moriah said:
If we look around WDW (in this example) it isn't that there are a lot of kids out there that are having a bad moment, it is just that they stick out more.
Remember the saying on Polyanna's Necklace.... "If you look for the bad in mankind, yea will surely find it"
Look around and focus on the kids behaving and you will notice how there are by far more behaved kids, than kids having their moments.:sohappy:
While I understand and appreciate your sentiment, I think that attitude can create complacency and allow problems to become huge issues. Certainly, you should not be looking for poorly behaved children. BUT, when the poor behavior of people is brought to your attention by the behavior itself, that is not looking for the evil. It is simply the evil being there. It's a different line.
Having said that, I do agree with the statement "kids will be kids." I really don't think, aside from some societal implications that the constant bombardment with media casues, kids act any different than they would generations ago. The difference is that "kids will be kids" has become, as someone said, a free pass to misbehave instead of a red flag for parents that kids do misbehave, so pay attention. I think it is fine if corporal punishment goes the wayside or if it doesn't. If you don't have access to a "discipline method" it means you have to get creative, as many here have cited. However, this means paying more attention and being more involved in your children's lives and upbringing. The truth is that the exact opposite is happening. Many parents are too busy: through necessity or own decision, so a more involved parenting necessity becomes impossible (again through their fault or not).
My mother is a teacher and has been for over 20 years. She teaches all ages. She has noticed a huge decline. Many parents (especially those that may not have "wanted" to be parents) expect the schools to raise their kids. They do not want to, but they are the first to cry bloddy murder if the school actually tries to instill manners, morals, etc. and might (god forbit) use punishment (not corporal - I'm talking failing, sent to the office, changing clothing, etc.) to do so.
I think there are still many wonderful parents out there, and that shows in their kids. If I see a child throwing a tantrum and a parent taking proper disciplinary action, I don't think twice. If a 5 year old is in a stroller, and the parents are attentively pushing it and cognizant of the people around them, not a problem at all. It's the parents that are too busy, too tired, too frustrated, too complacent to care about what their children are doing that raise eyebrows. Unfortunately, that does seem to be more and more common everywhere. It's a sad reality for those children and a greater problem, I would argue, than any smack on the butt or refusal to go/wear/do something would be.
