a cop out?

[AlwaysConfused]

Quite often when I'm at work, or just out and about, a parent will shout at their unruly child 'If you don't behave that lady will be cross' and 'behave, or that lady will tell you off', pointing towards me. ME? I have NO intention upon disciplining your child, do it yourself! Don't make me out to be the bad guy, I'm not the one that can't control my kid.

I agree with parents trying to teach their little ones that their behaviour impacts upon others, but Parents should manage their own children and not threaten them with a third party. How would they react if I actually told the child off?

Am I just being miserable?

[hc4361]

It used to be 'Wait till your father gets home!'

Maybe there is a lack of fathers these days.

[AlwaysConfused]

I was out walking my well behaved dog earlier, who was on her lead, and a parent said to their child 'if you don't behave, that dog will come and bite you'. What!?!

[AlwaysConfused]

'Wait until your father hears about this' always scared the hell out of me!

[tonyav]

Yep, wait till your dad get's home, always worked on me.

[hc4361]

Same with me! But if I wanted to do something that I knew mum would say 'no' to, I'd ask dad first. Usually worked.

[B00]

Memories!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mbsEYoKm9X8

[Stephen_G]

Used to happen with me too, AC. Drove me up the wall. Half the time I used to shake my head toward the kid if their parents weren't watching.

[Krausse]

"That lady" is not you. It is just someone else, other than the parent, that the child can focus on for a millisecond to take away the responsibility, from the parent (or guardian), of having an unruly child !