Just Bitchin'
OK, I know I can be a bit cranky (My kids went to Disney World some years back and bought me a t-shirt with Grumpy from the 7 Dwarfs on it saying, "I don't do perky!"), but there are some things the warrant some bitching.
Yesterday, while having lunch at a local restaurant, we had the misfortune of being seated near a family with 3 toddlers. Now, that alone is not unfortunate, but the parents and grandparents of these kids thought their little angels were just too adorable to keep all to themselves. The kids were allowed to run, laugh and scream throughout the establishment, all the while the parents were waiting expectantly for compliments and praise from the other customers for having -- and sharing -- these precious little tots.
Here's a little somethin' for ya, mom and dad: Those mini-monsters are NOT cute! You have turned them into unruly and disobedient brats. It's obvious that if you allow your children to behave this way in public that they have even less restraint at home. You know what I think is cute? Kids behaving and respecting their parents.
Anyone remember the saying "children should be seen and not heard?" Is it just that parents are lazy? It takes work to say "NO" and enforce rules and establish and maintain boundaries, but not doing these things results in kids thinking they can do whatever they want; that they should always get their way. My parents were old school. When we were out in public we did NOT run around, scream or otherwise make scenes. It was not done. And you know where that behavior was learned? At home, with rules and boundaries, and parents willing to enforce them. Was I oppressed? Was my creativity stifled? No. I grew up understanding that there are rules AND consequences for breaking those rules.
Yes, most kids are cute and they're really not to blame for bad behavior. It's the parents that deserve the disapproving glances when some kid is making a scene because it wants something it can't have -- until the parents give the forbidden item to them anyway, reienforcing the bad behavior.
Parents, corral them kids! Get things under control at home and things will be under control at Fortune Palace, where I enjoy too many trips through the buffet, sans rugrats running hither and yon. Trust me, no one else at restaurant thinks they're cute, either.