I have 9 children (8 are adults. The youngest is, well, a teenager).
All of my kids had inside/outside personalities. That is, inside the house they were like little Huns, destroying everything in their parth. Outside, in public, though, they behaved like perfect little angels.
People used to come up to me on the street and tell me "Your son ### is so wonderful! Why he did this, that and the other and he's so mature and polite!"
And they wondered why I looked so confused. "This is one of MY kids they're talking about? How come he doesn't act like that at home."
But to quote Shrek, "better out than in, I always say."
My kids (even my daughter with brain damage) have always been great at school, at friends, and for babysitters.
Last year, we went to Texas. My kids were great the whole trip. We had a 25 th anniversary party for my brother that my kids went to. It was in a boring restaurant, and they were the only kids. They were there for 3 or 4 hours. Everyone commented about how well-behaved they were. The only mishap was one of them spilling some salsa, but they weren't being bad. I was very happy. We live in California, and the party was in Texas. The party was probably one of the only times most of these people will see my kids.
On the plane flight back, a passenger commented about how well-behaved my kids were.
Even my daughter with brain damage acts great on most days. We still get sibling rivalry problems at home, but they are all good kids on the most part.