If the child has that much control (dictating what (s)he will eat at family meal is just a start) over his parents, how much more control will (s)he have when of mature age. I find the coddling of children has resulted in so many other issues today that weren't there 20 to 30 years ago. If I were to spank my child due to misbehavior in public, I would probably have the cops called on me for child abuse, but that was the way I was raised, and I turned out fine.