bagelwoman: Well, the idea was to list discipline problems of different ages. It's important to me, though, to recognize the consequence of "being a total brat"/"wrecking the family's budget" as just as negative as "becoming a teenage parent." I agree, though, that begging behaviors are something to never, ever, EVER be rewarded or encouraged. My parents' solution was a slap on the butt, and it only takes a few of those at a very young age to not even try as one gets older. Kids who hide from parents in stores get on my nerves excessively as well. Once, 4 year old kid was playing "hide while mom doesn't seek" in Barnes and Noble. After ~10 minutes of this, after employees told him to go back to mom, I grabbed him and told him that if he didn't go back to his mom as soon as I let go, I was going to kidnap him. (not that I would want the brat!) Hopefully the point got across to him -- I left the store before someone could sue me for playing "finders keepers" with abandoned children. Yeah, it was harsh, but my sister was nearly kidnapped from our church's parking lot and I feel obliged to teach stranger danger to kids who desperately need the lesson. Better me than the real criminals, though of course, better mom and dad than me.