@kjsgenie I might have said some inappropriate things as the "Hippie Auntie"....I didn't realize that how well the little ones hear even when I utter under my breath...apparently the letter "F" has a distinct and recognizable sound...oh well...

@kjsgenie My wife likes to tell the story of her daughter (roughly age 9) treating a friend who attended her birthday party rudely. She took her daughter aside and gave her a good talking to and she stopped. It lasted all of 24 hours judging by how she acts toward us some 16 years later. As far as I'm concerned you can't sit on the little fuckers too hard when they're little, because when they're older, it's too late. Unfortunately you have to compete with your kid's friends and extracurriculars and they get way more quality time with them beyond a certain point than you do as a parent.

@mordant Yes...often it is those that look in from the outside that see the path many will take in the future...we are the favorites of our adult nieces and nephews because we did not mince words and we set boundaries and limitations on behavior when they were little...as well, I did pick a few up and place them on the doorstep to cool down ... they didn't freeze to death...

I don't get invited anymore either. They're tired of hearing me refer to their children as Rugrats and nose miners

@Kojaksmom well, damn...I just snorted out my soft drink all over my keyboard...ha ha ha ha