a time I'd have to pick her up, kicking and screaming and carry her out of the store redfaced while people stared. I'm a lot more sympathetic now when I see a child act up in the store. If I see the mom or dad is getting frustrated, sometimes I will help them try and distract the child (if it's like in a line or something.)
I never had that problem with my son because he had a more compliant personality. My daughter has been strong willed since the day she was born! The things that worked for my son didn't work for her. We had to figure out different ways of discipline, etc. to keep a handle on things. It wasn't easy! Being a parent isn't easy. I think we all love our kids and are trying to do the best we can. Too bad they don't come with an instruction manual! Lol!
Blessings! :)