Whipped them all soundly, and sent them to bed. A nation of child haters.

ILW

Think I liked the old idea that "children should be seen but not heard".

Sapphire

michaels wrote: »

Perhaps you would like reminding of that when you are in your dotage and looking for a nurse to change your incontinence pad but unfortunately there are none to be had because everyone listened to your advice and decided not to reproduce?

I won't need anyone to look after me in my dotage, thanks, and certainly wouldn't want it from the offspring of many of today's British parents.

As to everyone listening to my advice and deciding not to reproduce, doesn't seem likely, does it?

Idiotic statement from you.

Long_tall_sally

Sapphire wrote: »

Didn't today's parents in Britain learn anything from their own parents, for God's sake?

People like the poster who referred to 'breeders' often feel resentment at what they see around them in relation to the unfortunately increasing propagation of an incredibly destructive species on an already massively over-crowded planet.

I have no idea how my parents used to deal with my tamptrums as a toddler or young child (which I presume that I did have as I was only a child) or whether they were effective and nor am I likely to ever find out but I do know that they would not have been able to help me deal with a toddler having a tamptrum because his sugar levels were low & was feeling ill & disorientated. As I explained earlier, I was trying to get my son to calm down in that resteraunt, whilst also trying to find him something sugary to eat so I really didn't need a customer to come & tell me to calm him down as he was spoiling their meal.

Children also learn from other people that they come into contact with, not just their parents & hearing terms like "breeder" would certainly do nothing to turn them into polite & well-mannered adults.

ceridwen

Generali wrote: »

Part of the problem I think is that in the UK you're meant to bite your tongue if someone else's kids are misbehaving. Over here I'd have no problem gently restraining a child running round a restaurant and telling him or her to sit down, even if I didn't know the child or the parents. It's just normal.

As a man in the UK, you are often made to feel very uncomfortable if you touch someone else's kids.

I think maybe one of the differences between Britain and the rest of Europe is that it would appear that children are made to behave appropriately by total strangers elsewhere in Europe.

I've not forgotten an incident in Greece where a couple of young lads were playing nearby and our tour guide promptly went and told them off in no uncertain terms. I actually felt sorry for the kids - as I hadnt thought they were doing anything wrong. Several of us expressed surprise that she had told them off and they had duly shut up and "scuttled off" - as we knew that, in Britain, the likely reaction would have been the children "giving us a mouthful" of abuse back. Her reply was that her behaviour was perfectly normal in her country - and the whole community expected to be responsible for nearby childrens behaviour (even if they didnt know them) and the children, in turn, would "take helpful instruction" from anyone nearby.

Was I envious? - as I know I've tried to tell children off (when appropriate of course...) before now -eg if they have been riding their bikes on pavements/swinging on tree branches and looking as if they would break the branch in the process/etc - and a "mouthful of abuse" tends to be the standard response back. I've never ever had an appropriate "doing as they were told" response yet from any British child if I told them off for misbehaving...:(

ceridwen

lostinrates wrote: »

sheesh, you just did to me what I just did to LJ. :rotfl: That's what my long post was all about.


People also can be weird about receiving compliments about their kids, its lovely when someone is pleased you've noticed their quiet little mite is being polite, holding a door open or something.

I havent noticed that actually. I do also compliment parents if I see that their child is particularly well-behaved and the response has always been for them to positively beam with pleasure.

ceridwen

ILW wrote: »

Think I liked the old idea that "children should be seen but not heard".

There is a lot of truth in that sentiment. On the other hand - I've come across some very "adult" children - who have just come up to me and started holding very "adult" type conversations with me. In between trying not to burst out laughing - I have held various conversations back with that sort of child (probably with a huge gleam of amusement visible in my eyes at the time....).

I just bring that phrase to mind when they are screaming their little heads off and I can see that their mother isnt putting any real effort into stopping them....

sjaypink

ceridwen wrote: »

Was I envious? - as I know I've tried to tell children off (when appropriate of course...) before now -eg if they have been riding their bikes on pavements/swinging on tree branches and looking as if they would break the branch in the process/etc - and a "mouthful of abuse" tends to be the standard response back. I've never ever had an appropriate "doing as they were told" response yet from any British child if I told them off for misbehaving...:(

Key is with kids to try and relate to them.

Tell the ******* little ***** that if they don't pack it the **** in you'll snap their ******* necks

Works round 'ere :A

ceridwen

sjaypink wrote: »

Key is with kids to try and relate to them.

Tell the ******* little ***** that if they don't pack it the **** in you'll snap their ******* necks

Works round 'ere :A

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You mean I got it all wrong saying things like "Please dont swing on that tree branch - you're hurting the tree and the tree doesnt like it"....OH!! Better forget about the "Dont ride on the pavement - you might hurt someone" as well...

Right...gotcha.....method = dont explain the consequences of their actions on someone/something else. Explain the consequences of their actions to them on THEMSELVES....duh! <slap head smilie>

....wanders off thinking "thats where I got it wrong then...."

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

ceridwen wrote: »

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

You mean I got it all wrong saying things like "Please dont swing on that tree branch - you're hurting the tree and the tree doesnt like it"....OH!! Better forget about the "Dont ride on the pavement - you might hurt someone" as well...

Right...gotcha.....method = dont explain the consequences of their actions on someone/something else. Explain the consequences of their actions to them on THEMSELVES....duh! <slap head smilie>

....wanders off thinking "thats where I got it wrong then...."

I think you got it perfectly right ceridwen.
The people who get it wrong are the parents who from birth don't steer their offspring in the right direction.
A child won't know how to behave or not do certain things if someone is'nt guiding them and explaining why their behaviour is improper.
We were always taught that in public at least a child should be seen and not heard and never should they make other people uncomfortable.If they did you got them out of the situation for the comfort of others and if the parent lost out it was all part of the responsibility of having children and you accepted that.
Child rearing is the most important thing ever,yet you see so many parents especially mothers walking around pushing prams some with toddlers in tow totally ignoring the children because they are either texting or listening to their ipods with no consideration to the children in their care.
Perhaps if parents would start to address the needs of their children when out and about instead of their own then children may not need to be so badly behaved.

michaels

Wow its like a living history Daily Mail readers convention on this thread. Didn't realise what a reactionary board this was