Why is it that a parent feels embarassed to reprimand a child in public?

Many times I have seen a child screaming for something at a shopping centre. Instead of calmly saying no and dealing with the situation, the parent is afraid to discipline the child or just say NO AND GIVES IN ?Why is it that a parent feels embarassed to reprimand a child in public?
I'm not afraid to reprimand my own children in public. How else do we keep them in line? If they know they can act up without consequence simply because we're at the grocery store, then they'll become little hellions. My rules are the same, no matter where we are.Why is it that a parent feels embarassed to reprimand a child in public?
In my opinion parents shouldn't give in. BUT i feel the reason they do this is because, they may not be positive as what to do in public, or they don't appropriate other people staring and putting there opinions in there. As well as in some cases it is a good lesson to allow the child to have there tantrum. Either way, no matter the reasons, here's my tips for viewers of the tantrum.. MIND YOUR BUSINESS, it is not your child so do not stare it is rude, also do not make comments to the parent, if they want advice they will seek it out. Unless you see a parent choking or doing serious damaged to the kid, leave them alone. That is another reason parents dont discipline, they are fearful of protective services being involved and they smack their kids booty or something.





Parents learn the tools you need to avoid yelling at your kids or giving in(giving in promotes more tantrums)
There are times when the child is in the right. Unfortunately we do not always no the circumstances. Could be the kid had an early sugar breakfast, no lunch, no nap, been out shopping with the 'adult' all day and it's now suppertime . . .


And then there are those who over do it. I had a Mom constantly reprimanding her child not to be in the 'gentleman's' [questionable description of me] way while I could see the child and she was just being a kid (no more than six or eight feet away from Mom all the while, just enjoying the 'sights' of the grocery store (which was not busy at the moment).
I don't think they are embarrassed as much as they are concerned/afraid to. Most these days feel to discipline a child in public is to humiliate them and that it is a horrible act to do so. Many people, although they do not believe that it takes a village to raise a child (meaning other people to step up and say, hey kiddo, you are not supposed to be doing that) are more than willing to put their two cents in when it comes to a parent disciplining their children. Basically, they really expect them parents to have well-behaved children, they just don't want to see how you do it for if they do they know they will most certainly not approve of it.





Edit: Lol, I just thought of a really funny incident I witnessed at Walmart (funny to watch but not funny for the parent). This gentleman was obviously on an outing w/his two sons, one really rather well-behaved and one, well, to be desired for. Anyway, the one to be desired for was informed by his father that he was either permitted to bring home a video game or a toy, not both. The boy told the father that he was going home with both. The father then proceeded to tell him he had to the count of three to decide or he was going home with nothing. The father made it as far as two when he began to plead w/his son. This, the counting then pleading back to counting again, carried on for better than fifteen minutes (I was stuck in the video section with my son who was painstakingly weighing his options with his hard earned snow shoveling money) with the well-behaved son not only looking mildly frustrated and quite embarrassed to boot.
Most parents have no problem reprimanding their children in public. Sure there are isolated cases, like the one you describe, where the parent is at wits end and ';cave-in.';





You might also be witnessing the ';pre-nap meltdown'; and the parent is smart enough to know the child is just acting out of exhaustion. There's no point in fighting a child who's over-tired. The part you don't see is that child falling asleep the second they're in their car seat, headed home.
Because, they're afraid or embarrassed at what others may think. I think it's embarrassing when my kid acts out in public, and it seems like I have no control. But I'm not afraid to discipline my kid in public, anymore. It used to be so frustrating to go anywhere with my son, cause he would act out or be so active and it would frustrate me, so I had to sacrifice a few months of picking up and leaving the store, which he got it worst if I had to. After that, he learned ';If mommy has to leave the store because of me...I'm in big trouble';. Now, it's not so bad, of course I get the occassional ';I want this';, ';buy me this';. But if I say NO, most likely he wont get it, cause I am a sucker for him, but he needs to learn, I mean what I say.





I used to care what others may think, but why ? As long as I'm not abusing my child or taking it out of porportion, they need to mind their business. Any real parent knows what others see may seem severe, but they don't live with you.





I remember one time I saw this lady yell at her kid because she asked to get something to eat at the food court. I thought ';Wow, what a bad mom, her kid is hungry, why yell at her like that'; ?. Than, one day we had plans for a busy day, We ate before we left the house, but my son refused to eat. When we stopped for a meal during the day, he refused to eat again. I at that time got frustrated (because, I could already see what was going to happen), in the middle of our day at the mall as I was ';power shopping';, my son kept complaining ';Mommy Im hungry';, I got so frustrated at him, and said angrily ';NOW YOU HAVE TO WAIT';....he kept complaining. I bet in the other peoples eyes, I looked like a bad mom. And, I thought about that lady and her daughter. After that, I stopped caring what others think. Now, I just prepare myself. I bring a bag of snacks and juice for those moments. And, have it ready just in case, not only for my son but for me too.
I don't think people are, but I think you just get worn down....I don't say no and give in, I usually leave.





That said....I have one child who is a saint....seriously...so well behaved it concerns me...his sister is a MONSTER....no matter what, no matter where, there is usually something.





I used to find myself smug and judgemental against other parents until I had her...I love her with all my heart, but I've learned there are times where you have to get things done and if it means a screaming kid in the store...sorry folks..I only do it in emergencies, otherwise I wait for my husband or leave her with my mom.





Some maybe a bit lazy and afraid to parent...it may be habit..or it may be a REALLY off day where they just came from the oncologist and were told the cancer is back and they are just too tired battle anymore that day.......you really have no way of knowing do you?
i think a lot of it is because of the looks you get from non-parents. i personally don't care. if my son is misbehaving then i'll gladdly tell him off or take him right out of the store and go home where he can go to bed because he's obviously got to be tired.


if he was being an all out brat like laying on the floor screaming and kicking i would either just stand and wit until he was finished or ,if its safe and he was old enough, walk just out of his site (while still keeping a close eye on him)


it annoys me when people give in so easily. they set them selfs up for a horrible little brat of a child!
so the parents dont rip thier eyeballs out from frustration,is why they give in.can you imagine a child throwing a tantrum for an hour or 2 straight,while your trying to get things done..in your ear nonstop?? i can,..it isnt fun.its actually frazzling.to each his own.but the parents should say something like 1 more time bucko and your going to be punished.and follow through when they go home,but do keep them satisfied at the store.but do not give in after your home.stick with the punishment.
Because there was a lot of backlash about that kind of discipline at the height of babyboomer parenting. Everything was supposed to be ';positive';. Abuse or poor parenting seems to be aligned with anything that is not flowers and unicorns.
i have a few times were it has happend to me


a lot of the times its cos u just dont wanna deal with the stress


or u feel like everyone is gona judge the way you deal with you kids its hard to control a k谋d when he or she has a bad temper
What do you mean, just in public??





People can't even say no at home these days, and when they do, baby starts crying crocodile tears, and it's all *there there baby, Mummy is sorry*
Simple. No backbone! They let the child rule the house so, why would they not let the child rule when in public?
For fear of some ';do gooder'; reporting them for abuse!! Everyone feels they have to act like perfect parents.
They fell like that the other adults around will think the parent is a bad trainer for kids.
parents give in so we are not jugded by others and dont screamm at the top of our lungs like some mad person ha ha