It’s Not Your Responsibility to Discipline Someone Else’s Child

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We’ve all been there—sitting in a public place when a child starts misbehaving, and you wonder if you should step in if their parent isn’t around. The short answer? No way. The long answer? Absolutely not!

Not everyone sees it this way, though. After a segment on the Australian show Morning Talk featuring a mom named Jessica Miller, who shared her experiences with correcting other kids, a lively debate erupted online. Jessica recounted a time at the movies when a child kept kicking her seat. After a few ineffective glares, she turned to the child’s mom and asked, “Could you please get him to stop? It’s becoming quite bothersome.” The mom replied, “Oh, he just gets restless in theaters.”

The host of Morning Talk, Emily Johnson, chimed in with her own tales of stepping in when parents didn’t. She shared an instance where she told a child knocking shoes off a store display, “I wouldn’t do that; it’s not fair to the ladies who have to tidy up.” The child’s mother overheard and snapped back, “How dare you speak to my child?”

While these situations are frustrating, it’s essential to remember that we don’t always know the full story. Intervening in someone else’s parenting sends a clear signal: you think they’re slacking off, so you feel the need to take charge. Maybe your instincts are spot on, but what if you’re jumping to conclusions? There could be behavioral issues at play, or perhaps that parent is already overwhelmed.

As parents, we should try to extend a bit of understanding to one another. Sure, some parents seem oblivious to their child’s behavior, but rushing in to correct a kid assumes that this is the norm. You’re placing bets on the idea that you’re witnessing a poor parenting moment, while the reality could be completely different.

When you choose to discipline another child, you’re taking a risk. Sure, they might appreciate your help, but how often do you really look to strangers for parenting assistance? I’d guess not very often! So, it’s no surprise if someone gets upset when you suddenly decide to offer unsolicited advice.

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In summary, while it might be tempting to step in when you see misbehavior, it’s often better to hold back and allow parents to handle their own kids. After all, we can’t always know what challenges they’re facing.