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"It used to be in the "good old days" that parents were in control, not any more"

When my kids are out, I get compliments on their behavior from strangers all the time after observing my children for only a minute or two. I think this is so sad. Kids are so out of control that a well behaved child is a novelty.

These moms don't control their children at home either. I've been constantly amazed over the years to go into the homes of my children's friends that are pigsties, with kids stuff all over the place, and try to sit down to dinner and the kids are running wild and the parents just kind of throw food at them to get them to eat anything. I think one of my kids' friends has never eaten anything for dinner besides hot dogs and boxed macaroni and cheese; his parents don't even eat with the kids, they feed the kids first and then sit down for their own dinner! The kids are definitely in control in these homes. Of course, such children are not going to behave themselves when they go out in public; they don't know how.

My kids have been taught since birth that even at home they sit still at the table, have conversation, do not sing, do not chant, do not throw anything, do not blow bubbles into their milk, do not whine about what is on their plate, do not bicker with each other, and say Grace before dinner. They clear the dishes when we are finished. Yes, it's a chore to teach this at every single meal, but that's what parents are for! And it pays off bigtime in the end.

Just the other night, we were out at a very nice restaurant after my daughter's piano recital, and my 8-year-old reminded us to say Grace. They were the only children in this restaurant and we got loads of compliments on their behavior. We can take them anywhere, but eating out is still a special treat to them.

My kids are constantly getting compliments, and my wife and I are usually left shrugging our shoulders because the monsters we see at home are nothing like the angels that they pretend to be in public. Both of ours should go into acting, because every foray into the outside world is an Oscar winning performance.