The family court system in Halifax is a joke. It favours women waaaaay too much, and not in a good way. Paying child support for a kid that lives with you to a mother that has nothing to do with the child is ridiculous. And when you have shared custody, no one should pay child support. But yet I have friends that are in both of these situations. I also have a friend whose baby mother claims the kids on her taxes but never even sees the kids other than Christmas. Too many lazy women in this city that think they should get paid for having a baby. Also too many dead beat women that think our taxes should pay for their babies instead of them getting a job. —Fed-up Dad

Hey Toque-Man, I saw you scream at your toddler (maybe grandson) at Agricola and North today (Thursday) and grab him back out of traffic when he tried to run into the street. Further down Agricola I saw you meandering along with nary a thought for the little guy walking 10-15 feet behind you during rush hour traffic. Maybe if you paid a little more attention to him you could avert the screaming and grabbing altogether? Just a thought. —Cranky Wanky

I'd like to preface this by saying that I'm not a teacher nor do I work in the education system. I'm writing this because I've read far too many news articles, and status updates, and comments about the work-to-rule situation and am bored to death of the parents that blame their child's bad grades or inability to get extra help so that they excel in their studies on teachers.

Why are teachers expected to give extra help to classes of 30+ students? Shouldn't that be reserved for students with serious academic struggles (ie: at risk of failure)? Since when did parents get to wash their hands of their child's education? Parents are ultimately responsible for their child's development and that includes their education. Teachers are there to help, not take on the entirety of this burden for them. Education extends beyond the classroom and it requires parental involvement. It's time to step up and do your part. —Sick of Lazy Parents

To the 20-something couple that thought it was okay to bring a toddler to the movies was a good idea, well it wasn't. I felt sorry to the people that were in your vacinity. Then half way through the movie, if it wasn't enough annoying the audience with your whiny little carbon based unit, you bring the little darling over to our side of the theatre to annoy the rest of us. You must have been in and out with the little angel half a dozen times, trying to calm him down. Here’s a marvel idea....ever hear of a baby sitter? —May the Force be with me

To the young woman in the blue shirt at the Clayton Park Sobeys Sunday afternoon: I saw you slap your toddler's fingers as you stormed ahead during his temper tantrum. The child obviously was hungry or something was up. Why did you and your husband (boyfriend or whoever he was) continue to shop with a screaming toddler who's shrinks were bothering everyone in the store. Could one of you not taken him outside to chill while the other finished getting the groceries? I'm sorry but witnessing you slap that poor child broke my heart. I hope karma is a bitch to you!! —a concerned parent

Picture this: People exercising at one of those public outdoor gyms, including some rugrats. Some self-entitled arse, lounging on one of the pieces of equipment lights up a smoke.

Seriously? Good move. Way to clear the area, bub. Maybe your kid didn't mind, but good on the one who let you know that they did.

I'm all for smokers exercising their right to smoke outside—hell, I've even done it myself on occasion—but this is right up there with smoking near doorways and in bus shelters. In other words, you have to look beyond the end of your own nose and engage your brain before you flic your bic. —cough, cough

Seriously, how the fuck do you justify giving your baby pop??? On the bus today, a baby less then a year old, drinking orange soda pop out of a baby bottle. What the fuck?? Are you fucking stupid?? Some people really shouldn't have children.

---virgomom

so to all those "people" with SCREAMING kids.....when you are in a store and your kid freaks out for more than 5 seconds its time to LEAVE....get out....not just sit there because you are immune to this type of behavior. Some of us aren't! Its absolutely annoying and pisses off more people than just me...good thing for you I like that store and didn't want to be banned for giving you my advice in person ...and PS showers and toothbrushes are "mainstream" now...

---Sick of Stupidity