More often than not, when visiting the parks I see a parent (or both parents) scolding their young children (including spanking, shaking, yelling, or some other unruly behaviour) while the kid is screaming at the top of his or her lungs. This type of behaviour is totally unnecessary at the happiest place on earth (DL or WDW). Granted, children CAN be a handful at times on vacation, and yes, sometimes they may deserve scolding, but I don't think the parent should be doing this in public spaces in the parks where everyone walking by can witness it. If at all, I plead with parents NOT to hit their children, but wait until they can get to a secluded area or back in the hotel and then calmly tell their children what they did wrong.
Most kids don't understand what they did wrong, so it's up to the parent to tell them, and remind them that it's not satisfactory to do whatever they did. Most times I think it's a combination of the hot weather, walking long distances, and hunger that makes a kid become unruly. We usually don't interfere because a) it's not our kid who is misbehaving and b) we don't want to be told to mind our own business by the kid's parent. Many of us don't like confrontation, but some of us can't stand the sight of someone berating their kid. The kid is only naturally curious, is a growing human being and of course he or she is going to make mistakes. I just think there is no place for this kind of thing while everyone is watching.
I get you mean well, I really do. However, until you have children of your own, you really really really have no idea what you are talking about. Believe me, I have taught my children from day one what appropriate public behavior is. My 6 year old daughter DOESN"T CARE!!! God himself could come down and issue her a divine command. She will bristle at the command, and say no just to spite him. That is her personality. It always has been, probably always will be. Are we making progress, yes. Is she sweet, yes. However, do not let the halo fool you, it is help up by the devil horns!! There have been some Sunday's at church where my mother and I have seriously wondered if the holy water would smoke if we put her in it.
Now that the fun is out of the way, I will be somewhat serious here. Have you experienced telling your young child no less than 100 times, and I am not exaggerating here, to get off of the queue bars before they get hurt? All while your child is tired, hot, and bitchy because they haven't eaten the 10th meal in a row you have put in front of them? How about the, "Mom she is touching me. Mom he is touching my part of the line. Mom, she is looking in my direction," for 4 hours straight. Or how about telling your over excited little one for the 5 time to quit running before they fall? You can't imagine the frustration that comes with having to repeat this over and over and over again, all while you are hot and tired yourself.
While we were at Disneyland my 11 year old son went missing. He was honestly just trying to help me find my husband and daughter, but the head didn't tell me he was leaving before deciding to do this. So when my Husband and daughter returned without my son in tow, I lost my ever loving mind. I am not a helicopter mom by any means, but you lose track of your child two days after Christmas in the Happiest Place on Earth and lets see you keep it together. When we found him, I gave him a big hug, and then proceeded to ream him out right there. It was the only way I could bring my heart down and convince him that what he did was dangerous and stupid.
Also, children are not all logic and common sense. In my experience, with my children, regardless of the public presence, they respond better if I handle it immediately. If I wait 20+ minutes to find a quite place to discipline them when everything is calm and happy again, they no longer really understand why I am doing it. Or at least that is the case when they are younger.
For all of the magic of WDW, it is a very dangerous place sometimes for children. I don't need them to listen to me 20 minutes from now. When I tell them something, I mean NOW!
If you feel like a child is being abused, then please seek out security and have them step in. But until then, trust that the parent knows their children far better than you.
Before I had children, I had all of the grand ideas about how perfect I would be as a parent. I also shared similar beliefs to what you thought in your original post. Then I had two children of my own. After that point, it was simple a battle for survival. I think the little monsters may be winning.
. But in all seriousness, I'm with you. I have kids, I get it. I think sometimes people have unrealistic expectations of their kids and themselves which inevitably leads to disaster. Maybe all the old smoking sections can be reassigned to disciplinary sections. That way no one is blocking Main Street while whooping their kids butt.
