Henry/Jemima

"Children should be seen and not heard." This was the philosophy of the time when I was being dragged up. It was certainly the case when adults were around and we as kids always knew our place. For goodness sake we were put there often enough, and frankly would do more or less anything to avoid the company of adults.

The current cohort of children seem to be enjoying a different experience, and it seems that for some parents, the child is always right! I find it annoying to say the least, that fully grown people will bow down and change their own plans on the whims of a child.

It seems that as soon as little Henry, or Jemima is bored with whatever the family is doing, then it is time to move on to something new, regardless of the needs or wants of others. Little Henry/Jemima now rules the roost and does more or less what they want. Children today are brought up to fear nothing, to respect nothing and by and large to be utterly selfish. They are not being taught tolerance or patience and feel that they can always get what they want when they want it.

If Henry/Jemima misbehave in a public place, woe betide any adult who steps in to say anything or do anything. Parents will fly to their side and defend the indefensible, to the extent that teachers and even the Police have no standing in the minds of these precious little gits. Did I really say that? Oh well as always I speak from the hip and sod the consequences.

This is not a particularly new phenomenon, children have been spoiled throughout history, and such obnoxious persons have been described in literature since the time of Chaucer. I cannot go that far back but I do have a neice, a single child, utterly the focus of her parents lives (sad isn't it!) even at the age of 28. AS a family group we went to a baseball game in the national stadium. An interesting event, especially for those of us who had not seen such an event before. However, in the second half, the aforementioned brat, decided that she was bored. Now that isn't surprising at the age of 6 but what was surprising is that the whole party, all three generations, were then forced to leave and go home to satisfy the whim of brat! She still has brattish tendencies if allowed to express them, however she now has brats of her own and will no doubt be cultivating the brat habits with them - I can only hope that they rebel!

Just imagine what the backlash will be like when Henry /Jemima decide to produce their own litters. The backlash might be catastrophic..........I do hope so!