Raising children is widely known to be challenging, with no quick or guaranteed results. Young kids can be unpredictable, difficult, and sometimes inconsiderate toward others. While many parents put in real effort to teach proper behavior, not all succeed in setting good examples themselves.

In one situation, a parent casually gave her 5-year-old child an iPad for breakfast, raising concerns that what the child consumes digitally might be even more harmful than unhealthy food. In another case, a stranger kindly let a tired child sit on their lap during a crowded bus ride, only to be met with indifference and rudeness from the mother, who failed to even say thank you.

There are also examples of careless behavior at home. One person described how a relative would change her child on the carpet despite a nearby table, showing little regard for cleanliness. In another story, a parent left her hyperactive child with a friend for “an hour” but didn’t return, later admitting she planned to come back the next day instead, expecting free babysitting without consent.

Public situations can be just as frustrating. During a long flight, a child misbehaved constantly—poking, spilling water, and screaming—while the mother made no effort to intervene. Instead, she added to the discomfort by leaving trash behind and making unreasonable demands to the flight crew. Experiences like these highlight how poor parenting can negatively affect everyone around them.