Children these days..

On thurs, after breaking fast outside, I was queuing up at Prima Deli to get a waffle when i caught a glimpse of an example how much face children these days are given and the extent to which they are pampered by their parents.

There was this chubby young girl, probably about 5-7 years old at most in the shop with her dad while her mum was in the queue to order the waffle. She was saying something to her dad, to which he started to respond, and she, not agreeing with what he was saying just hit him on the chest and went 'shut up! ur stupid'. I was for a moment stunned and thought my ears registered otherwise, but she repeated it again.

The father casually looked around at the moment and his eyes caught mine. And what i think i saw in his eyes was a slightly embarassed look at what his daughter had just said. But what do you think he said or did to her? NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING. Boy, was i amazed at his patience. Shortly after, this girl (who as i mentioned earlier is already chubby), pointed to a rather pudgy couple (and i mean really pointed directly at) and went 'so fat!'. argggh. Whats becoming of the younger generation?

I cannot imagine coming out of the place in one piece if I was the gal in the picture about 15 years ago. Though i was a relatively pampered kid who got much of what i wanted, i could NEVER have got away with that. I mean, its just plain, utter disrespect. I felt sad for the parents, at the same time, i feel they deserved it. The parents should have taken actions to recitfy the problem, not jus keep mum about it.

Which brings me a worrying thought, how is my child going to turn out in the near future? I believe in providing the best for my child, all that i did not get when i was younger. But at the same time, i believe respect and good manners are absolutely essential for the upbringing on a child. I would of cos pamper him/her, but at the same time, i would definitely nt be tolerant of such bahavoir.

And now, why are children so ill mannered these days? Cos at most times parents are working and have lil time for children. Children grow up with maids or grandparents who do nt have the heart to tell them off. No doubt, a child who grows with grandparents will be taught several essential values but sometimes they jus pamper him/her way too much. Worse is it for children who grow up in maid's care. Children learn from the way that parents behave towards the domestic helpers and they know that their maids do not have to be 'respected'?

In the fast paced world we live in today, it is absolutely essential for both parents to work to get by with the rising cost of living. But parents really should spend time with children. Material possessions and toys aint gonna give your child the kind of happiness and behavioral attributes that are deemed acceptable in any society.

and now, how much worse can things get? i wonder...