Thanks, Jackmo! I just wanted to put my two cents in. The nasty little imp that the OP had to endure was too much. His parents should have been by his side and should have made him apologise. No excuses for that kind of behaviour. However, there are exceptions to some children's meltdowns. Now that I'm aware of what the signs are I can tell if he really is just an imp or there's something else going on.

If the people are nasty and gawking then I usually will say something, but I just try to focus on my son. He makes noises, flaps his arms and when we are at Disneyland we have an assisted pass. We try not to use it because we don't want him to think he shouldn't have to stand in line like everyone else. However, if the line is too long 30 minutes or so we will use it and of course we will get one or two jerks making really loud comments. I usually will tell them "let me give your kid my son's Autism and we will stay all day long in the line". Usually shuts them up.

It's so sad when parents that have healthy, "normal" functioning kids and they won't teach them to be decent. My younger daughter completely understands what is expected of her and what she can/cannot do. It would be a tragedy if I didn't teach her the right way to behave and I would have failed her as her mom.

The one thing that I try to remember as a parent is that while I am raising children, more so I am training them to be adults. I feel it is my job as a mother to rise my children to be functioning adults, not "happy" children. Yes, my children are happy, and they do get a little wild at times, but they know they have choices in life, and with every choice is a consequence. Like; you choose not to eat your dinner in a timely manner, you choose to go without until the next meal. You choose to throw a fit at a party, or disrespect the host, well you have chosen to leave early, WITHOUT a goody bag. If they choose to eat their food they get a special treat later, if they behave themselves they get to participate in the fun. ECT.... Sometimes they choose to behave, others, well, not so much. But they know the consequences and they made the choice, so I do not feel least bit sorry when I drag them out kicking and screaming without the goody bag!

It's a tough job, but someone has gotta parent!!!!!

This thread is keeping me laughing, LOL
When my gson was about 5 he was so picky and spoiled, [it was is other
gma's fault, he was her only gs] He was at our house one day and told my dh that he wanted a pbj sandwich. So dh went about fixing it for him. He saw him putting the pb on the bread, then put the jelly on top of it.
He threw a fit, and told him"no!! you have to put the jelly on the other piece of bread!!! Not touching, then put them together!!! " dh was, like "WTF!! it still touches each other"
He told him if he didn't want it that way he wans't getting anything, and he kept crying, so dh threw it in the trash, and said"there ya go, you don't get anything now" so he didn't eat. He never did that again. Not here any ways.

Your hubby did exactly what he should have done Patticake. He stood his ground, was the parent and did not give in to a tantrum. That is SOOOOooo rare these days! Your son will thank him later, trust me!!

Wow. I read this to my son, and he said "boy, if I did that. I wouldn't see my playstation for at least a month." Smart kid . Where were the parents? My son didn't wander around a fair without an adult until about year ago (he's 14 now) and that was with a group of friends that I know.

Sometimes he is spoiled but not nearly as bad as he was back then.
he is still picky and he is 12 yrs old now, but not around his grandpa anymore.LOL he has a little brother now that is 3 yrs old and doesn't let him get away with doing stuff like that either. My dd lets them get away with stuff a little too much, but they are pretty good most of the time.

Oh, Patti, I wasn't saying your grandson was bratty - I meant the OP's puker. I'm sure your grandkids are quite delightful!

I don't have kids but I do volunteer at a center and help with about 150-200 kids when they have lunch. I can only say that after 3 years of watching different groups, that BY FAR, it is always the kids from the poorer areas that are the most well behaved, the neatest dressed, and the most polite (always "yes please", "thank you"). And I never see them take food they don't eat. If they don't like it they say "no thank you" and get something they eat. I think it is that their parents just teach them manners and respect - they value that and insist on it.

OMG! I would have went to jail... LMAO! How ridiculous is that person...

All kids have bratty moments. But it's the parents' reaction/action following those bratty moments that counts.