to wonder if adults should automatically win over children

[noblegiraffe]

My DS is nearly 2 and a half and has developed a very bossy streak. Part of this bossy streak means that if he is watching Thomas and DH and I are talking, he will turn to us and say 'No, stop talking, watching Thomas'.

Now, it drives me mad if I'm trying to watch TV and people are talking. To say 'Tough, Mummy and Daddy are talking' just feels wrong as his complaint is reasonable and we could be quieter. But then I don't want him becoming a little dictator with us bending to his every whim and tiptoeing around him.

What would you do?

Guardian about obedient children
quite appropriate

I would say "Oh I'm sorry my little cherub, was mummy and daddy talking spoiling your tv programme....I do apologise. Tell you what? Why don't daddy and I take our discussion elsewhere, and meanwhile you can decide what daddy spends his wages on this month. The Argos catalogue is right over there! Here's the remote control!"

Your poor child. Even if you meant it sarcastically. Especially as you meant it sarcastically.

Lifechanger - don't be silly. I wouldn't say anything of the sort. That was aimed at people reading here, not depicting what I would say to my kid ffs! To clarify, kids tv programmes don't get priority in here. "No - stop talking - watching Thomas" would not have me told! None of my kids would be so precocious as to tell me to stop talking anyway.

My kids are happy wee souls, well behaved, polite and easygoing. This is owing to the fact that I am the adult here - I'm in charge, and they have boundaries. My poor child, my arse! Hahaha!

teachers who also have 20 other 4 year olds to take care of, most of whom will do as they're asked, when they're asked to do it..

LeQueen, you'll probably find that those 20 other 4 year olds are children of people like posters in this thread who don't believe in "winning" over children, but don't tolerate bad behaviour either.

Oh - and I would actually consider myself quite liberal parent. I'm easy going too - but not to the point where we all have to sit in silence in reverance to Thomas the Tank Engine. We have a 10 year old, a 4 year old and a nearly three year old in this small house. It's noisy with different things going on all the time.
I certainly wouldn't expect my kids to be quiet so I could watch some shit on daytime tv either. Fuck the telly!

Nice MN usage of precocious ;-)

That article makes me feel a bit sick! How worrying it is!

Dealing with Year 7s is becoming harder year on year, as the words 'Do as you're told' provoke angry reaction in increasing numbers of children :(

Of course someone has to be in charge, both at home & at school. Without this, children feel insecure.

It's not usually the 'poorer' kids who behave like this, interestingly ... it's the ones brandishing £400 Blackberries and showing off in the latest Holister tops.