Why don't some parents do a better job of disciplining their kids?

Question

I work in retail, and unfortunately, I have had to sometimes tell kids not to touch some of the merchandise, because their parents won't do it. Sometimes the parents get ticked off, but if they corrected their kids, I wouldn't have to. These parents aren't doing a good job of teaching their kids to respect other people's property.

Rebecca L: I do correct them in an appropriate manner. Unfortunately, some parents don't want their kids to be corrected no matter what. Some people are just lousy parents!

Answer 1

A lot of parents nowadays are afraid of their children and afraid to be parents. I assume its fear that their children will hate them for the discipline. I think they need to suck it up and start getting their kids in line. My parents did and I don't dislike them one bit.

Answer 2

Ignore those telling you, "Wait until you have kids!!!" They're one of the parents who doesn't discipline their children well enough.

I don't have kids of my own, but I have helped raised two separate children. And it is hard, but there are ways to discipline them and I've yet to really understand why other parents can't do the same.

The only thing I can think of, is laziness. A lot of parents these days are just lazy. Or stressed. Or both. By the time they're done with work, come home and do house work, cook and all that, they're so tired they really don't care what their kids do.

Another thing, a lot of people work entirely too much and leave their kids in the hands of others to raise. I know that sometimes it really is unavoidable but the least they could do is make sure that who ever they are leaving their children with are good disciplinarians.

Also, I've had close personal experience with this one. Some people see their children as they could do no wrong. Whatsoever. In a way I can understand this, but they also need to step up and teach their children right from wrong.

I have a friend who never disciplines her child because of the fact that when she was born, it was touch and go for about a week whether she would make it or not. Now, four years later, she's a very healthy, very happy girl. But also very spoiled and very out of control and rude and all around bad. All because her mother can't let go of the fact she almost lost her... four years ago.

It's just in my opinion that a lot of the teenagers these days who are disrespectful and violent come from parents who just refused to discipline them. Whatever happened to the days of strict discipline and it was okay to spank (not beat) a child?

I've gotten off on a tangent, but just know there are others out there who feel your pain.

Answer 3

Parenting is quite a challenge and is influenced by multiple factors, like whether it is a single child or not, whether or not one of the parents take the side of the kid's when the other one disciplines, it is rarely seen that both the parents actually are consistent in disciplining the child. Unforturnately you may have to see the same happening again and again, its a imperfect world and kids have place too. Thats why there is tantrums in the dictionary

Answer 4

I am a parent of two boys. I have also worked in daycare for many years. I think it goes both ways. I think too many parents today don't want their kids to be mad at them. They want to be their child's friend. Lots of my friends have told me they feel bad that their kids are in daycare so they let them do whatever when they are with them. Not to say all parents are like that

But I can also say, my boys are disciplined. But sometimes kids just lose their minds and most of them when they do, it's in public. You can have the most well behaved kids in the world but they are still kids. No amount of time-outs, spankings, threats, or begging a parent does will change the fact that kids by nature are not wired to control themselves.

You also failed to mention what age group of kids you are talking about. A parent should understand if their child is 12 and messing around if someone says something. But you should understand if you are talking about kids who are 7-8 and younger this age group (toddlers in particular) are just going to be this way.

Answer 5

Everybody's opinion on disciplining varies. I think since I was growing up, parents have become less harsh in regards to forms of punishments for kids. They allow more things to go on, and let kids get awaywith way too much.

My bf used to get spankings with cords. I didnt, in fact i think i got a spanking maybe 3 times my whole life? Anyways, his mom was very harsh, and he turned out perfectly normal. No major problems to speak of, never been arrested, or anything bad like that.

A while back i had the terrible luck of meeting a family who had, lets call them issues. Their kids were horrible little creatures, yelling at them, spitting, hitting, fighting, stealing and whatnot. The kids knew they could get away with it because in their school they have been told that getting spankings isnt ok, its abuse and theyshould call the police. So there is no discipline there. So those kids arent allowed over to my house. I feel if you cant respect your own home, why on earth would i let you come to mine?

My kids? Well I have taught them from day one what is ok and what isnt. I dont allow being disrespectful, but i do allow them room to grow and make their own choices. They are not allowed to act up in public because I am one of the rare parents who will knock the crud out of you if need be (never have to though!- i just give them "the look"). I have 2 basic things that i teach my kids. The first is that from age 2-200, if they ever hit me then they are officially an adult and will get beat like one, and the second is if they call the police on me for disciplining them (i dont spank mind you), then i will for sure give them a reason to come and get me.

Other than that- bad kids are bad, but it makes the parents look worse! ALso- side note here, if someone commented to me on a behvaior that was less than appealing in an outdoor place, i would not take offense, obviously it was important enough to point out. Also, when I go to stores with my kids they know their place. There is no touching of things, running around, yelling or playing. They can do that at home. If a parent gets upset because you brought it to their attention, they know they need to work with that child, they just dont want to admit it.

Answer 6

You should expect items in a retail store to be handled by anyone who comes in to shop... even their children. If the items are not fragile and the children would not damage the items by touching them you should be ok with that. Yes, this might mean a little more work for you to "reset the shelves" or what ever it is you have to do to put things back in order. If the items are fragile and it would be damaging to the items for children to handle them then it is your job to let them know. When you do let them know that it is not acceptable you must do it in a very kind and gentle way to avoid the parents getting "ticked off".

Answer 7

Parents should back people like you up, not get ticked off. I get extremely embarrassed if one of my girls gets told not to do something by a employee or authority figure.

Answer 8

Because no one teaches you to be a parent - you figure it out by example and trial and error. Maybe their parents didn't teach THEM better. Or maybe they are doing the exact opposite of what their parents did.

Answer 9

it's all about the upbringing and early family training of the parents! what's weird is that these negligent, ignorant parents don't notice what other adults do to see if they (the ignorant ones) are doing things well or not and what needs to improve. i'd guess STUPIDITY is the reason.....or bad genes in those ignorant adults.

Answer 10

Because it's hard work to raise and discipline a child. BUT in the long run you have a well behaved child.