I have 7 grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren. It is quite easy to tell the homes that teach manners and consideration and the ones that do not. There is certainly a difference in the stress level depending on what family is visiting. We have one family that we entertain in the park due to the behavior of the great grandchildren. It is so sad because when they have children, those children will be the same way or even worse. I feel like an old fuddy duddy sometimes because I can barely hold my tongue when they are mis-behaving.

I'm one fuddy-duddy, who does NOT hold her tongue. Luckily, my DD and SIL are fine with me correcting my DGD (whoever sees her first, corrects her LOL). DGD says my DD is even stricter than I am. :D

If a child (related to me) is misbehaving, in my presence, the parent had better correct him/her or I will. I do give the parent a chance (of course). :thumbup: A long time ago, a (relative) mom told me she didn't like others correcting her children. My response was, "you'd better not bring them to my house, then." Believe it or not, most kids have no trouble with this! They simply learn who will tolerate what, then tend to act accordingly!

he, he. i just watched a commercial where a man gives a little girl a pink drink and she proceeds to drink it fast, then she takes her arm and wipes her mouth. UGH! i hate seeing things like that as if they are normal. kids stuffing food into their mouths using their spoons or forks as shovels... i could go on. no manners. now i know, it's television but our kids watch that and figure it's ok to do. sigh.

Just returned from WalMart, where I witnessed some of today's "parenting."
Male voice: ____, stop that. Stop it! ____, stop that! Stop it!
Female voice: ____ stop that, right now! (she, at least, sounded somewhat serious)
(young child - maybe about 3 yo? - runs into adjacent department)
Female voice: ____, come here. ____, come here! Come here! If you don't come here right now, you'll have to ride in the buggy! One . . . two . . . three!
(child had apparently returned to parents(?) but now runs across several more aisles)
Female voice: ____, come here! Where are you?

I kept him in my sight, until they caught up with him, then left the area. When my kids where small, they stayed by my side, at all times. Didn't have to tell them twice . . . and FORGET the "1, 2, 3" nonsense! Even my DGD (9-1/2) must stay within my sight, when she goes out with me. Honestly, it's a shame people don't have to pass IQ tests, before having children! :thumbdown:

It's the 'entitlement attitude' that gets me .........

I agree with all of the above comments! I clicked on a link the other day and someone was ranting using the vilest language! Folks use the anonymity of the internet to say the most outrageous, mean, filthy things. They can't write a complete sentence yet they spew their hatred for everyone to read. Sad, Sad.

My sentiments exactly. . . .the vulgarity is unreal and I am no prude by any means. My DS who will be 41 next month still calls me "The Warden". Hummm? Does that tell you anything??

The entitlement attitude really gets to me. I think America should offer the Chance To Work Hard and Study Hard and make your way yourself. If your family can help you, then it's usually because they worked hard to be able to. Now a lot of families don't even put a premium on their kids studying or behaving in school or even learning in school. We have an all time record number of people on food stamps. But not a record number of people trying to grow food for themselves. We have so many millions out of work, but not many trying to start companies and make their own way. (I think most or many self employed people qualified as companies when it comes to filing IRS papers.) We seem to be a country going downhill as fast as some people are able to run downhill while shouting feed me, house me, take care of me, I'm entitled to it!

The thing that makes me craziest is when I am trying to get my grocery shopping done and little kids are running everywhere. When did the grocery store or BJ's become a playground? I only have weekends to get my shopping done and there are times when I feel like running from the store screaming after dodging little kids and trying to miss them with my cart. When I was a kid I stayed by moms side or there was trouble for me. No playing in a public place was permitted. Plus I was expected to be quiet and polite.

Well, I really want to say something about the relationship between the increase of WARNING labels (for very obvious hazards/dangers) and the increase of stupid people . . . but I guess that wouldn't be very nice. :p