A point of view from a parent with 3 kids --- about screaming kids in public places.

[trumad]

I've read with amusement the last couple of days the threads that have been discussing babies who simply can't keep it quite in places that uhhh you wish they were quite in. Restaurants, Movies, Airplanes, etc.

I have 3 kids-- 13--12 and 10. As you can see by their ages, they're pretty close together in age, hence at one time, I had to deal with 3 infants at one time. Times have changed because now instead of screaming, they argue if they can have a soft drink, or why a 10 dollar spending limit is not enough.

Here's the thing... I understand both sides of the debate. As a parent who has had a screaming kid or two in public places, I know how difficult it can be. I used every trick in the book to calm them down but sometimes to no avail. And here's what I did different that some of the parents I see today. I removed my kid(s)from the place he or she was pitching a fit in. I was always aware of those around me and I had a very fast trigger if the kid got out of hand. Usually the kid would calm down and I'd try again. Sometimes that didn't work and we'd get our food to go.

I've read several comments that said they scream because of a lack of discipline. LOL--- Well I say Bullshit to that. Babies---Infants--- are just that--- Babies and Infants. They can be pretty unpredictable. That's life. NOW--- if the screamer was a 3 year old who was pitching a fit... well--- that's a bit different. They're old enough to know about consequences for their behavior.

Here's the other side of the coin. There are parents out there who could care less that they are inconveniencing others around them. AND that bugs the shit out of me. Even as a trained parent of ex-screaming kids,--- I hate to hear screaming kids in public places. I mean for God sakes, God made a kids scream with that pitch for a reason--- to get attention. It's just not pleasant on the ears. My patience with a screaming kid is just a bit better than someone without kids cause I've been through it--- but it aint that much better.

Nothing bugs me more than to be sitting in a movie or a restaurant and hear a screaming kid with parents who are oblivious to the racket the kid is making. IT aint the kid that's bugging me--- it's the God Damn inconsiderate parent! If I hear a screaming kid and see a parent who's trying to do something about it--- and eventually removes the kid---well I think... Good Parent. If I hear a screaming kid and the parents do nothing---- I think---Bad Parent--Bad Citizen...

It's really that simple.

Now airplanes. That's a whole different can of worms.

Face it--- Infants and Babies are going to fly. I do not see airlines losing revenue because some are upset over a screaming baby. So what to do. Uhhhh nothing really.

I flew Southwest the other day and ALMOST sat behind a screaming baby. Southwest allows you to pick your own seat--- so when I boarded, I picked my seat only to realize that a baby was in the row in front of me. I SAID SHIT--- BABY! I immediately got out of that row and sat several rows back from that baby. AND guess what? That baby cried from Nashville to Orlando. At one point the frustrated mother angrily screamed at the baby...STOP IT! The baby didn't stop. Oh well...

Maybe the airlines ought to have baby sections at the rear or front of the planes AND those who sit next to the baby section can buy cheaper tickets for the inconvenience. Maybe the airlines can provide better headphones to customers or even ear plugs. Or maybe they can lock the kids in the cargo hold--- (do I have to do a wink emoticon for that one?)

Like I said--- I get both points of view. I'm a little more sympathetic because I've been through it--- BUT I also know that there are parents out there who are doing their best to ruin it for parents who give a shit.