Should Parents be expected to Respect their children? (teaching, boy, grandmother)

[chris123678]

I'm 23 and today I was eating out with some friends. Next to us was a family, and the child, about 11, was telling his Mom and Grandmom how he loves subways and his grandmother intereppted him without saying excuse me and started a different converstation. The little boy said "Grandmom i was speaking" and his mother chimned in and said" It' doesn't matter, she's an adult, your a child" I felt so bad for that boy.
So do you think parents should respect children?
Do you believe in the quote "Children should be seen, not heard'

[Kibbiekat]

I think adults should lead by example, and that mom and grandma set a bad one. I do think kids should be respected as human beings with feelings.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by chris123678

I'm 23 and today I was eating out with some friends. Next to us was a family, and the child, about 11, was telling his Mom and Grandmom how he loves subways and his grandmother intereppted him without saying excuse me and started a different converstation. The little boy said "Grandmom i was speaking" and his mother chimned in and said" It' doesn't matter, she's an adult, your a child" I felt so bad for that boy.
So do you think parents should respect children?
Do you believe in the quote "Children should be seen, not heard'

This is how it was when I was a kid so I'm guessing this is how grandma was raised. Didn't hurt me. I learned that adults are to be respected. That's not a bad thing.

[Rakin]

OP what do you think is the right answer ? You're correct.

Respect should be shown to all regardless of age. The parents set a bad example.

[AnnaNomus]

Kids should absolutely be respected. What that grandmother should have said was, "Sorry honey, what were you saying?" What good is it doing the child to feel like what he has to say is meaningless and he has no value because he is a child? I thought people had gotten over the "children should be seen and not heard" mantra, but apparently some have not.

[lkb0714]

People should be expected to respect people. Adults and children are both people, so yes, they should respect each other.

BUT, the same way very small children get a certain amount of latitude for "not knowing any better yet", I also give people of a certain generation and above a certain amount of latitude with regards to things like that. Grandma should know better but doesn't, due to being raised a certain way.

Nothing wrong with teaching children tolerance, even of the occasional bad manners, in the interest of keeping the peace in the family. Now there is obviously a limit to this, that is going to be purely subjective. In my family my grandmother can be fairly racist, and when she makes those sorts of remarks I remind her that I will go home if she does it again. Even tolerance has its limits.

[chris123678]

Personally, "Children should be seen, not heard" is absolutley stupid.

Children often see things that adults can't. Respect for children should be the same as respect for adults.
Children should be expected to respect their parents until the day they die. I know a woman is 97 and I have the upmost respect for her and she's not related to me. Why? Because she respects me.

[Ivorytickler]

Originally Posted by chris123678

Personally, "Children should be seen, not heard" is absolutley stupid.

Children often see things that adults can't. Respect for children should be the same as respect for adults.
Children should be expected to respect their parents until the day they die. I know a woman is 97 and I have the upmost respect for her and she's not related to me. Why? Because she respects me.

I've never gotten this logic. There are lots of people I respect who I have no idea whether or not they respect me. Teachers, policemen, the mayor of my city (who doesn't even know I exist so he can't respect me), my doctor, etc, etc, etc... Why would them respecting me be a requirement for me respecting them? I deserve respect when I do something worthy of respect or hold a position worthy of respect, not just for breathing.

[AnnaNomus]

Originally Posted by Ivorytickler

I've never gotten this logic. There are lots of people I respect who I have no idea whether or not they respect me. Teachers, policemen, the mayor of my city (who doesn't even know I exist so he can't respect me), my doctor, etc, etc, etc... Why would them respecting me be a requirement for me respecting them? I deserve respect when I do something worthy of respect or hold a position worthy of respect, not just for breathing.

There is a such thing as basic human respect. I don't think anyone should have to "earn" the right to be treated with dignity and respect. What would the requirements be for that anyway?

I don't know the cashier at the grocery store, or the teller at the bank, or the stranger standing next to me line. They haven't done a thing to earn any respect from me. Does that mean I can't smile, be polite, and speak respectfully to them? Even a homeless person on the street is worthy of at least human dignity, and children certainly are too. Respect should never be reserved only for people in positions of authority, especially when too many people are all too eager to take advantage of their authority.

[Eresh]

People should be polite to other people, regardless of their age. Parents (and grandparents) should set an example for polite behavior, but apparently grandma didn't get that memo.