RANT ALERT…RANT ALERT….RANT ALERT….RANT ALERT…..RANT ALERT………….
Betty is fired up again! Its time for my weekly rant!!
So America please, please help me to understand..
When did it become socially unacceptable to reprimand your child in public? What exact moment in time did parents across this great nation suddenly stand up and say No I will not sternly redirect my childs poor behavior in public anymore! Who allowed this vicious and catastrophic lapse in judgement to prevail? When did we as parents decide that instead of reprimanding our children we would shrivel away into a corner becoming subservient to our children? Why have we allowed ourselves to fear the acronym CPS (Child Protective Services)? We have all heard the horror stories of a mom reprimanding their child in public only to be greeted by CPS later that evening at home because some well-intentioned busy body turned them in for child abuse! CPS is for children who are neglected and abused, not children who are held to a standard of behavior in public!
I reprimand my children when we are out and about! If they are not living up to my expectations of good behavior, 
I let em have it! If you Mr/Mrs John G Public don’t like me telling my kids to knock it off, then just keep moving buddy! Also after I tell my kids to knock it off, don’t you dare mean mug me then chine in with your little “it will be all right” statement directed towards my kid!
STORY TIME…..
One time at COSTCO while standing in line to check out. My son wouldnt quit pestering me for a smoothie from the snack bar. I asked him to stop, he proceeded to become belligerent and snotty, eventually becoming indignant about my request for him to stop asking. When I retorted with a stern; I asked you to stop and you didn’t, therefore we are not buying smoothies now. He began to cry, at which point the gentlemen behind me threw me a look as though I were the Anti-Christ and stated; Its Ok little buddy since daddy made you cry maybe he will buy you some candy instead. WHAT! What freaking planet are you from? Where do you live that it will ever be ok to punish bad choices with rewards? This is an individual that clearly doesn’t understand the parent child relationship. I showed the respect he lacked, politely declining his obvious request for redemption from my demoralizing behavior.
Now lets discuss reprimanding other people’s children with that last example clearly not meeting the appropriate criteria.
Does anybody remember the adage; It takes a village to raise a child?
Every year on mothers/fathers day I get a card for my parents, then over dinner, I say a quiet little thank you to all the moms and dads that watched over me as if I were their own. I even thank the ones I never knew! The adults that reigned me in when no else was looking! We have been extremely blessed to be surrounded by friends and family who are not afraid to reprimand our children when they are out of line. As parents we just can’t be everywhere, every time one of our little angels is mis-behaving.
Listen I get it, in today’s atmosphere we try our hardest to limit our children’s exposure to undesirable people. But when a stranger asks your child to quit running down the isles of the grocery store because they might run into someone and get hurt! Guess what mom/dad? Take the cue and tell your little Jackie Joyner-Kersey to quit running around like an idiot before they hurt someone or themselves! Dont turn on your fellow-man and rip their head off with a barrage of undesirable words in front of your child because you feel slighted! 
Dont you dare start slinging the four letter words because your fragile self-esteem can’t handle a little parenting help. It doesn’t make you a bad parent when someone else steps in to guide your child from certain disaster! But if you decide to take that path please realize you have empowered your little demon further. Now they know they can do what they want when they want in public because you are going to stand up and defend them instead of correcting them! Also you have let little “chucky” know its ok to disrespect another adult! See how that works out for you when they become teenagers. Good luck pal!
Oh yeah, another thing…
Lordy lordy, mercy sakes alive, heaven forbid some well-intentioned friend says something to your out of control little devil eyed monster! That alone will get you a much deserved berating on Facebook! The shame of it all…
I personally have no problem what so ever telling someone elses kid to knock it off. To clean up their language, act responsibly in public. I do not fear CPS or a knock on the door from the parenting police! I will always stand up for what is right and admonish what is wrong with parenting by todays lack of standards. 
But what I will never do, is stand idly by as some out of control heathen runs over grandma with a shopping cart because dad/mom don’t have the balls to stand up to their own kids…
I am hoping I am not in the minority, because some days it sure feels that way…
They call me Betty 