Can we have a candid conversation about the alarming trend of parents who simply watch, unbothered, while their children disrupt events? Take, for instance, a foreign language program at our local library that offered storytime for kids aged 4 to 6. The idea of exploring different languages through stories and songs seemed fantastic, so I decided to take my 5-year-old along. We joined a handful of other families, with kids sitting cross-legged in front of the storyteller while parents lounged on benches, observing from a distance.
The session started positively, with cheerful greetings in Italian. But soon, chaos erupted. A little girl approached the storyteller and began tugging at his puppet. He smiled and kept the puppet just out of her reach, but that only encouraged her to jump higher. Moments later, a little boy joined in, reaching for the props sitting in front of the storyteller. Despite the storyteller’s attempts to redirect them, the kids continued their antics, fueled by their parents’ silence and approving smiles.
This scenario is far from unique. I’ve seen parents allow their toddlers to wander onto stages during performances or sit through movies with fussy babies without taking them out. Just recently, I read about two women filming their kids as they broke a glass sculpture in an art museum in China — totally unacceptable.
As someone who generally refrains from judging parenting styles, I struggle to understand the mindset that allows children to ruin experiences for others without any intervention. Is this a reflection of hands-off parenting gone too far? Are parents overly enamored with their children’s mischief, thinking it’s charming? Or is it simply an underestimation of how their kids’ actions affect those around them?
While I don’t subscribe to the notion that kids today feel entitled, I am increasingly frustrated with parents who mistake bad behavior for cuteness. It’s not cute at all.
I’m not confrontational, so during that storytime, I hesitated to intervene myself. It shouldn’t have been my responsibility when the parents were right there, failing to take action. The storyteller was trying to manage the situation with grace, all while promoting his language classes. Just as I was ready to step in, the story wrapped up, and the moment passed.
Different parenting styles exist for a reason, and I respect that. However, basic courtesy should be universal. If my child were disrupting a performance, I would gently correct them. If they persisted, I would remove them from the situation. This seems like Parenting 101, doesn’t it?
Children with special needs deserve some understanding, as their challenges might lead to unavoidable outbursts. However, there are still boundaries for acceptable behavior. It’s important for parents to teach their children social etiquette, which can be learned and should be instilled from an early age.
In short, parents must stop passively watching their kids misbehave. If your child is disrupting an event or breaking rules, please step in and correct them. Every child should be held accountable for their actions — no matter how “special” or “adorable” their parents believe them to be. Surely, we can all agree on that.
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Summary
This post discusses the concerning trend of parents who don’t intervene when their children misbehave in public settings. It highlights the importance of teaching basic social etiquette and the need for parents to take responsibility for their children’s actions. Whether it’s at storytime or a performance, children must learn accountability, and parents should actively participate in that process.
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