While listening to the howls, the caterwauls, the ear-splitting, soul retching wails of a tot in a stroller, it became clear from the head-shaking and raised eyebrows exchanged between the onlookers that no one was thinking, "Looks like someone is overdue for a nap," or "Poor thing's miserable with this nasty cold going around I bet," or "Little bugger was just told 'no' when they wanted something." Of course not. We were thinking what every person thinks when they see a stranger's child screaming its head off...whomever is pushing the stroller is an unfit parent who smacks the kid around.
Posted by Antigeist at January 27, 2006 11:00 AMi always knew everybody was thinking that. i think they're thinking that now.
Posted by: anne at January 27, 2006 12:05 PMThis is exactly why children of the four-legged variety are my favorites! (And no college tuition to worry about.)
And along the lines of the unfit parent thought... when faced with the typical bad-ass child run amuck while shopping, I am often tempted to say "Are YOU going to discipline your child, or should I do it for you?" It's called spanking--look into it. That time out crap is useless.
Posted by: Kathleen at January 27, 2006 03:48 PMI agree about the four legged kids, however I can't get behind you on the spanking. I was never spanked, not once...and look what an honest, decent, polite, lady-like person I turned out to be!
Oh, wait. Nevermind.
Posted by: antigeist at January 27, 2006 03:54 PMI was spanked as a kid, but only for a really good reason. Always knew when I had gone too far, and tried to run upstairs to my room, but never made it there until after. I turned out just fine--mom and dad did a great job.
Posted by: Kathleen at January 27, 2006 03:58 PMAre you bragging, complaining, or making poetry out of our search term statistics, monk?
Posted by: antigeist at January 27, 2006 04:14 PM