[winodog]

What I have noticed is single moms who have one child, usually a boy and its like they are married to one another.
Mom does everything for him and he is spoiled rotten.
My son wants to sit in whenever I have a friend or friends over and be a part of the conversation. Sometimes I let him but most of the time I tell him to go play.
I had one gal change her entire demeanor to me after witnessing this. Finally she could not take it any longer and asked me why I sent my son out to play. She thought I was rude.
I just told her that he did not need to sit around with grownups. Outside is the best place for a 8 year old boy.
But I can see why parents do dote on their children, especially single moms.

[fightinJAG]

I really have a hard time when my sister lets my 13-year-old niece hang on her while we are talking and even interject herself into our conversations, which often, by necessity, must be about very adult things, such as arrangements for putting a relative into a nursing home.

I'm not advocating "children should be seen and not heard," but I think children should be taught that they are not yet adults. It is not a positive thing for them to get the impression that they are adults when they are not.