OK, I’m going to try and bring this up as nicely as I can. And, I’m going to try to remember that I am not and was not a perfect parent at any point of my life. And….I’m going to do my best not to offend every mother in Milwaukee. (Although, hey, maybe I’ll actually get a comment or two – bonus!) OK, here goes:
I think parents today are too permissive. I think their kids are riding roughshod all over them. The inmates are running the asylum.
A case in point: The other night, my husband and I treated ourselves to a movie and dinner. We ate at a nice restaurant in a nice neighborhood. Although we were not really dressed up, some people were. In my book, that means be on your best behavior – i.e. don’t bother those around you.
There were a couple of families there. And, apparently, in one of the rooms, there was a piano. I didn’t think anything of either the kids or the piano until they met. Suddenly, all of us were treated to somebody’s piano recital. Somebody’s beginning piano recital. I know this because I remember when my kids played those exact songs exactly just as badly.
I think kids and pianos are fabulous, just not in a restaurant where soft music is already being played over the sound system. I tried to relax and tune it out, but it was impossible. It went on for about 15 to 20 minutes. My husband went to the restroom and said upon his return that it was a very young child and her beaming mother. I’m sure she was proud of her child, but why does that have to interrupt everyone else’s nice quiet dinner? I don't think that child was exhibiting bad behavior, but it just didn't seem the right place or the right time for her to tickle the ivories.
But bad behavior is in other places. It’s in churches and stores and malls. Kids are running and jumping and screaming and the parents seem completely oblivious. I know full well how tough it is to control young kids, but lately, it seems like nobody is even trying. It’s as if they’re afraid to say no to the kids.
I have lots of memories of eating at restaurants and sitting outside the front door or in the waiting area because my then-toddler wasn’t behaving. My husband and I would tag-team it, rather than bothering the other patrons. The crying room at church was practically my second home. And I have a great story about a trip to the mall that lasted all of three minutes, thanks to my daughter and one of her many early temper tantrums.
My philosophy then was not to subject others to my kids’ poor behavior. Nowadays, it seems like more parents prefer to negotiate with their kids and the rest of us have to deal with it. Hardly seems fair or polite.
What do you think? Are today’s kids well-behaved or are they out of control? Is the art of being considerate toward others no longer part of our manners? Or am I just being Miss Cranky once again? (It wouldn’t be the first time!)
