Bad Children = Bad Parenting

I absolutely hate the sort of parents who stand lifelessly in a corner and go "No, no, baby. Stop it," like a robot, and do nothing else, when their child is up to mischief or utter rudeness.

Were they waiting for strangers or someone else in the family to discipline their child for them?

I am truly tired of Ethan's (child of Josh's eldest brother) nonsense and his parents who do not seem to be bothered at all.

It was not the first time Ethan grated my nerves.

In February, a day before Ethan's birthday, he came to Josh and I and demanded - and I really mean demanded - to know what we are getting for him as a present.

Pissed off, I told him we have no time to shop for his present. He flashed as a snotty look and said, "Hello! You have only today to buy it because it will be my party tomorrow."

So I went out and bought him a S$5 book.

Hah. His al cheapo parents can't complain. They presented Josh and I a pair of wine glasses for our wedding. I have a good mind to return the wine glasses to them as their house-warming gift!
Anyway, the incidents that prompted this post happened this afternoon.

It was Kieran's (child of Josh's elder sister) birthday party today and when it was time for a photo before the candles were blown out, Ethan conveniently tucked himself between Kieran and his parents.

There was an awkward pause because, I guess, Josh's sis and her husband wanted to have a photo with just their son. But everyone was too polite to tell Ethan to get lost. Well, if Ethan's parents chose to keep quite about their rude son, nobody dared to say anything.

A couple of camera clicks later, I could not hold it in anymore and told Ethan to move along so Kieran can have a photo with his family.

Only then, Moley-Moley (the brat's mother) mumbled to her son to remove himself.

Later, when it was time for Kieran to open his presents, Ethan stepped up and volunteered himself in helping Kieran to open the presents. Then he ripped open EVERY present as Kieran looked on.

Thank goodness Kieran was only two and could not feel angry about having the pleasure of surprises taken from him.

Again, Ethan's parents stood aside and grunted an occassional "Don't do that" or "Why are you opening baby's presents?", but did absolutely nothing to stop their child's rudeness.

Needless to say, I played the devil again and boomed sacarstically, "Ethan, I didn't know it was your birthday! You have opened ALL the presents like they are yours!"

His lifeless parents then grunted something again that made nary an impression on their child, so the brat went on to rip up the last of the present.

That last present happened to be for Kaitlyn and father-in-law called out to Ethan to halt. Ethan looked up in surprise for a moment, but eventually went on to strip the last remaining piece of wrapper off the present.

Urgh.

Whatever is the point in sending a child for piano, abacus and whatever lessons when nothing on manners is being imparted?

That is why the new generation is falling to rot. And the parents are to be blamed.

Parents now have no energy or determination in disciplining their child. So many times I have seen nonchalant parents who let their children ricochet off the walls of trains, buses and shopping mall as they themselves browse clothes racks, read their magazine or play their iPhones or some handheld game gizmo.

Then when their child gets his little toe jammed in the escalator, fall over the railings in the mall or break his leg from leaping off a bench, these lifeless parents suddenly come to life and aggressively blame the train station, bus company and mall operators for an unsafe environment.

Or when a stranger, who is almost going deaf from the relentless shrieks of a wayward child who is not reined in by his obviously dead parents, decides to tell the kid off, the parents would get all defensive and post something like this on Stomp.

The person who made that post deserves every bit of insult tossed her way. Hah.

Being young is no excuse for being a nuisance in public.

Parents now should be like parents of the past, parents like mine, who let the child know right away that nonsense is not tolerated within the house or outside.

Whenever my brothers and I, when we were kids, misbehaved in public or at a house party, dad would stand up, grab us and leave for home. We came to learn that misbehaviour would bring a premature end to fun time, so we always tried to behave.

That's how manners ought to be taught.

And the use of the cane, and even a leather belt with a metal buckle, is always a great way to teach a child.