I don't understand it either. I tell my boys to let their kids be wild at home - not in public.
Aw - Ma is the usual response. It's best to get control now - while they're small.

I was going to get my hair cut yesterday. While waiting, a woman and her two boys came in. The boys were running around, and the mother was chasing them. I got up and walked out.

I have mixed feelings about this. I understand where you're coming from especially if they were stepping on your hurt foot but I have also been on the other end where my kids are being huge turds and I just am tired of dealing with it. I know they're my responsibility and I know I should have them under control at all times but somehow life just doesn't always work that day.

I think it was harder when they were younger. It's hard to get through to a two year old throwing a temper tantrum. I do think it's hard to be a parent now days. If you get on your kids, people look at you like you're some kind of horrible abuser. If you don't get on them, they look at you like - do something about your kids. You just can't win.

I think they couldn't look at you because they knew you were right. I would have done something similar. In fact I did a few days ago when a bunch of little kids (age 4-5) were running around a few adults while they were standing around drinking coffee. I corraled them and gave them the business basically telling them that someone was going to get hurt as I pointed to the hot coffee sitting near where they blazed by. They didn't realize what they did, but I was wondering where the parents were all at.

We shouldn't really have to police other people's children. I'm sure you'd rather the moms did their job so you wouldn't have to...but ya know what? Pay now or pay later is what I say.

Yeah that sucks, the other day I was waiting in line at Mcdonald's just like you, and one kid ran past me and she hit me and fell to the ground. I helped her get up, and turned around to her angry Dad, who said it was my fault, because I was standing in the middle of the way! I was like WTF? We argued some, and i was so angry, i'm sure i was red, but still let it go.
Bad karma for him, he spilled all their drinks on their way to the kids games, hahaha!! Maybe his daughter pushed him
Bad parenting will get back to the parents. Sooner or later.

Sometimes kids are like that. They may have been a little exited and therefore the bad behavior.

They say it takes a village to raise a child -- maybe what those kids needed that day was a scary truck driver to set them straight. At a truck stop those kids had likely been cooped up travelling in a car all day and had to get their wiggles out at lunch time. I feel for them...and I feel for you. Unfortunately sometimes our paths cross with people who bug us. I hope your foot feels better soon

I always blame parents for their kids behaviour, regardless of age. I am a parent and I'm always trying to keep them under control. I admit that even I can't fully control my kids but I make sure everyone knows I'm trying. I even leave at times just to avoid annoying anyone, don't do on to others what I you don't want done to you is what I always say.

I wish I was like you Mason and just gave them a small piece of my mind. I just like to avoid problems. But lately I seems to be getting a bit more direct with people. I gues I'm just tired of people pushing me around cause I'm always quiet.

I have mixed feelings about this. I understand where you're coming from especially if they were stepping on your hurt foot but I have also been on the other end where my kids are being huge turds and I just am tired of dealing with it. I know they're my responsibility and I know I should have them under control at all times but somehow life just doesn't always work that day. I think it was harder when they were younger. It's hard to get through to a two year old throwing a temper tantrum. I do think it's hard to be a parent now days. If you get on your kids, people look at you like you're some kind of horrible abuser. If you don't get on them, they look at you like - do something about your kids. You just can't win.

I fully understand where you're coming from, I how ever still think that if your kids are too much to control then you either find some one to take care of them while your at the store, find something that can keep them busy (movies seem to work fine with my kids) or shop online. Not being cruel or rude, just think that even in todays age where parents are bad just for tapping their kids on the shoulder, that parents should still be able to find ways to control their kids or alternatives to shop. There's always drive-thrus.

Having had 4 myself, I am a firm beleiver that if you cannot control them, do not take them out in public.

Teenagers are worse IMO.. I was in supermarket, getting 1/2 and 1/2 for my beloved coffee, when I was rudely SHOVED aside by teenagers "hey oldman we are in a hurry, you don't mind do you" well, 2 very very large hands shot out and gently grasped the two boys {there were 2 girls too} by the back of necks, some "gentle pressure" and my favorite shark getting ready to eat small fish grin convinced them that the oldman just wanted to check his 1/2 and 1/2 out  and leave. I never said one word.

So all of you perfect parents never had your kids embarass you in public? There was never one minute when they didn't listen, wouldn't behave or threw a fit and if they did you just went back home?

I guess I'm doing something wrong. My kids must be missing a their "little angel" buttons.

I didn't always have a babysitter or couldn't afford a babysitter just to go to the store or the laundrymat.

I can understand someone without children getting irate. I would think the parents would cut the other parents a little more slack since I would assume they have all been there at some point when their kids were little.

So all of you perfect parents never had your kids embarass you in public? There was never one minute when they didn't listen, wouldn't behave or threw a fit and if they did you just went back home?

Yep.  Oh, they have embarrassed me.  And I took them straight home.  I did not let them continue.

I am gonna go out on a limb here.

I control my boys as much as possible without handcuffing them to me.

Having said that, we travel a lot and after being cooped up in a car for hours, they are a lot more fidgety and grabby in the truck stops.

Mason if my son stepped on your toe, I would make him apologize to you for it and depending on the circumstances he might get a swat or two.

That is MY job as his parent.

But once you put your hands on him, well then you are my problem and we'd be throwing down.

My kids are not perfect, but you can bet if a stranger puts his/her hands on them, well, it's on. I don't care what they do.....they are my children and other adults should have more self control than to go about grabbing them and giving them threatening tones and glares.

If I have a problem with a kid and his/her adult is there I will address the adult directly. Only when the child is without supervision will I speak to them about their conduct. But I would NEVER put my hands on them.

#11 by Locamama Mon, June 26, 2006 10:53 AM

So all of you perfect parents never had your kids embarass you in public? There was never one minute when they didn't listen, wouldn't behave or threw a fit and if they did you just went back home?

my girls use to drive me up a wall, I am far from perfect trust me. I just did not let bad behavior continue in public. I would ask once, then tell them once, then I would leave with them in tow, threatening beheading all the way home.

threatening beheading all the way home

ha - that cracked me up

I control my boys as much as possible without handcuffing them to me.

I try too.

Yep. Oh, they have embarrassed me. And I took them straight home. I did not let them continue.

Now I feel better.

I know my kids can be loud and wild but that's how boys are. I'm not going to put them on ritalin so they can be little zombies and not bother anyone else. If I ever think my kids are the worst, all I have to do if volunteer to go on a field trip or watch Supernanny and I realize they don't even come close to being the worst behaved kids out there.