I have to chime in on this. Parenting is one of my favorite topics. I think it all boils down to parents being afraid to sit and do nothing, or pick them up and leave the party, while their kids throw a fit.
Underneath the surface of every kid with too much candy is a major fit that didn’t happen, smoothed over by a parent who
1) isn’t willing to stand their ground on a simple rule,
2) doesn’t realize they are bigger than the child and in control of every aspect of their life,
3) doesn’t understand that not giving the kid the candy will not kill the child, no matter how much they sound like a dying person whilst screaming.
4) is afraid to leave the party for fear of the kid throwing a fit over that, and/or
5) doesn’t believe that their kid will learn not to throw fits if, after several tries it doesn’t work.
I do understand how people can slip into the trap of letting their kids run their life. I mean – terrorists have nothing on any 2-year old and master negotiators have nothing on most 4 year olds.
I can’t say it has anything to do with being over tired or with Real Estate. I have noticed theses things for the last several years. I think it is just laziness, and a little lack of education or understanding of how flexible kids can be, and how much control a parent can have over a screaming child by simply not giving in.