The #1 Thing Parents Wish Other People Knew About Their Kids

As a joint custody single dad, I'd established with her when she was 4-5 years old that, if she enjoyed fun times out and us doing fun things that, when it was over, she needed to be appreciative rather than crying and whining to "get more time or stuff or whatever". I'd seen kids who bargain, wear down, and badger their parents incessantly and determined early on that it wasn't for me or her. Rather than negotiate if she "wanted more", I'd suggest that if leaving Chuck-E-Cheese upset her, we could avoid coming again, so she wouldn't have to feel upset. But if she was glad we came, she should say so, show a good attitude, say thank you, and we'd come again. Now, she's amazing... she has an amazing attitude about dealing with things, probably more adult than I do. What a great girl. So glad I didn't allow for whining and begging and "never being happy with what you've got".

I saw a manager tell off a lady waiting in the check-out line because her baby was crying. She actually said something like "do I need to hold your baby for you?" If she really wanted to help she could have opened another register to get her out quicker instead of ridiculing a new mother.

My child is a human being and can understand English. If he is in your way...simply say "Excuse me" and he will listen. But don't stand there and huff at him and expect that he'll move.

When we were small and our parents brought us to eat at restaurant, nobody cried because if you cried the other siblings would eat up your food.

The 19-year old man/child that I take everywhere with me isn't crazy. He's non-verbal, autistic, and if he wants to express himself by twirling around and flicking his fingers next to his eyes, so be it. And he should be able to do it without the slack-jawed stares from idiots that only see in black and white.

My 3 year old once threw a tantrum in a grocery store. I left the shopping cart in the aisle, picked up my screaming toddler, apologized to the store mgr. on the way out, and immediately left the store. It never happened again.

What I'd like to tell all these parents that let their kids run all over the store out of their sight for long periods of time is "Don't you watch the news and aren't you remotely aware of missing kids?" How can you still be so naive? A friend of mine does this daily. It only takes a minute to snatch a kid.

Training starts at home.

My son is now an adult. I raised him as a single parent (widow) from the time he was 13 years old. I want people to know that he has surmounted incredible odds to be the man he is today. Most of all I want people to know that he has a great heart

Parents just need to learn to say "No" to their kids, set guidelines and rules...treat them respectfully, feed them appropriatly and get them the required sleep...Kids are not your "Friends" and they should not be treated that way...Very simple...I mean geeez did anyone of you learn anything from "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory???" to many whimpy parents out there these days

What children need most from all of us is a good heart.

My daughter is her own person & will reach milestones according to her time table. She thrives on a schedule so sorry if we have to cut the party short but you won't want us around when she gets tired & cranky & you won't have to deal with her on the way home cause not all children fall asleep in their car seat. Lastly if we are in public & she waves hello would it kill you to be curteous & wave back?

WOW! Some pretty powerful comments here. I am the mother of two beautiful daughters. Yes, I said beautiful. Not because of how they look on the outside but what they are on the inside and how they behave and live in this world. They are young adults now and I am proud of them. But raising them was not easy and it got much harder the older they got.
I was also a pre-k teacher for 10 years. I taught 2, 3 and 4 year old children. And it was not glorified babysitting - I taught. I was asked by parents almost all the time, "how do you get them to sit?", "how do you get them to listen?" how this and how that? Well, I EXPECTED them to do so, No child is perfect, and thank goodness because neither are we as adults. BUT children are born to be disciplined, children want to know what is expected of them. They long for structure and children will live up to the expectations you have. If you expect them to scream and throw tantrums they will not disappoint but if you expect them to obey and they know the consequences if they do not, the child will 99% of the time obey. But because they are children and they are learning right from wrong, they will also test those boundaries. You must be prepared to carry through with the consequences you put in place.

You missed the one that said.............."I'm a horrible parent, I spent way too much time on facebook".............

I don't care as much about behavioral problems but I do have a problem with going to a store and seeing a young child or toddler running around the store with no apparent parental supervision. Really you should be able to see your child at all times. It is not the employees of the stores job to baby sit your children. If they will not stay with you make them sit in the carts. Teach them that they can be out as long as they stick by you otherwise they will do the shopping trip in the store.

I am a parent and I am offended by some of the things listed above... It sounds like a lot of parents just want to make excuses for their lack of parenting and they expect others to not only suffer the repercussions of their poor parenting but be sensitive towards them and their children. What a crock. When your kid misbehaves you suck it up and remove them from the situation and hold them responsible for their actions. You don't buy them something to shut them up or allow them to act like brats. That's how they end up raising selfish, self centered, rude adults who never learned how to behave in public because their parents were constantly making excuses for their behavior.

The number one thing I wish most parents knew about their kid is that he's driving everyone else bonkers. Why is it that so few parents practice actual PARENTING these days? Your six year old crawling under my table at a nice restaurant while you sit there obliviously letting him run amok? Not cute. Not cute at all.

Be aware that your ability to tune out your kids tantrum, crying, running through restaurants and stores, ... does not win points with others who are trying to enjoy a night out for dinner, a sermon at church, or just get their chores done and get home. Be kind enough to remove unruly children from the public place and not offend others and it just might teach your kids that this is not acceptable behavior in public, not to mention, it will make you look like a caring parent. While we all know that you can't "control" a child you can certainly be observant and react to what they are doing.

Surprise!! My kids think that YOU are a little weird and annoying. Seriously, and if you do something just the least bit strange...I'll hear about it on the way home, in the car. Hah!

I don't think these parents like their kids much if all they can muster up when asked what they want to say about their kids is how poorly they behave and how it's not their fault.

I'd rather hear something funny, sweet or brilliant he/she said or did...I find this generation of parents whiny and always complaining about how much they have to do and how they get no "me time". Bore, bore, bore...appreciate the gifts you have before they move out and leave you to suffer for all your complaining.