Swirlie

Hell no.. I would probably be the worst parent in the world. I'm WAY too strict. My nephew and niece can attest to that.

Act up in a restaurant? We leave.
Act up in a movie theatre? We leave.
Shopping mall? gone.
Throw a temper tantrum? Good luck.

Thankfully, my sister and brother-in-law are decent parents who discipline their kids when they act up. None of this "go to your room where you have a TV, Playstation, cell phone, etc. crap... misbehaving has consequences. Loss of television priveleges. Loss of "hanging out with your friends" privileges. Things like ensuring the dishes are done, their rooms are clean, and their homework is done punishment. I'm proud of those kids, and tell them that often... and I make sure to tell them WHY I am proud of them. The minute they stop saying please and thank you... stop opening the doors for people, etc.... they also hear it from me (and their parents). It's how we were brought up, and I commend my sister and brother in law for continuing that. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to be overly common any more.

I HAVE been in the mall with infants. I understand that it's not easy. But I also understand that there are a lot of alternatives to ignoring the problem and hoping it goes away.

I don't think I will ever have children - mainly because I think I would be a horrible parent.

I just get angry and annoyed when people believe that having children gives you any kind of extra privelege. It doesn't. I'm in just as big a hurry as you are. My time is just as important as yours is.

I love kids... I really do... as long as they are well behaved. It really is pretty easy to watch the kids that are NOT well behaved, and find their parents in a crowd. Just watch for the ones leaving the stroller in the middle of the aisle...

spindles

This sounds like a contradiction. Because you are "way too strict" is probably why you would be a good parent.

Having said that, don't knock the "ignoring bad behaviour" method completely. There is actually some method in this. When a child throws a tantrum, quite often it is a call for attention. How do you show this is not the right method for getting attention? Ignore it. This is obviously not a catch all and goes hand in hand with a quiet discussion about why it is unacceptable, but I think that discussion is best carried out at home.

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