AIBU to think it's sad that we don't integrate a little more?
So, for example, if you are in a lengthy queue in a bank and there's a woman there, also queueing, with a small, bored child, we don't feel it's OK to get our children to help entertain/play with the child? Or even chat to the child ourselves - because they'll often be less bored with another person. Or we could let our older child queue and entertain the other woman's child. Or tell the woman we'll hold her place if she wants to take the child out for a minute.
It's true that some people aren't good at parenting - it's a skill, and some people haven't been taught it. Which is sad for them and their children. But those people are usually few and there is often a good reason for situations like this. eg. child has just gone past their limit but mother has to stay put for some reason.
Instead of thinking Other Mother is a slacker, not pulling her weight in the economy of childcare, it might make all the difference to lend a hand.
that said, going back to my first question, such is our social set up that, genuinely, such offers of help are, in fact, likely to be met with a. rejection b. even an angry response because we are, as a culture, very much steeped in an attitude that you should do your own parenting and "help" is only given and accepted in situations of obvious failure.
It's a shame.