It's obviously a polarizing issue; those who are parents themselves usually offer a tepid, vague defense of other parents, suggesting that kids will be kids. But most would also admit that there are extremes.
A permissive culture is a permissive culture; parents who describe themselves as their children's 'best friend' (even if their children do not reciprocate) are obviously pursuing a dubious, even improper, goal, since child-rearing can and must require discipline and the inevitable clashes and resentments, however temporary, resulting from same.
The reality is that any child-friendly establishment or conveyance - or even one that accommodates children however grudgingly - is assumed by too many parents to be a bouncy castle, a playground, a Disney-themed birthday party. We can have a separate debate about smoking bans in bars and restaurants but The Law of Unintended Consequences has won out again: adults continue to patronize their now-smoke-free neighborhood tavern (read: licensed drinking establishment) after they have kids. A lazy daytime pint on a weekend now features a chorus of high-pitched voices as the Chuck E. Cheese brigade claim a previously adult-themed business as their own.
There is an especially troublesome subspecies of the Permissive Parent i.e. the Instigator. This is the oblivious parent who, often out of boredom, will stir his/her own children up via conversation, activities, etc. In the case of babies and toddlers the parent will even carry on a 'two-way' conversation with the child - by voicing the infant/toddler's lines: 'I got my doll and my book, Mommy!' And, as usual, the parent believes that the mere presence of their child is sufficient reason to share such a conversation with the passengers or diners around them.
I suppose it's just another branch of the Tree of Narcissism. Still, there is nothing quite as depressing as settling into an airline seat, especially for a long-haul flight, and hearing those first fitful cries, knowing that the parents will fail utterly to cope with the inevitable.
Certainly children have cried while I was on a plane but the worst I have ever heard has come from adults.
I sat in front of 2 men and for 3 hours they bragged to each other about their houses, cars, art work, weekend houses, expensive trips and their rich and important friends. I thought I was going to scream, they never shut up. Then the gossip session started all in loud voices......... until I heard them mention someone I knew...... and then their voices turned to whispers. Dang it! :)
Just recently I got in to a blow up with the woman I am dating. I had a six hour flight and told her I can’t stand being with babies and children on flights. It is miserable for both the babies and other passengers.
Five hours. Five hours of nonstop talking, squirming, and climbing on me physically. But there was something about the little guy that I found fascinating and really sweet, and I sort of fell into patient mode. He'd nap for 10 minutes and than back at it again. Five hours.
So when we landed the little guy hugged me goodbye. And the flight attendants slipped me a bottle of wine. I felt like a million bucks. Sometimes it's just like that.
Euros are the worst with permissive parenting. I am pretty sure they just have the kids for all the “free” time off and then when they hit about five, they check out.