Why can't parents control their kids?

Question

I was at the bus stop with my child this morning and this punk kid keep throwing things into the street. the mother was there and did not do a thing about it.

My husband and I both take our child to the bus stop. This women obviously is a single mom that does not know how to discipline her child.

Answer 1

If she is a single  mom then you dont understand, and you shouldnt be trying to judge people.  

Answer 2

Well while i am a cool young mom, i would have to say that it's pure lazyness, and just not caring about people around them.

If my kid was doing that, I would be there correcting the problem.

Answer 3

First of all, respect is earned. Secondly, I agree with the comment above. Being a single mother has absolutely nothing to do with it. It's really not 'obvious'.  

His behavior is unacceptable because depending on what he's throwing in the street, it could have the possibility to hit or damage a car,  but I like to give people the benefit of the doubt. For instance, maybe this child is a handful and the parent is 'picking' her battles.  Maybe she really doesn't see anything wrong with it or doesn't realize what the consequences are. (everyone's standards are different).  

If you were worried that what he was throwing into the street could damage a car or another person, than I would GENTLY make a comment to the mother. Instead of judging her and 'shaming' her. Say something like 'Ma'am, your child is throwing rocks in the street and I'm worried that they will damage a passing car'   Then let the mother decide what to do from there.

It's not your right or responsibility to discipline, judge or shame another person.

Answer 4

Oh Man...Is that RAT HUSBAND of yours seeing that HOT Single MOM AGAIN?  THAT BAST*RD!  LOL

Answer 5

Why is she 'obviously a single mom'?

Are you implying that single moms can't control their kids?

If so, grow up, my mom was single and I was a VERY respectful and well behaved child, my grandparents said once out of 17 years of knowing me did they have to punish me.

Now onto your question, parents like to let the TV watch their kids, they don't want to put in the effort it takes to actaully discipline their children.

Answer 6

Not all parents can't control their kids.

   I think your judgement is harsh as parenting is both the hardest job on earth, and the one that comes with the least amount of training.

    The other thing is that it's possible that the mother was chosing to ignore the behaviour. Parenting involves choosing your battles, and maybe this one was just too insignificant to start a row.

Answer 7

I'll think the same of you when you go out alone with your child. I wouldn't just stand there in disgust on how a bad parent you are, I would say it to your face.

Answer 8

How do you know she's a single mom???

Oh, I get it now:  She MUST be a single mom because only single mom's let their kids litter. And the child has no discipline.  AHHH, I COMPLETELY understand now.

Spoken by someone who is completely ignorant.

I'd love to see how this woman would react if you had the balls to say this to her face.  Oh, sorry.  I forgot.  You're a wimp and you have to talk about people behind their backs.  I get it.

Hope your wearing your helmet darling because you are about to fall off your high horse.

LOL

Answer 9

Who do you think he learned the behavior from?

I would have said something to shame the parent.  Such as, "Is your son's behavior acceptable to you?"  

Answer 10

Maybe her house burned down and her husband turned out to be a cross-dressing-prostitute that likes to sing. Loudly.

Ah.

One will never know what was going through her mind...

Don't judge, love.

You never know... Maybe her buttons just got pushed too much and she's wondering if she should jump in front of the bus and frankly doesn't care.

You never know.

But the littering bothers me. Immensely.

Ah well. It's passed now.

And don't go all 'She's a single mom' - that just sounds - crude. It has nothing to do with parenting skills.

Next time you can very politely tell the kid to stop littering. That could help.

Answer 11

The kid should have threw something at your head.  It might have knocked some sense into you and stop you from asking all these stupid questions about single parents.  

Answer 12

This has nothing to do with the fact that she is a single mom.  You seem to have some sort of problem with single moms as you mention kids with disciplinary problems as always having single moms.  Kids with 2 parents often have discipline problems as well.  A lot of parents can control their kids, but don't take the steps necessary to do so.  They just aren't doing it.  I am not sure if it is ignorance or they just are afraid to upset the child.  

Answer 13

They don't want to take control of their kids.

Either they are scared because people say everything is "child abuse", they want to be their bff, or they simply don't care.

It's ridiculous, in my opinion. but what can you do?

Also, it has nothing to do with "single parents". Anyone "married or single" can be a crappy parent.

Answer 14

This is LIFE.

People are STUPID.

People are LAZY.

People are ARROGANT.

People are JACKASSES.

Answer 15

Most parents today, just refuse to discipline their kids. They feel it's better to be best friends with their kids, then be their parents. That's why you have kids mouthing off to other grown ups, and running out in the streets late at night. Back in my day, if we did something like that we got swatted, and we never did it again. It was the best thing for us. If parents only did that today, instead of "talking" children would be more respectful. Parents feel because they got a whoopin, they needed therapy because of it, and don't want to put their kids through that. They want their kids to like them. They're not suppose to like you, just respect you. If they like you on top of it, great. But kids today lack respect. It's time for parents to get it back.  

Answer 16

I'm not exactly sure what you have against single moms, but I honestly think that you need to cool it. Your irritating a lot of people and its just rude. You don't need two parents to discipline a child. I'm sure that mother works her rear end off and shes probably slightly overwhelmed. Imagine your life as a single mother and throw a little sympathy out there. If it really bothers you, ask the kid to stop! But be careful, maybe his mom will throw you in the street.

Answer 17

simple; child are spawns of satan

all of them

Answer 18

You have a problem with single parents.....

How did you know this mom was a single parent? Are you some sort of physic or are you so ignorant that you feel all single parents are bad parents? I would bet my bottom dollar (and I have a few!) that my oldest children would blow your child away when it came to manners, respect and responsibility!

The way you so readily judge single parents is a good indication of how your own child will turn out. Careful............

Answer 19

What does being a single mother have to do with this?

I have seen many mothers and fathers together that cannot discipline your kids.

Watch what you say as their are alot of single parents out there, that do a far better job then a 2 parent family!!

Answer 20

Laziness.  Pure laziness.

I would have said something.  That's littering and against the law.

Answer 21

Wow, here we go again.  Get a life, will ya, and stop making up stupid questions to insult single moms.  Don't you have better things to do with your time??

Answer 22

And her being a single parent is the whole reason why the child acted out.

You are just plain ignorant.