What is the deal with disciplining in public, by the way? I don’t care where I am or who is watching if the boys misbehave I pull them up on the spot even if it means embarrassing them. Apparently this is outmoded behaviour on my part and a quiet word in private to “preserve their self esteem” is the way it’s done now.
Also rattling their teeth with a clap to the back of the head is a definate no no…
The unspoken threat of a sound thrashing from my father was enough to ensure compiant behaviour when I was a child.
In reality the trashing was never actually delivered, but the thought of a skelped arse from a large irate Irish man was a suitable deterrent.
Modern parenting today seems to all about letting little Tarquin and Annabel express themself freely. “express themself” seems to amount to running about, screaming and generally being a complete nuisance. God forbid you should encounter them on a plane. If I had my way children would be in the hold with the rest of the luggage.