I'll give my kids pepper spray. I'm not about to take 'em into the toilet stall w/ me. Ick. Claustrophobic. I rarely go out w/o my husband, though.

I just want to let you know that I 100% agree with all of your parenting philosophies and how children should be treated/should act. Good job. I know some people might criticize you for saying what you did, so wanted to make sure to tell you that there are parents out there who support this way of raising their children + you will have excellent, well-behaved children one day. Good blog.

Also, I hate it when people think that just because you dont have kids, you dont know how to raise them or something... I know for a fact that I would make a better parent than many of the people I see with kids... But, I dont plan on having kids and If I do, it wont be for a looong time lol

This is spot on!  Also, practice using the common sense you were born with in front of your kids and guess what? They will use it too. 

On that note, a woman in my area department store was strolling all g with her cart and her child walking next to her.  Kid was cheerful and cute as a button, maybe 3 at the most.  The mom stops to look at something and the little girl stoops to pick something up off the floor.  The mom runs over her fingers with the cart and proceeds to yell at her for five minutes  for crying about it.  You physically harm your child because you are more worried about getting a bargain on toilet paper than to notice what she is doing and then get mad?  Parents like that kill me! 

I completely agree with you about the spanking thing. Amen. A smack on the tush is necessary at times. 

@bbanmen420@xanga - It probably has to do with parents remembering what they thought before they actually had kids compared to what they thought once they lived it.  Not to say that opinions from people without kids are automatically wrong, but sometimes a parent just shakes their head and says "you have absolutely no idea".

Okay, a few of things:

1) You don't have kids. You're way too young to have kids (yes, 20 is too young to have kids) so you should consider your "parenting tips" to be a little naive.
2) Yes, children do quietly walk out with any adult stranger. They do not "kick and scream." That's a good security tip you gave there.
3) Children will "scream like a banshee" when their parents say "no." Do not pin the blame of a screaming kid on weak parenting skills. Quiet children are children whose parents have caved to their demands. Angry kids are kids whose parents have remained firm. It's annoying, yes. Whose fault is it? It's the fault of a gestating human consciousness that has not figured out how to handle disappointments in an adult manner. It happens. Deal with it.
4) Never, ever, EVER make the mistake of "I am far more knowledgeable about basic parenting than the parents whose parenting skills I had only a half-hour glimpse of in my store." No, you wouldn't make a better parent than those mothers in the store. Chances are you as a parent would be just like the rest of us. You have absolutely no idea how much parenthood and minding children changes your life forever. You will have no time to sleep, to eat, to have time to yourself. You have no problem with your toddler seeing you on the toilet or taking a bath simply because a toddler CAN'T be left alone for even a minute. You have to bring him into the bathroom with you. You will realize that you haven't relaxed for months. Every nap time is spent catching up on freelance assignments, e-mail or finding childcare while you look for jobs. You take every break you can get, even if it means letting the kid watch cartoons or eating "Oreos." You'll look back at all the big plans you had as a 20-year-old (getting a degree, starting a business, traveling to Asia, buying a farm) and realize that you may never end up doing all that. It's brutal.
So no, never assume that your calm, clear, child-free 20-year-old experience is wiser than those parents in your store who are desperately trying to do their shopping, control their cranky toddlers and appease pissy, judgement employees. Especially don't assume that in a post on a parenting website. You have no idea... seriously, you don't.

@phoebester@xanga - This is purely my opinion. You don't have to agree with it. I'm not saying it's right. My experience with kids is more than just a "half-hour glimpse". I wrote this after a lovely experience in the store I work at, yes, but I don't base what I said purely from that.
Also the original title of my post was "Unwanted Parenting Advice". Honestly, I know I'm a stupid kid who knows nothing about the real world. Remain calm, please.

I don't even have my child out of the womb and I can already tell you that this post is just complaining about a lifestyle others have been bestowed upon to live and because YOU don't live in it, you're just venting and complaining. This isn't advice that could be positive, this is your opinion bashing people who aren't living like you.

The first tip is already known. But you mean to tell me, within the time you have been alive and breathing on this earth, that you have never been so overwhelmed that you've been sidetracked or distracted and something was let to slip away from you? Not saying that makes it right to lose track, but GOD FORBID someone needs some help. When you see others struggling and you don't help when you know you are able and you just sit back and watch in dread because it's inconveniencing YOU? That makes you the bad person, the person who sits back and watches as bad happens. This whole paragraph is dedicated to making your life easier when YOU work in customer service. Those customers with kids are STILL your customers.

The second tip is fairly illogical, seeing as how children and toddlers are messy creatures. They do not have the same maturity level as you and to expect such would be ludacris. Messes happen, don't cry over some spilt milk there, deary. It is YOUR job to deal with it.

The third point I can agree with in a sense, but by no means is violence the answer. Just because you are frustrated and want to get your point across abrubtly, does NOT mean physical violence. You can talk to kids, they may not always be paying attention, but there's better ways to try and establish a lesson learned than to outcast them or make them feel pain. Half the time, the spanking is completely unjustified and to lash out in such a manner shows your immaturity and incapability of handling a child who has not reached the same maturity level as you, the adult. Kid's are going to throw temper tantrums, I guarantee that you had your fair share. Grow up now and understand that.

The fourth point, no child will hit you unless you teach it that hitting is okay or it has been taught by an outer influence that it is okay. Hitting means there's unresolved issues and you need to talk to your child. Just because you witness a child do that in front of you doesn't mean that parent allows that child to do that, that child is reacting and that parent can only control their own actions, not their child's. They can parent the child and teach them how to avoid behaviors like that in the future, but damn woman, get off your pedastal and think before you go whining and venting about something you DON'T know anything about.

This is coming from a 21 year old with a baby on the way who has also worked in retail and at restaurants where babies and toddlers come in and make messes on the daily.

You obviously have a misconstrued idea of what makes a good or bad parent and you asked for my opinion, so don't tell me I don't have to agree with yours, because I already stated I don't. You don't like what you have to deal with putting up with your vast range of customers? FIND A DIFFERENT JOB SWEETHEART.

<3

@phoebester@xanga - 20 is too young for kids but you can die in Afghanistan in War at 18. That makes loads of sense right there.

so you can hit your kids when you're mad at them but then you expect your kids not to hit you when they're mad at you? kids do as they see, not as their told.  

I think the first two are just common sense, but I agree, some parents don't pay attention or just don't care I guess. I don't agree with the physical punishment. I also find it odd that you say you would physically punish your kids, but if they hit you it is an "abusive relationship." You should model what you want your kids to do. Why would it be ok for you to hit them, but it is absolutely horrible for them to hit you? Most parents spank/hit out of anger anyway, not for real discipline.