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wailing kids

3/27/2024

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Is it just me or… wait a sec. I’m going to walk that back, because my research revealed it’s not just me. In fact, of the 10 folks I spoke to about the issue I’m about to define, every last one of them agreed with me.
So, here’s the question: are members of the younger generation content to let their screaming babies wail away forever with no concern for other people in the same area (i.e. like in a plane or in a restaurant).
Example: the recent 5 ½ hour flight I endured featured a baby who screamed most of the time. Despite most of us “at a certain age” staring at the mom, she seemed satisfied with avoiding any kind of discipline to hush the baby. (You always wonder if you should get up and have a chat with a parent like this, but I guess I’m just not that kind of aggressive guy. Mind you, the thought sure crossed my mind, and I’m sure it did with others.)
I’ve been noticing this trend in public areas beyond airplanes as well, such as in restaurants. And it leaves me wondering: are the parents oblivious, unaware that folks nearby are not keen to hear their baby screaming ad infinitum? Or do they lack the ability to discipline the child? Or do they worry that expressing a bit of authority with the child now will provoke awful problems for the kid later on?
Heck, when I raised my two sons, we did lots of travelling on airplanes. To prepare for this, I’d bring games, pacifiers, etc. Oh, and I also packed my own sense of logic for the rare moments when one of them took it upon himself to begin wailing about something.  I’d let him go for just a bit, to see if this was just a momentary situation. And if not, I‘d hold the child in my arms and explain he just couldn’t bother other people by screaming. Did he understand my words? No, of course not, but you could tell he did get that I wasn’t happy about something. And he’d stopped crying, Then, I’d hold him and tell him what a great kid he was.
My sons grew up normally and certainly the odd bit of discipline I applied over the years brought no ill effects into their lives.
I think most of us were never afraid to inject the odd bit of discipline into the rearing of our kids. And I sure wish those up-and-coming parents would do the same thing. It’s only fair to other people around them who do not find their baby’s screaming endearing at all.


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