Parental Control on Public Transport

[Ridgley]

I was on the 78 this evening, when this women with her 2 year old child boarded the bus this little horror fought his mother as they sat down this child started to kick scream and shout, she then gave her child some water to calm him down but that made things worse this child threw some of and hit another passenger she did apologise.

The child still continue to play up she just ignored him I said to her you need to control your child she just gave me a look and carried on ignoring her Childs behaviour this dopy mother and little monster finally got off the bus at the Old Kent Road the other passengers could not believe how this women allowed her child to behave if you do not teach your child how to behave in public this child will not know right from wrong

[Ondine]

You might be right but I would just say don't be too quick to judge. I have several friends with autistic children, who are regularly told off for "not teaching their child how to behave in public"

[DulwichFox]

Hi Ridgley,

Last year my 83 year old Mum boarded one of those single decker buses

She has had hip surgery and walks with a stick.

A young lad got up....

A woman, presumably his Mother said to him, "What are you doing"?

The lad said, "I'm letting that old lady sit down"

"Sit Down !! " said his Mother.

There is no hope. The lad was a good decent boy. His Mother ....????

[womanofdulwich]

that is such a sad story it makes me want to leave London. Why do so many people turn a blind eye to this sort of thing?

[EDmummy]

Afraid I am with Ondine but difficult to comment without witnessing what happened. Both child and parent could be at the end of a long day (mum at work, child at nursery) and the trip just happens to be in that golden 'child meltdown' hour.

WOD, 'turn a blind eye'? What were the other passengers meant to do? Does this only happen in London?

[Pearson]

I too am with Ondine and Edmummy!

Thats all :)

[legalbeagle]

Ondine Wrote:

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> You might be right but I would just say don't be

> too quick to judge. I have several friends with

> autistic children, who are regularly told off for

> "not teaching their child how to behave in public"

And another vote for Ondine here. I've been that woman and trust me it's heartbreaking. Don't judge her, or the child, till you know. In fact don't judge them at all. You might be in need to some good old fashioned understanding one day.......

[Moos]

Oh, sod it. I'm not going to play.

[legalbeagle]

*insert southern irish accent*

Aaaaaah Go On.

[SeanMacGabhann]

Careful now

[legalbeagle]

Down with that saaaart of thing.......

[womanofdulwich]

I meant the 83 year old woman- people outside of London would have been more likely to stand for her.

[woofmarkthedog]

Poor woman, it can grind you down though

Never mind Ridgley, you got home ok

Try the number 12 next time, though Camberwell green gets a little lively at times

W**F

[RosieH]

womanofdulwich Wrote:

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> I meant the 83 year old woman- people outside of

> London would have been more likely to stand for

> her.

Do you have some statistical evidence for this. I've been outside London occasionally when they let me, and people were no more friendly nor more likely to stand up on a bus. Of course, if you have facts that prove otherwise...

[Ridgley]

I understand what your are saying, Ondine in regards to autistic children or children with behavior problems but that is no excuse not to teach your child right from wrong I do have friends who have children with these problems but they are taught from an early age and you will be surprise how much of an understanding they really have.

[DulwichFox]

People are missing the point.

In the case of my 83 year mum. The lad DID stand up

but was told my his mother to sit back down.

It's about parents.

[womanofdulwich]

I know I know that is what it so sad. The selfishness and ignorance.

[legalbeagle]

Ridgley Wrote:

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> I understand what your are saying, Ondine in

> regards to autistic children or children with

> behavior problems but that is no excuse not to

> teach your child right from wrong I do have

> friends who have children with these problems but

> they are taught from an early age and you will be

> surprise how much of an understanding they really

> have.

Well I wouldn't be surprised because I do it every day with my kids. So I'll say again, don't judge them. None of us are perfect - did you never have an off day and then hope you'd be forgiven later?

[Ridgley]

We all have off days, but that does not mean you ignore your child behaviour

[brum]

We all have off days, but that does not mean you ignore your child behaviour

Conversely, ignoring bad behaviour can actually be a good tactic to stop it happening again. If the child thinks that being bad gets them attention, they will repeat it.

[ratty]

brum Wrote:

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> We all have off days, but that does not mean you

> ignore your child behaviour

>

> Conversely, ignoring bad behaviour can actually be

> a good tactic to stop it happening again. If the

> child thinks that being bad gets them attention,

> they will repeat it.

Which is precisely why I can oft be spotted dragging my screaming 3 year old round Sainsburys!

[legalbeagle]

Ridgley Wrote:

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> We all have off days, but that does not mean you

> ignore your child behaviour

Well I take my hat off to you Ridgley. I aspire to your level of calm ability to always do the right thing no matter the circumstances.

[shell_8]

I used to live in Herne Hill and regularly took the 42 into work. Every day a family got on in Camberwell that never failed to amaze me - a woman and 4 children aged between about 5 and 10.

3 of the children would run onto the bus shouting, then swing on the poles, step on peoples feet, swear and generally cause mayhem. The 4th child (a little girl of about 7) would sit quietly and read a book. In the 18 months I got this bus the mother didn't once tell off the 3 boisterous children. However she regularly took the book from the little girl, hit her over the head with it and told her she was boring and read too much for someone her age. She would then be encouraged to run around with her brothers and sisters.

I was younger then and the woman looked a little scary so I didn't say anything to her but it struck me that that poor little girl really didn't stand a chance.

[TillieTrotter]

Bring back smacking!!! That'll learn the little effers.

[Ridgley]

Very rare occasion I was smacked as a child :)