Mannerism

I have been following a homeschool forum on a topic concerning children's mannerism and behaviour in public. There are a few parents who ranted on the agressive behaviour of children they met in public and how irresponsible their parents were for not reprimanding their children for being rude. There are cases of children spatting and kicking strangers. The blame naturally fell on the parents but is it entirely parents fault that these children became rude and aggressive?

We live in a modern society where the way we raise our children is so different from the olden days. Children are more respected and given more freedom to express themselves and they can voice out their dislike. Naturally their behaviour and mannerism are different. Children now have a mind of their own and more vocal. Children being children, sometimes they do not know how to differentiate between what is proper and what is not or what is being polite and what is not.

Here is a scenario: Do you force a child to greet someone when the child doesn't want to or too shy or scared to do so? Scold the child because of that? For those who are understanding fine but for some they will call your child rude! In time, when the child is older they will learn to greet others, no?

Sad to say we also teach our children to beware of strangers and do not talk to them simply because our world is no longer safe and there are many crazy or should I use the word monstrous people out there. Why? we don't even give money to beggers and tell our children not to take pity on them because they may not be real at the same time we teach out children we should give to the needy! ah... children get confused :)

It is the job of the parents to teach them. Some children are very teachable and some not so. As parents, it's our duty to make sure our children behave appropriately in public. Easier said than done isn't it? I have seen how some parents struggle to control their children in public and came to a point that they just let it be because they have no more energy or just too frustrated! I pity them. It's also sad that some parents think that they are so perfect because their children always behave well in public that they have a right to think that all children should be that way! They are just lucky to have children that listen and obey. There are of course parents who couldn't care less. They just let their children behave the way they want and that is irresponsible.

For many families, one income is not sufficient to raise a family in comfort or for some to survive. Therefore both parents have to work and many children are placed at childcare centres and babysitters. No matter how great they are, it's different and many a time, children are left to play or watch TV on their own. Nothing compares to caring for your own child. That's the sacrify that parents have to make. They do not have a choice.

So tough huh?

Whenever we are in public, we will make sure Reese behave appropriately and try to get Reese to greet others but most of the time he will refuse to greet so we greet on his behalf. When he misbehave in public, no matter how tiring and frustrated we will make sure he doesn't offend others but for some people apparently that is not good enough. They will give you stares and funny looks. I get this once in a while at playgroup too!

So what do you think?