What is WRONG with people these days???

*WARNING* Rant alert ahead!

Wednesdays around here have a tendency to get hectic. It's library day. Getting out the door fully dressed with just *one* child and remembering to bring the library books with us can be a challenge for someone as scatterbrained as I am. Wednesdays at our local library are also Story Day for the preschool aged kids, and MD has gotten to where he really enjoys the activities and getting to see Ms. Betsy, the WONDERFUL children's librarian. What I didn't realize is that today was the day that Santa pays his annual visit to all the good little girls and boys for the library's storytime activity. The turnout for storytime was larger than usual due to this event, and lots of little kids were just waiting for their chance to see Santa. When Santa made his arrival, mass pandemonium ensued--not surprising, since most little kids are thrilled to see Santa and to sit on his lap and give him their Christmas wants.

What I wasn't expecting was the **horribly** bad manners. Granted, small children's newly-learned manners are going to suffer some when they get really excited, but what I saw today went past all that. MD had taken his place near the front of the group and was slowly making his way forward. FINALLY, he was at the front...but each time he'd take a step forward for his turn, some other kid would push him out of the way to climb upon the Man In Red's lap. Now, please understand, I'm not talking about 2-3 year old kids doing this--I'm talking about 4 and 5 year olds that are knocking my smaller-than-average sized child out of their path. "Where are the parents?" you may wonder. Good question! I saw a few standing around with their cameras yelling "Smile for Mommy!", but most were engrossed in their own Mommy Conversations and paying absolutely no heed to what their children were doing. This seems to be the norm each time I've visited for storytime. These women's kids are yelling, screaming, and beating each other senseless, and the mommies are so busy socializing that they're oblivious to their children's actions. ARGH! Do they give their kids no instruction on how to behave at all? I would be absolutely MORTIFIED if MD walked up to some other kid and shoved him around as I've seen some of the others do. I've been trying so hard to make my little boy understand that waiting your turn in line and being nice to others is how we should act toward those around us. Why do so many others think that this kindness is not necessary? It REALLY makes me wonder how this new generation will be as they grow older. I realize that the only thing I can do is instill good manners in my own child and teach him that, no matter what others say and do, he should always do the right thing...even when the right thing way not always be the "easy" thing to do.

*Whew* I'm done, I think. I need to be, as I need to get supper preps underway. It's red beans and rice and cornbread for us tonight. The funky smell that follows will be provided by my Hubby later on. :)