""...supposedly"?? You know it, I know it, there are lots of overindulged brats out there that run their families. Also, there's too many people calling BOYS "young men" (and girls "young women/ladies"). They eventually will become such but FIRST they are boys and girls and need to behave or suffer the consequences."
There are also kids out there with problems that cannot be detected by merely looking at them.
I never had a problem with raising quiet well-behaved children until child #5.
Nothing I did with him produced the same results as with the other children. He is loud and excitable. If he had seen that train set he would have gone bonkers.
Of course, I don't take him places like I did with the others. This is bothersome too because I say to myself "how will he ever learn?" - but I also know he will be disruptive - so I don't take him to nice restaurants.
He has been going through a great deal of testing this summer and will be having an audiology test this week.
Most people would look at this child and say "he's a brat and needs a good whack"
Heck....I've said it myself.
But just when you think you've got it all figured out...God sends you a little one to let you know you don't.
Now when I see another loud child I don't automatically assume mom and dad are incompetent boobs - nor do I think I know the "solution" either.
The most reasonable and accurate response I've read here. ALL children are not created equal and treating them all equally will not garner the same result. Sure, my parents could control ME with their eyes, but they had little effect on my older brothers. It always seems that the 'EXPERTS' never have children of their own. They are experts because of their nieces and nephews. You know, the ones that aren't with them 24/7?
Oh yes, listen, those of us who have raised kids have experienced first hand how individual they really are, it's remarkable. I'm speaking in generalities, in averages. I see way too much misbehaviour, spoiled behavior if you will, that brings me to this conclusion.
I'm not saying that a "swat" is always the answer either, I believe that much of the problem is the lack of consistency within the family. We need two parents agreeing on methodology, not at odds with each other; one trying to be "big buddy" and the other acting as disciplinarian is a disaster. Parental authority is not supported any more, the kids are in charge although they never made a car payment, paid the water, gas and electric bills, fixed meals, go to work, etc., etc but yet they know everything, what a crock.
A FReeper above spoke of seeing just as many, if not more, adults behaving badly and I got to thinking about that. He's/she's right I believe, certainly it's more obvious. This is no doubt part of the problem as well. Over all, there's a huge lack of family cohesion, doing things as a family, manners, language, it's abominable but all is not lost!
Well, I pray you find the answer for your son, I really do, I think many of us have experienced the same, it's not easy, that's for sure.