> Bad behavior should be challenged, not ignored.
Quite. But it will happen. If it didn't, why would we be talking about how people should respond to it??? The fact remains that kids will make noise in inappropriate places, and other people will just have to deal with it. Those people have a right to be upset if the parent does nothing or, worse, encourages the child, but they really ought to understand that it's still going to happen.
For example, a kids shouts one word at the top of his lungs. Do you take him out of the restaurant? Do you spank him? Probably not, as both of these, believe me, will create far more noise than the act you're trying to prevent. And then he does it again. And again. And finally, you act, and drag his little ass outside for a telling off and perhaps a smacked hiney. Of course, he screams all the way, and the elite in the place turn and shake their heads, complaining about breeders, while a frightening number of Freepers apparently start muttering about how this never happened in their day.
What a state of affairs! Parent who are doing their best are caught between the child haters on one side and those who think all children can be perfect on the other.
I don't think we are talking about isolated incidents. Those are expected. We are talking about behavior. If a child is squealing at the top of their lungs in a store, that is a behavior. Any parent worth their salt would say "Hey, my child is squealing loudly. Maybe I should check on him". Or "My child is squealing loudly. That might disturb others".
Children learn very early what is acceptable and what is not. We have friends who are big liberals, very anti-gun. But they can't "make" their kids ride with a seat belt on. The children just will not do it. But they use a seat belt in our car because they know it is demanded. There is no negotiation in that regard. Period. End of discussion.
Too many parents today are content with defeat when it comes to raising their kids. No man with balls hanging will allow his child to dictate the terms of acceptable behavior.
Too many "again"(s) in there followed by a "finally" act.
My mother says I did that to her ONE time. It was a Sunday, during Mass, following a large cocktail party my parents had hosted at our home the previous night. The priest raised the chalice and I hollered - SKOAL!