Drop in at any large store, walk around and observe kids in or near the toy department or in the checkout lanes screaming, demanding, whining...
What you see might well cause you to take an oath never to procreate! I think people today are flat SCARED of kids.
What you are seeing are the parents, not the children. Children, for the most part, are a reflection of the way they are raised. The nanny state that we live in is partially to blame but the biggest blame lies on us as citizens, because we let this happen.
I think parents of today, who have limited the number of children they bring into the world, have doted far too long and hard on their offspring, They have instilled 'greed' in their progeny and deserve the payback.
**This experience of being welcomed and loved by God and by our parents, explained Benedict XVI, "is always the firm foundation for authentic human growth and authentic development, helping us to mature on the way towards truth and love, and to move beyond ourselves in order to enter into communion with others and with God.**
And this is the other side of the coin.
Oh please...that is the product of the poor parenting/coping skills ...not the children themselves. If you drag a two year old in and out of car seat, multiple times, to run errands meltdowns occur. If you take a little one to the toy aisles, you should be prepared to make a purchase...or avoid the toy aisle completely. Stores also have 'no candy, no toys' checkouts lanes...and they should be used to avoid problems. It not rocket science.
Children DO LEARN that no means no...and that things (toys, video, even cookies) have a value...and that good behavior earns favor...as do chores (allowance) or learning to save and budget windfalls (like birthday present money). Kids learn what they are taught. It is the 32 years olds in the store you see with the problem...not the two year olds.
Mom of five here...
"Drop in at any large store, walk around and observe kids in or near the toy department or in the checkout lanes screaming, demanding, whining... What you see might well cause you to take an oath never to procreate!"
That's a good point. Y'know, it's like the old saying: we're all ambassadors. I do notice the incredible lack of discipline that parents exercise over their children. I can't say I'm "scared" of children as a result, but it does give you pause.
Then again, I also notice parents who do an incredibly good job with their kids. They keep them in line, don't let them run around like little savages, etc. Unfortunately, those parents do seem to be in the minority.
Those parents need to read "How To Train Up A Child" by M. Pearl.
In a sense, I agree. Parents probably no longer believe that the schools and the government are on their side when it comes to raising children and that discipling children, particularly in public, is now going to mean some case worker is going to stick their nose in your private business.