ugly.rb

describe ChildrenController do
  before(:each) do
    @parent = mock(Parent, :id => 1)
    @children = mock("children")
    @parent.stub!(:children).and_return(@children)
    Parent.should_receive(:find).with(@parent.id.to_s).and_return(@parent)
  end

  def expect_children_build
    @children.should_receive(:build).with(any_args()).and_return(@child)
  end

  def expect_utilities_find
    @children.should_receive(:find).with(@child.id.to_s).and_return(@child)
  end

  describe "GET :new" do
    def shared_request
      get :new, :parent_id => @parent.id
    end

    before(:each) do
      @child = stub_new(Child)
      expect_children_build
    end

    it_should_assign :child
    it_should_render_template "new" 
  end

  describe "GET :edit" do
    def shared_request
      get :edit, :parent_id => @parent.id, :id => @child.id
    end

    before(:each) do
      @child = stub_edit(Child)
      expect_children_find
    end

    it_should_assign :child
    it_should_render_template "edit" 
  end

  # ... and so forth ...
end