What would you do when some stranger start rebuking your children in a super market or elsewhere?

Question

Do you think the stranger should be talking to you and not to your children, why or why not?

Answer 1

NO ONE is allowed to speak to my child in a stern manner for ANY reason. I am the parent and I will decide what is and isn't appropriate. I would say in a very polite and civil tone to this stranger, "Pardon me but these are my children and I will tell them when they are misbehaving. I do not desire nor require your involvement. " I would then take my child and walk away. It is VERY important that your children see that the only person that is able to talk to them in that manner is you. Otherwise, you'd be raising a child who will just follow any random orders from anyone who thinks they should give them. This could be a pedophile, a bully, any stranger off the street. Show your children that they deserve to be treated with respect by the people around them. I teach my girls to show respect to the people who show them respect. It's much easier for them to know the difference between right and wrong if they have to make character assessments of their own. Good luck!!

Answer 2

It would depend on the circumstances. If some allowed their child to ram their cart into me, I would definitely speak up and let that child know they need to be careful and considerate for others around them. I would not however start shouting verbal abuse at the child.

Most parents do not appreciate when strangers correct their children. I wouldn't expect strangers to correct my children but that is because whenever I have gone to the store I knew where the kids were, what they were doing and if they were out of line I corrected them myself.

Unfortunately to often today parents no longer supervise their own children.

In which case then I would say the store employees would have every right to demand correct behavior.

Example: There was an unruly 2 year old running around the store, the child's mother was not watching the child and did not care that he was darting in and out of places pulling things down, or bumping into people. A woman was knocked down by this child, or tripped when he ran between her legs. She sued the store and recieved a couple of million dollars for her broken leg, and emotional upset over the fall.

Should the store manager or owner had the right to intervene so that he was not pushed out of business by her law suit? I think so.

Oh and the saddest part of this was that the woman who sued the store own, the woman who broke her leg and blamed the store owner for the difficult brat, was the boys mother.

Answer 3

No, the stranger has no right to talk to your children OR you. The only time I would agree to someone stepping in is if a parent is abusing a child. Unfortuantly, if a child is misbehaving anywhere, it is the parents responsibility to stop the bad behavior. Although sometimes frustrating to a stranger they need to stay out of it. If the parent knows the child is misbehaving and doesn't do anything about it, the stranger always can remember that the child goes home with the parent and not them...and smile.

Answer 4

Guess what stranger? My kids have a big bad father and he is surely going to deal with this situation.
Of course it would certainly depend on the situation. If my son ran someone over with the cart I would expect the stranger to rebuke my son by saying something like be careful.
If on the other hand this person was trying to lecture my kids about something or being inappropriate in any way I'd shut him down quick.
We have to be civil and its ok for an adult to guide a child that is not their own if its done in a respectful and careful manner.
I think part of our societies problem is we are all afraid to do whats right sometimes.
Be brave people do the right thing.

Answer 5

First of all, it depends on what my child was doing. Second, the stranger has no right to start scolding the child, much less in a public place. Parents are responsible for their children, no matter how much they try to say otherwise.

Answer 6

If your children are doing something dangerous or are pushing/ physically annoying the stranger, then they should have the right to talk to the children (although not hit obviously!). Whatever the case, they should try to talk to the parents too, and in most cases, they shouldn't interfere as it is none of their business.

Answer 7

It depends...if my child was diretly bothering the stranger and the stranger was civil about "rebuking" my child, I probably wouldn't mind. However, if the stranger tried to discipline my child for something that was none of his/her business, I would politely tell them that I didn't need their "help". Bottom line, I would try to be civil about the whole thing.

Answer 8

The person should be talking to the parent about controling their kids if the kids behavior is disruptive or dangerous. However, if the parent is busy with a cell phone or engaged at the counter, then it is better for the stranger to nip the problem in the bud, especially if the kid's actions could put them or others in danger.

Answer 9

Incomplete question! Was the stranger troubled in any way by your kids? If he was and he did not tell you about it (even after rebuking your kids) then it means that he is lacking social skills. You should concentrate on educating your children on this ("Kids, what have we learnt today?/ "Kids! Lesson learnt!") and forget about the idiot!
However, if you want what "I" would've done is questioned my kids (LOL! I'm only 16) and then talked to them about the whole issue and give them good advice. If the man would've talked to me after screaming at my kids I would've apologized on their behalf and walked the other way.

Answer 10

It doesn't do much good unless there is a consequence which only the parent can apply. Strangers do not have the right to impose their own standards on others....even children.