To tell random parents I think their children are well behaved

[Tootytata]

I'm sitting in an airport waiting to board my flight (by myself since it's work related). A family with 6 children are sitting opposite me. They've been sitting there for about 30 minutes but the children are so well behaved. Ages probably ranging from 3-4 to 13-14years old.

The oldest is doing a crossword puzzle. One of the children is trying to make the another laugh by giving him a teddy bear.

I'm sure not every day is sunshine and roses but I'd love to tell them how well behaved I think their children are. Don't think I will though because it's too random a comment to make! I'll look weird won't I?!

I've been up since 3am so tiredness is kicking in...

Definitely do it!

Yes it's fine.

I do this. (I also tell people in the communal bit of clothes shop changing rooms if I think a dress looks really fab on them).

I was so stressed when I travelled alone with my 2. After our flight, a stranger stopped me to say how well behaved my dc were. It meant so much to me! definitely tell them :-)

I would do that too and I compliment strangers in changing rooms :)

I'm sure they would appreciate it

Someone did this to me 25 years ago and it made me very happy. So I do it now when I see a lovely family. No ones not responded well to it so far.

Definitely do this. A man said the same to us recently in a cafe (our 3 kids were quietly reading books) and it made my day! Lovely for my kids to get the positive reinforcement too.

I love it when people say this to us, so yes - do it!

Yes do. We get it occasionally and it's really lovely

Someone did this to me once and said he could tell I'd worked hard to bring them up well. I was having a tough time at the time and I can honestly say it was one of the highlights of my life. It meant so much to me that it had come from a stranger.

Do it!

Tell them! Someone once came up to me at the luggage pick up and told me that I was a great mum when I got off the flight with my 2&4 year old and it made my year! She’d been the row behind me apparently as I entertained them with the usual sticker books, puzzles and snacks.

Definitely. It always makes me so happy when someone says similar to me - and often comes at a time when say, the previous hour has been a challenge!

Tell them. A lady once went out of her way to stop me and tell me what lovely children I had and, honestly, it meant the world. Most parents are doing their best and it makes a difference if someone notices their efforts. Also, it encourages the children to keep up their behaviour.

Another vote for 'do this'. I have had this happen a couple of times, and it is lovely to hear.

Someone told me in MacDonald's once that my (autistic, excluded from school son - who can pass as NT in certain circs) was such a polite, well mannered boy and it was lovely to see as you don't always these days. I nearly cried.

...cried in a good way that is. Made my day.

Yes that’s a lovely compliment. Not all children are able to be like this though. Temperament, additional needs etc.

Lots of people do this. It’s not weird at all it’s really nice.

It's a lovely thing to hear, do it!

I have been approached a few times to tell me how well behaved my boys are (they tend to be angels in public and save all the screaming and fighting for when we pass the threshold of our house) but it always makes me feel great and proud and make me feel I am doing something right and usually beaming with pride! I would tell them!

Do it! Someone said to me and DS in a restaurant how well behaved he was (I know! Equally of course they all have their moments)

I was over the moon

Yes I would tell them.

Also, if I've ever had a really useful employee help me when shopping, I'll stop by customer services and tell them so. Someone told me that it gets noted and it can help when it comes to job reviews, promotions etc.

In life, we're quick to point it out when things are bad, it's nice to highlight the good we see.

When we were in America a few years back, I'd often get Americans stopping to mention my kids, this one lady said she'd watched my toddler playing in a water park, how brave he was for a little one. We're so insular here, it was really refreshing.

Definitely do it - two people did this to me on two flights - flying alone with 2 kids - made my day.
it wouldn't happen now sadly, I am absolutely dreading the flight with DS

Do it. My MIL still happily remembers the time a man came up to her is a restaurant to say how well behaved her two sons were.