henetha
I have seen, over my lifetime, the erosion of all the old punishments and controls that kept children civilised.
No-one wants a return to children being caned, etc, but we do need to be a whole lot firmer with them, starting from when they are very young. At home and at school.
It's also the closing down of amenities, youth clubs etc for teenagers to keep them off the streets; the dreadful lack of mental health facilities; and the influence of social media.
Not just on children. So many times I have seen mums in cafes or parks completely lost in their phone while their children are causing havoc.
Mums not paying much attention to their kids can be good for children The problem you describe, Henetha, was not due entirely to the mums not controlling their children but at least partly to the unsuitable venue.
Do you consider the confines of a cafe suits children at play?