I have to say I found your comments that parents don't discipline their kids quite offensive! *Some* parents do not disicpline their kids but most of us try our darnest to raise healthy, balanced children who have an understanding of right from wrong. It's the hardest job I have ever had. There are no rules, no recipes, no guidelines and no policies - and because you're dealing with humans there is no telling what will work (methods that work for one child have no effect on another). So please don't shove all parents into a category of allowing their kids to become monsters. Whenever I have interaction with other parents (which is frequent), I find most of them are doing a fabulous job and just a couple who don't seem to give a damn (and yes, it does show in their childrens' behaviour). I can also tell you that I have a brother who is a bad egg. Raised in the same way as the rest of us and 2 of us have grown up to be respectful, hard-working and law-abiding and he is the exact opposite. Parental influence is limited, some people seem to be born to cause trouble. I have also had people interfere when I have disciplined a child in public. And I'll bet they are the same ones who complain about the 'kids of today' and, like Tom, lay the blame firmly at the parents' doors.