3 year olds DO need to learn that they don't get everything they want by crying, and the mother is the one who has to live with the ongoing tantrums if they don't learn it because of other people's indulgence. It's on a par with some large, dog-loving adult rewarding my big dog for jumping up on him. My dog knows better, but it's impossible to fix this issue when random strangers insist it's all right. It's not all right, and they aren't the ones that will pay the price if he jumps up on a kid or small adult and knocks him or her down.
Furthermore, however much the 3 year old was crying, catching the ball did NOT have even close to the same meaning to him that it did to the couple that caught it. Tots cry rivers about anything and everything one minute, and have forgotten it the next.
Personally, I am sick to death of spoiled, obnoxious brats that haven't learned they can't get everything they want by crying, whining, etc. They grow into adult spoiled obnoxious brats who pull the same shit...at work, dating, etc. 
Edit history
= new reply since forum marked as read
