Sometimes I absolutely hate to go shopping. Especially if I have a headache or I'm having a bad day. Seems like there is always at least one person shopping who cannot control their child. And you see the mother looking frustrated, yet she is doing nothing to stop the child from running amok in the aisles or screaming hysterically in the shopping cart. Why is that? My mother didn't tolerate behavior like that from me, I wouldn't tolerate it from my child. I think it's a simple as making the child know if they don't behave this time, they won't go next time. When I used to manage a convenience store, there was a woman that lived next door that would let her little boy come with her to the store almost everyday. He was always so well behaved. Then one day he stole something. She made him bring it back and apologize. After that, for a week, when she had to come to the store not only did he have to stay home... he had to sit on the couch and think about what happens when you do things you're not supposed to do. She said he cried every time. And it worked. If I have kids, I'll try that because I know it works. If parents would reward good behavior and punish bad behavior, shopping would be more pleasant for everyone. As a kid, I always knew if I was good I'd get something... usually a book or small toy. And if I was bad, I'd get a spanking (only happened once...that's all it took).

I have to admit, this kind of complaint from nonparents, is a huge peeve of mine. LOL Even though I made the same complaint all the time before I had a kid. Now I just know a LOT better.

1. I can't afford a babysitter. 2. I'm the only one who provides care for him. Sure his dad plays with him when it's convenient, as does his grandma. But we need groceries and things even when there's noone else around to watch him because he got in trouble. I can't NOT get these things.

Do you REALLY think that the frustrated parent wouldn't LOVE to just not have to bring the kid?? I would cut off an arm to have the luxury of not taking my son with me or having to tolerate his misbehavior in public. And goodness knows you can't really discipline your child in public anymore. People get OFFENDED! I'm not kidding. You certainly can't spank them. I don't spank anyway. My son gets a time out in the car, or as soon as we get home. Depending on what we're doing. If it's something where I don't have a cart of items we'll go out to the car, but in a grocery or something. I can't reasonably do that.

He does get disciplined when and where it's appropriate, and I'm sure most of the other children do too. My little guy is 3, he tests the boundaries. He's learning, but frankly, the nonparent who's irritated, gets to go home and be in peace. Not me!!! lol I have another 15 years of struggling with it.

Right now I am a nonparent but thats changing soon. I also cannot stand going in a grocery store and hearing a kid screaming at the top of his/her lungs and throwing a tantrum. Personally, I believe in spankings....I guess because I grew up in the south and everyone there did it. You could even get spankings from the teachers at school when I was growing up. I think I'd have to take my little one off to the bathroom and give them a swat to get them to straighten up. I dunno, I know its not socially acceptable to smack your kids but you know most of us mid to older grown ups got them as children. I think kids behave better if they know they might get a spanking for the bad behavior.

Most cities have at least one 24 hour grocery store. If I had a child that refused to behave when I took them shopping with me, there would be some point in the day when somebody else would be home. That is when I would shop. I have no doubt it's not easy on the frustrated mom either, but like I said, my mom never put up with that, and I don't plan to put up with that from my children. My mom spanked me once, I hope I never have to resort to that, but I'm not beyond it if nothing else works.

I remember just smacking my kids. I never had a problem putting them over my knee and beating them in public. Now people call the cops if you even raise your voice. It is ridiculous.