To think if you do not want a generation of looters

[prettyfly1]

do not huff and tut and say things like "eurgh telling your children off in public is sooo common"....when parents do tell their kids off

Backstory, took DS 1 and 2 to shop this morning, discovered dp had taken my card to work (accidentally) and had to leave. DS 1 has adhd (relevant I promise), and I asked him to put the sweets he had picked up back and we left. When I got outside I discovered one sweet in his pocket, which I made him take back. Further along the road discovered a second one and marched him back to the shop, made him take it in and apologise to the shop keeper. On one hand there is every chance it was accidental and he forgot about them (adhd is an impulse, concentration thing) however he is at an age where it could just as easily have been him not wanting to put them back and attempting to sneak them out. I was taking no chances so rollocked him there and then. No swearing, no hitting, no screaming just very firmly told him off and made it very clear that if I ever found him leaving a shop without paying for stuff again I would take him to the police station myself. And I meant it.

At which point a group of older women started sniffing and huffing at mothers today and the above comment was made. Honestly it took everything in me not to go over and tell them off as well! If you want parents to discipline their kids, do not embarrass them and point and judge when they do!! ARRRRGHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

they do turn out to be "I want to therefore I can" people.

Sounds quite positive to me, in certain circumstances.

I don't think it's wrong to tell your kids off in public but there are effective ways of doing it comfortably in between quietly saying "Oh don't do that darling!" (which can be appropriate for minor things) and yelling and swearing like a fishwife.

police station? how old is your DS? seems a teensy bit harsh

but igniore the old bayaches, I got dirty looks for shouting as DS1 in a cafe

I think that the manner in which you (anyone) choose to discipline your children is entirely your business, and if people have time to stand in the street and discuss your parenting methods then they obviously have rather dull lives

Also there are parents who yell at their kids for minor stuff, so then where do you go when they do something major?

Kids also don't learn the difference between right and wrong by being yelled at all the time and never praised. They simultaneously lose confidence, self-respect and don't learn that being good is a good thing. Then they think they may as well behave badly as they'll get yelled at whatever.