What are some habits that you see other parents doing that just makes you want to smack them?

Question

For example.
I was at Target yesterday
and the lady had, Id say a 4 year old and the 4 year old was sort of wandering, doing her own thing, but not more than, 12 feet away from her mother. The mom goes, "olivia, im going to spank you if you dont get over here" so the daughter came closer, the woman got louder and repeated herself. By this time the girl was about 5 feet from her mother, Then the mom goes, "Thats it Olivia you are getting a spanking!, and gives the girl a spanking in public, alot of public, and puts a leash on her!!
ITS LIKE HEY LADY SHE WAS 5 FEET AWAY FROM YOU, not a big deal! and totally embarrassed the little girl. I wanted to smack the lady.

Answer 1

The child was given an instruction and failed to obey. The instruction was not unreasonable or too hard to do. Some kind of reprimand was in order. Doesn't matter that the girl was 5 feet away. She disobeyed. If you let a child get away with it once, the child will try to get away with it again. It's not rocket science.

The spanking was probably over the top, and if handled correctly the reins could be unneccessary. We don't know the back story though so we shouldn't be too quick to step in and judge.

The girl was embarrassed. This will reinforce for her not to disobey her mother again.

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I cannot stand to see parents jerking their kids around just because they are angry. It's unneccessary, pointless and bordering on abusive.

Answer 2

I know the only time I let my kids loose in the store is around Christmas shopping time that way I know what they want! But other then that if the little girl was 5 feet away it ain't that big of a deal and as long as she was not causing no harm, then so what? I hate how parents do stuff like that, but honestly, I think I can remember a time when I did something similar, but after I realized that I was in the wrong, I never did it again. Parents take on funny positions when they have kids, and every parent is different. Just wish many would be more respectful of kids while shopping, save the spanking for at home, or at least go to the bathroom. Dont get me wrong, you should scorn them while they are doing wrong at the time, but extremes is too much.

Answer 3

I generally don't want to 'smack' other people, but perhaps because I've been parenting for thirteen years. It makes a big difference in my perspective. There are many things that other parents do that I don't agree with, from punishments and rewards, to sending their kids to school, choosing what they eat and what they wear, giving them no choice in their life until they reach some magical age of responsibility. All I can do is hope that the kids grow up to get insurance so they can afford counseling.

I have an autistic child. You can't tell she's disabled from looking at her, and I'm sure that people think I am a horrible mom when I'm making a nearly ten year old hold my hand. She wore a diaper until she was six, and used a paci until she was five. Or when she's throwing a fit in the store people don't realize that she has a disability. It goes to show that you (not one of you, because I was amazed by the critical nature of some of the answers) don't know the whole story behind anything. Judgement weighs awful heavy on your mind as you grow older.

Answer 4

I cannot stand seeing parents who will not parent. The other day my husband and I had a rare evening out alone. We are trying to eat and have a conversation but there is a child at the next table who would start a tantrum every time his mother told him "no". Her solution was to give him what he wanted so he would be quiet...he knew how to push her buttons. It started when she wanted him to sit in a highchair and continued with every step of the meal (what to drink, what to eat, if he could have some of her margarita). The few times she tried to stick to her guns he called her "a liar" (the first time) and told her "get away from me, you're nasty" (the second time). This boy looked to be about 2 1/2 years old at the most. The mother simply would NOT be a parent. All she is teaching him is that if he doesn't get his way he simply has to do is throw a tantrum and she will cave in.

Answer 5

You notice tha Mom had to speak to her three times to get her even close to Mom. Thats why. Mother should not have to repeat herself threee times at the store to get the child where she wants her to be. You may not be as strict but the Mom may know that this child wanders or Mom may be on a roll really making her mind so she straightens up. You need to remember-you dont take care of that child. You dont live with the problems she has so you really dont know what is best for her!!


To me the most annoying thing I see parents doing is when I see a child age 3 or 4 still in diapers. Thats ridiculous!!

Answer 6

I have to say I can't stand when parents let their kids get away from them,especially small children,it only takes one second for a child to get kid napped.Look at Adam Walsh,He wasn't that far away from his dad when he became missing and was later found dead.I would applauded this Mom for caring enough not to let her small child out of her sight.This little girl may have gone even further if her Mom hadn't taken control of the situation.I would rather see a parent spank their child in public then let it build up and wait till they get home and maybe spank her uncontrollably. I can't stand to see these moms who will let their kids no matter their age run loose like nothing can happen to them,that is why so many kids come up missing and end up dead.

Answer 7

That is ridiculous!!!! And yeah, soooo many things are that way for! I don't even have kids, but someday I will, and I learn sooo much of what NOT to do by going places like Target!! I hate it pretty much any time a parent insults their child, swears at them, or especially when they threaten them (I've heard parents tell their kids they are going to abandon them and stuff.. not cool).. But yeah, mostly what you said. I hate to see little kids get in trouble simply for being kids, laughing, and being free-spirited.

I was at wal-mart a few weeks ago with my boyfriend and there was this giant lady hogging this part of the aisle where I needed to be, so we stood there and waited. She just happened to have these two little girls with her, who were actually being pretty well behaved, it seemed to me.. But she kept yelling at them really loudly and basically being extremely verbally abusive.. And I just had to wonder, does she know other people are around? Does she realize how ridiculous and cruel she is perceived as? It always scares me to think, if those people can act that way in public, how much worse does it get in the privacy of their own home..
(I have lots of thoughts on this!!)

Answer 8

I would have to say the most annoying thing that parents do is when they constantly make excuses about the choices that their children make (ie: "Little Bobby is just running around the restaurant because he being weaned off his ADD medication") If parents continue to make excuses for their children then the excuses will keep coming in their adult life.Ie: " Well, Boss, I didn't get that report to you because the internet, here at work was down for the last two days." Let your children be responsible for their own actions, if they mess up and you let them know, usually they try to not do it again. When you make excuses, they think that it's okay to do they again, heck they have an excuse.

Answer 9

From my experience being a mom we've all done something we've regretted. Everyone that's posted something here as screwed up and done something shameful in public at one time or another.

It's plain caddy.

Yes, that woman should have treated her daughter better. But, we don't know what happened in the car on the way to the store. No, it doesn't excuse the behavior but maybe you could relate to it better. Yes, people mistreat their kids but not everyone who has a bad day is a child abuser.

It's easy to judge how another mom parents or misparents.

Answer 10

I get irritated by parents who won't parent. The ones who allow their children to disrespect them, and who set no limits. I am irritated by the parents who want to be a cool peer instead of Mom and Dad. I can't stand when parents set no boundaries. They have the kids who can't walk into someone elses office or home without picking up everything that does not belong to them. They have never been taught limits. And the thing that irks me the most are the ones who allow their kids to run all over the stores and especially the resturaunts!

And one more thing! Parents who make idle threats without follow-through. It teaches the kids not to take the parent seriously. And that "mind me, I said mind me, if you don't mind me I'm going to count. One... Two... Two and a half" This child has just learned that he can ignore instructions 6 times before having to respond because the parents refuse to lead.