Thinking of your friends and family, how well do you deal with the bad behavior of other people's children?
Do you just cringe quietly when they get mouthy, throw tantrums and let the parents deal with it, would you say anything to Mommy and Daddy about how you unacceptable you think the behavior is?

Would you risk or end a friendship because of their mean, cussin' tantrum throwing brats?


How about strangers with brats in a public place, like when you're shopping or at a restaurant? Would you say anything or give them one of those "looks"?

Thinking of your friends and family, how well do you deal with the bad behavior of other people's children?
Do you just cringe quietly when they get mouthy, throw tantrums and let the parents deal with it, would you say anything to Mommy and Daddy about how you unacceptable you think the behavior is?

Would you risk or end a friendship because of their mean, cussin' tantrum throwing brats?

How about strangers with brats in a public place, like when you're shopping or at a restaurant? Would you say anything or give them one of those "looks"?

I can barely contain myself if I see a child in a store, having a tantrum to the point of physically hitting his mother and calling her curse names like "bitch"....oh gawd, that is just unaceptable!!! How does a kid get that freakin' mean?

  QUOTE (Chazzy @ February 3, 2008, 22:12)


I've been through the gamut of child raising, I have a 22 year old, a seven year old, and a five year old. My oldest is the one I had the most difficulty with when he was a teenager, the smart mouth thing doesn't really work well with me. My little ones don't really act out much. I find if I lower myself down to eye to eye contact and quietly ask/demand that they behave we don't usually have a recurrence of bad behavior. The only time there are issues that become problems may be when one of them isn't feeling well or is over tired and even then they are pretty easily straightened out. I didn't say they weren't active but they aren't mean.

On the friends kid thing, it depends on my relationship with the child. If it is one of my best friends kids and they have known me most of their lives usually I just make a comment that shocks the hell out of them like..."good grief Liz, I didn't know Jr. could screech so loud, he sounds just like that girl on Hannah Montana." One time my best friends little girl pushed her Mom and screamed at her when I was standing there. I got down on her level and said, "You know I love you but I am extremely disappointed that you have such a lack of respect for your Mom. I love your Mom alot too and it hurts my heart to see you treat her like that." That happened about three years ago and my friend said recently she'd never had a problem with that again.

Chazzy, to be honest, when you see kids acting mean I think it is learned behavior. Kids that are cussing or hitting are usually feeling powerless. The cussing thing is definitely learned, if you or anyone else cusses at them...you should expect the same in return and remember you never know who it will be directed towards (teachers, ministers, etc.). I think that old saying "Children should be seen and not heard is a bunch of crap." Part of parenting is listening to what they have to say...I've learned alot from my kids.

And hell yes, when I am in public and I see a parent struggling with their kids I want to give my kids a big ole' pat on the back and say, "Thanks for not being such a brat."

My way of dealing with any child, is to avoid them at all costs!

  QUOTE (Juilianna @ February 3, 2008, 23:21)


word on the street and Internet, is Juils...YOU were a brat kid!!

Ah Wandering, I live like a kid every chance I get! I'll skip over the fancy imported chocolates any day for a bag full of skittles, pixie sticks, sweet-tarts and Necca wafers.
Gardening, landscaping, and yard work is just an excuse to get neck high in mud and dirt.
Working outside during July and August because it's the best time of the summer to indulge in cold water straight from the garden hose.
I like going barefoot during the summer even if it means an extra 20 minutes in the shower to get my feet clean!

Oh my inner child comes out everyday, at least for a little while!

Ya know, talking about children's behavior...I do remember when I was a tiny thing. We lived in a small rural town and my mother would often take me with her when she went to visit the elder women in the neighborhood.

It seems that just about all of these grandmotherly type of women had one thing in common....a filled candy dish on their coffee table.

This candy dish seemed to be some sort of "test" for any visiting mother and child. How well you raised your child could be gauged by that fancy gaudy tempting full candy dish.

My momma taught me manners, and I knew when I walked in to one of these ladies homes that it was rude and wrong to even acknowledge it was there! I was not to look at it, stare at it and most of all...touch it or ask for candy.

The elder woman would eventually, what seemed like hours into the visit, offer me a piece of candy. My mother nervously watched to see if I put my manners into practice by always turning down the first offer politely, then accepting when offered again, only then would I take one piece while giving a polite "Thank you very much" and sit back quietly speaking only when spoken too and never accept a second piece of candy.

These sweet dear old ladies and their candy dish judgment of how well you are raising your children!

That old saying about "It takes a village to raise a child"

Yep, those stern but sweet old ladies of the neighborhood and their candy dishes made sure they did their part in the village!

Seems silly and old fashioned, but thier opinion really did matter to my mother, and all the other mothers.
I'm thankful that I was taught to respect the home and property of others, and to mind my manners and the sweet old ladies definitly had a part in that.

  QUOTE (Chazzy @ February 9, 2008, 17:20)


Certainly in the UK, there is no such concept of extended family or community anymore. In the absence of these structures, the legal system is trying to handle situations for which it was never intended and we either have youngsters "let off" and thereby encouraged into more serious crimes or put into prisons where they complete their criminal education and emerge fully qualified!

Of course I really do believe that some children do suffer from disorders, hyperactivity and such...but I also believe that most any child can be taught manners and the difference between right and wrong.
I've seen allot of children raised with some new age notion that discipline stifles their little free creative sports, and that respect for others might damage their young self esteem, and that they have an equal right to their opinions about very adult things and decisions...trying to be thier best friend.

Of course I really do believe that some children do suffer from disorders, hyperactivity and such...but I also believe that most any child can be taught manners and the difference between right and wrong.
I've seen allot of children raised with some new age notion that discipline stifles their little free creative sports, and that respect for others might damage their young self esteem, and that they have an equal right to their opinions about very adult things and decisions...trying to be thier best friend.