What was most interesting to me in this article was that she says we're aware that US parents have a parenting problem.

http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB10001424052970204740904577196931457473816-lMyQjAxMTAyMDAwMzEwNDMyWj.html

So true. My experience with bratty children is that they're actually miserable not having any boundaries. It is a relief for the child to be told, very clearly and consistently, what the boundaries are. Another key difference is for the parent to crouch down and make eye contact. I often see parents yelling or doing too much explaining, but much of it goes over the child's head (literally :) Get down to the kid's level and look 'em in the eye and say calmly, "No."

This almost made me cry but I was going into a grocery store with my daughter and there was a little boy maybe 2 or 3 who was just a couple steps ahead of a mom and there were NO cars at all around because it was almost closing time.

The woman starts SCREAMING at him to the point that I can hear plainly across the parking lot

"Don't FUCKING run into the street. Come here you FUCKING DUMBASS".

I almost burst into tears. It was like seeing my own childhood (though I was much older).

I wanted to go say something but I was in shock at the time.

I just wanted to go give that little boy a hug and rescue him.

I think I often see a lot of parenting bad examples.

I want to avoid as much as I can so I read as many parenting books as I can afford and such. I think kids need and crave discipline. It makes them feel cared for if you do it a loving but firm way.

How true, how true. 

I know I have no children, but I have brought up a lot of dogs over the years, and learning to be "alpha" with the dogs seems to have carried over to how I interact with others' children.  I've been telling people for many years that "No" means "I love you" more than "yes" does.

Many years ago I was on a camping trip in Big Sur with a huge extended "family" of friends, for Thanksgiving.  There was a newly divorced father there with his 8 year old daughter.  She was making his and everyones' life a living hell, to the point where she started kicking her father.  I asked if I could step in, and he said yes.  I took her to her tent, screaming (her, not me), sat her down in there, and told her that until she stopped screaming, and learned to wait for her father's attention without kicking him, she was going to stay there.  It took about 45 minutes of temper tantrum, the father and myself sitting outside the entrance of the tent, but finally she stopped her crying and screaming, and came out.  We all had kisses and hugs, and she wasn't a problem for the rest of the weekend.

@egiyablu wow that is a horrible way to treat a child. Some people should NOT be parents. It makes me sick to my stomach when I witness shit like that. I don't blame you for almost bursting into tears! 

@ruth "No" means I love you more than "yes" does." So true. I like to watch Supernanny for this reason. Being loving yet firm, at setting and maintaing boundaries. She's like the Cesar Millan for improper parenting. 

@Rachel - And I mean, these parents when their kids grow up and start cursing and misbehaving wonder why their kids are doing it? It's so sad. How can you expect a child to control themselves if you can't control your own temper in front of them?

Exactly!