Teach your children respect

Over the years, parental control and child behavior have gone ballistic, and not in a good way.

What has happened to the moral attributes of our nation? Where is the pride and respect of some of our citizens? We have wonderful, responsible adults and young people and no one respects them more than I do. Sometimes it seems as if respect and self-respect are fading away.

Visiting local restaurants we were twice subjected to rude and disrespectful behavior as parents prompted a young child into screaming fits for their amusement. In another instance the adults sat at their table, enjoying their conversation while the children ran around, tossing things and rolling around on the floor.

I understand that most parents work and the children spend their days with a sitter, away from the parents. It is a shame this has to happen but the previous generations faced many of the same problems. Many of us both worked, but society didn’t ask, but demanded, that self-respect and responsibility be instilled in chidren.

Courtesy was important. How many have had your nose blackened from a young person slamming a door in your face? How many times have you smiled and said hello and in return received a nasty look?

Parents and the people dealing with children need to take a look around at the conduct of their children.

You can’t stop bad behavior, but you can prevent it from interrupting others by removing the child from the situation.

Don’t ask for respect, demand it. Demand respect by showing respect and using tough love. Remember that you are entitled to be respected and obeyed by your children.

— Linda Bradshaw,

 Libby