Originally Posted by
sl0uch
While raising me (early 80s), my mother went to extremes to make sure I wouldn't be bothersome to others for extended periods. If this meant she couldn't go out and shop and dine, or travel like people with no kids, then so be it, that's the cost of having children. If you don't have a handle on how to help the child maintain a pleasant existence in public, don't take them out. For her, to leave her kid out and about annoying others, is a very big violation of her moral values and philosophy, even though she was the farthest thing from a helicopter parent.
<APPLAUSE>
Thank you so much for verbalizing what I have been feeling all my life!!!
So many parents these days don't want to make any sacrifices or lifestyle adjustments when they have children. They do all the things (such as long-haul international travel) they did when they were childless, and when the kids don't react well, the parents just shrug and say "Oh well, kids will be kids." These folks drive me crazy.
And yes, I am a parent.