Reply #33: Precisely because I don't have children, I can view them objectively [View All]

[Lydia Leftcoast]

as opposed to some parents who are blinded by sentiment and inclined to take any aspersions against their child-rearing style VERY personally, even if the criticism is totally justified.

As I look around, I see clueless, helpless "I can't keep my two-year-old from tearing the house apart" parenting. I see physically or emotionally abusive parenting. I see hovering, over-protective parenting that doesn't give the kid any physical or emotional space. I see neglectful parenting. I see "keep a constant line of chatter going" parenting that is guaranteed to produce a kid who doesn't listen because the parent never says anything important anyway.

And I also see and acknowledge excellent parenting, kids who may be quiet or lively but are well-behaved in public. Yes, kids get tired, and then behavior deteriorates, but running around and screaming and destroying everything in their path shouldn't be their normal public behavior. And if the child's behavior deteriorates, from tiredness or any other cause, the parent needs to remove him or her from the scene.