Woman in grocery store to young son, "We really really need to sit down in the grocery cart, OK ?" 3 yo ignores the wishy-washy tone and continues to use the grocery cart and shelves as a jungle gym. Mom sighs and doesn't follow up.
Grrrr !
Double Grrr. My daughter once tried that at the Supermarket. I think the word on the street was that parents won't swat their kids in public. I thought about someone calling DSS, but I said, "screw it." I gave her a swat on the butt, and never had any supermarket problems after that.
When I see a kid acting hellish, I've taken to commenting to those around me, "Geez, it's a shame Mom there doesn't believe in discipline, isn't it?"
Those around me almost always agree audibly. Mom tends to glower, but it's not like she was gonna discipline the kid until I spoke up.
Reminds me of a few weeks back - my afternoon talk show was discussing how best to combat the rising crime here in Houston, and one listener suggested a billboard that says, "If your mama don't raise ya, the police is gonna Tase ya!"
I almost ran off the road laughing.