Or the people who do half their shopping while they’re checking out? Or the elderly men who think it’s funny to snatch money away from the cashier as s/he’s reaching for it? (I once saw security get called on a man who wouldn’t stop doing this.)
Meek, nobody seriously proposes that it’s rude to take grandma shopping, or that the disabled should be more considerate and stay home.
Fine then, I guess it’s up to me.
You sound as if you are mostly engaged and present when you’re out with the kids. Therefore, you’re NOT one of the lazy clueless parents some of us are complaining about.
I’m stupidly grateful for this. I’ve planted the littles in front of Sesame Street because I need a break after a trip to the grocery store and Walmart, and this grown up world is a nice diversion when I can sneak in a glance.
I’m one of those people who has a habit of saying “I’m sorry” even when mistakes aren’t my fault. I hate getting in anyone’s way and I’d rather do just about anything than take a stand, but about this one I’m certain. If I want these kids to be considerate adults, I have to start teaching them now so it’s rote to respect others and place most needs above their own. This is especially prudent in light of the negative feedback from those people who think their space and time is somehow more important. Learning to pick your battles and give way to avoid unnecessary conflict is a life skill equal to standing up for what you believe. Thanks, CanvasShoes.
Awwwww! Well, if it helps…it’s unfortunate the the few bad apples spoil the whole bunch. The truth is probably that most (normal human) parents, are fairly decent at it if they’re giving it any energy at all. Sadly the bad ones make those of us who have ears absolutely cringe any time we hear any kid noise at all. We’re bracing ourselves for the onslaught of 20 minutes of "I WANT COCO PUFFSI WANT COCO PUFFSI WANT COCO PUFFS…SCRRREEEEEEDEEECHHHH, I WANT COCO PUFFS!!!I WANT COCO PUFFS…SCRRREEEEEEDEEECHHHH, I WANT COCO PUFFS!!!I WANT COCO PUFFS…SCRRREEEEEEDEEECHHHH, .SCRRREEEEEEDEEECHHHH,.SCRRREEEEEEDEEECHHHH,I WANT COCO PUFFS!!!, " while we attempt to do our own shopping.
I’m kind of evil though. I would (and have) buy the coco puffs in the store and then put them in some hidden spot once arriving home, and make it clear that the fact that they’re not coming out any time soon is a direct result of the temper tantrum. My daughter (mom of my 7 year old granddaughter) was just laughing about this the other day. I absolutely HATED spankings, so I’d do what my daughter calls “Mommy Mind Ninja”.
I think it took once for her of actually leaving the grocery store without buying anything, coming home and having some godawful dinner (oatmeal, or maybe peanut butter, she hates oatmeal) and being told “sorry, I was going to make fried chicken, but you didn’t want to behave long enough for me to get it”.
My son was a little more thick headed, I think he had to go a number of times before “bad behaviour = lack of yummy dinner” sunk in. 
Posting from phone, sorry about not trimming down the quote more.
Yes, it’s the “always works” part of the advice that becomes annoying. Or anything suggesting that there’s a simple or easy solution to all parenting problems. (“Just show them you mean what you say. It worked for my parents”, e.g.)
Advice like that isn’t the SOLE province of nonparents but it’s a lot more likely to come from them, in my experience.
And the reason for that is, IMO, because they haven’t had the experience of getting parenting advice that doesn’t work.
Open Post-it Note to the parents of the toddler in the seat behind me who screeched and wailed over most of the five-hour duration of yesterday’s flight:
Thank you for those couple of times when you made a brief, halfhearted effort to shush the li’l pterodactyl. I heard your precious gift’s drum-bursting shrieks echoing through the airport while we were still at the gate, and (as the laws of such things go) knew immediately that I would be seated either near your family or near the consumptive doggedly hacking his lungs up onto his Cinnabon. Sorry Doc Holliday, but you lost this round to a three-year-old Nazgûl impersonator. Maybe catch you on the return flight, if you’ve still got one unbarfed lung?
Love Always,
Turnip
This wouldn’t have been a problem if you flew after midnight, when screeching pterodactylettes are in bed.
I thought the boards were strangely lacking in snappy one-liners yesterday.
I’m assuming she’s referring to when Social Security checks/debits come out.
I don’t get this one, why can’t you shop when the kids are home in bed?
Because she is not the one with the problem.
I keep the same hours as the kids, and I need sleep, too. They wake at daylight, so I have to wake at daylight. Not a parent, huh?
Quit acting like an ass, I was just curious.
And, apropos of nothing, no I’m not a parent. I work part-time at a grocery store and constantly see reasons I would not want to be a parent.
I’m a parent who spends part of my time at grocery stores, and constantly see reasons I would not want to work part-time at a grocery store. We should probably just keep our own lives and not trade, I guess.
You’ll be amazed at the instinctive shift in priorities when it’s your turn. And if doesn’t happen, that’s cool, too, just remember that not everyone shares your priorities or POV. There’s enough room for all of us.
You know what, you’re right that part was stupid and I apologize. I do see some very well behaved kids while working. It’s just not my cup of tea. I can barely take care of myself. 
That’s the thing, though. You will, when it’s your turn. I was purposefully childfree until my late 30s and had a pretty low tolerance for free range kids. Until I had some, and realized that at least some parents were teaching their kids how to fit into society and be decent people. And when you run into wild kids who aren’t being taught how to behave, remember it isn’t their fault.
I’m 46 and single so the odds of it ever being my turn are diminishing by the day.