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Original poster

To think it’s socially acceptable in Britain to shout at children?

188 replies

backdoormadness · 18/12/2019 19:02

Since I’ve noticed how disgusting some parents talk/shout/disrespect their children I see it everywhere.

-the neighbours who for six months of the year I can hear them yelling at their kids in the garden (their garden is about 10x15m). Most ironically the dad yelling at them as they were playing too loudly (it wasn’t the kids disturbing my peace).

-when I said excuse me to a lady in a shop who turned around to her child “get out of the way” (it was her trolley in the way). I’m sure if it was he Oh she would have said “babe, you’re in the way”.

  • the toddler who was happily dillidalling walking in an empty car park as she was watching a huge flock of birds in the sky “I’ve had enough of you, get in the car NOW, I TOLD YOU TO MOVE”. Just imagine if it was her OH talking to her like that, everyone else in my party would have flinched but as it was to a child it’s somewhat acceptable?

These last two have been in the last week.

I wish it was more acceptable to challenge this kind of ‘parenting’, or at least for it not to be seen as normal.

OP posts:
Oneborneverydecade · 18/12/2019 19:17

Shouldn't that be Waitrose? The MC would never be seen in Tesco

Recrim · 18/12/2019 19:17

@FriedasCarLoad perhaps the middle classes know not to do it in public

this has to be a joke
1.) If it is acceptable in private, why not in public
2.) You have noticed in the lower class because you are a ***
3.) Maybe the middle class don't have time to shout at their children since they are all so busy judging and pitying the lower class.

usernamerisnotavailable · 18/12/2019 19:16

Hmmm yes, do you have children OP?

jellycatspyjamas · 18/12/2019 19:14

I’m assuming you’ve never had children.

SquareAsABlock · 18/12/2019 19:14

Perhaps the middle classes know not to do it in public?

Didnt take long for the class snobbery to rear its head. Middle class repress they're annoyance at their children until they get home, it explains the gammony look about them in Tesco.

Bluebutterfly90 · 18/12/2019 19:14

I'd really like parenting to be taught in schools. I think a lot of people have children without being fully prepared.

I'm sympathetic towards stressed parents, but I do believe it can be done without shouting. However, I think a lot of people reach a point where they snap at their kids.

Solihooley · 18/12/2019 19:11

Of course it’s acceptable. They are children. I’m not going to talk to them like adults. I shout at my own often if they've been naughty or are about to do something dangerous. I’ve even shouted at other people’s when they been behaving terribly at a birthday party (think fighting and hitting).

FriedasCarLoad · 18/12/2019 19:10

Sadly, it's socially acceptable in some circles. Thankfully, not in most of society, I think.

I notice it more amongst less privileged families. Perhaps the middle classes know not to do it in public? Or perhaps it's people whose lives are difficult and don't have the head space to consider that there's a different way to treat children?

Of course, there's every chance that my subjective experience may be unrepresentative.

MayFayner · 18/12/2019 19:08

I don’t shout much but I actually did today. It was along the lines of your third example. A lot of things had happened beforehand.

Anyone “challenging” me just at that moment would have been politely but firmly challenged back.

misspiggy19 · 18/12/2019 19:08

My experience of seeing this happen- it is always the same type of parent

SquareAsABlock · 18/12/2019 19:07

I dont see how any of your examples are 'disgusting'. The trolley example in particular, it is so stressful going shopping with your children. You have no idea how many times previously she asked in a less annoyed manner for her child to move. They dont have the same attention span as an adult partner - if I had to tell mine to get out of someone's way for the 5th time in half an hour, yes I'd probably be snappy as well.

Screaming, swearing, grabbing - those are awful parenting traits that you should save your 'gentle parenting' judgements for.

HugeAckmansWife · 18/12/2019 19:06

When it's the 6th time in 5 minutes my tweens get in the way of me or someone else because they are talking incessantly about nothing, or asking me for the 20th time 'can I have' or walking out across the car park despite being old enough to know better I absolutely talk to mine like that. Adults tend not to do those things.

Pinkblueberry · 18/12/2019 19:05

Go ahead and ‘challenge it’ it then. What’s stopping you?

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