Reply #71: How do you know that no one offered?

[enlightenment]

Pretty broad sweep of your brush.

There are a BOATLOAD of parents out there who think "it takes a village" means that the village has to tolerate their brats' behaviour while they blithely ignore it. It doesn't mean that they would allow anyone to so much as look at their kid, much less suggest they cease and desist. It's a one-way street. Love my kid - or else.

I've offered to assist parents with out-of-control kids in public places and have more than once been shot down for my efforts. "Don't need help" "If you have a problem with my child, why don't you just leave?" "who the hell do you think you are, trying to tell me how to raise my kid?"

All that for offering to HELP. Distract them; help clean up a spill; find a missing toy . . . Not yelling, cursing or telling them to "shut the hell up."

I've got plenty of humanity, lady - but there are a lot of very selfish and self-absorbed parents out there who think the sun shines out of their little darling's arse. There are also a lot of parents who will gratefully accept help.

I strongly suspect someone offered to help these women, because there IS a lot of humanity out there. I'd be willing to bet, though, that mom and auntie told them to mind their own business.