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I was in Target yesterday, and heard a woman yelling at her young son. He looked about 4 or 5. She told him that if he didn't shape up, she would find a switch and beat him.
I listened to this and tried to really get a handle on what she was saying. She was definitely angry, you could hear it in her voice.
I wanted to say something to this woman, but she seemed very angry and not too receptive.
What could I, if anything, done to help the situation? I feel bad that I didn't say anything. Could I have protected this child?
As a child myself, who used to get spanked, I know how damaging this type of punishment can be. Making my parents so angry that they would spank me, damanged my own sense of self. I had no conrol over their anger. They could do what they wanted if I was a "bad girl".
Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do.
1: it's her child, 2: you don't know her, and 3: sometimes parents threaten their kids but don't do anything. It's Chritmas time, maybe she was overwhelmed and "blew a fuse", that doesn't mean she beats her child. And even if she does, unfortunately it's none of your business.
I don't think there are any laws against yelling at your child. But i hear where your coming from. Like the other poster the best action in a situation like this in no action.
It's not your business, and unfortunately the person doing the yelling in a public place like that probably has some issues, as it's apparent they lack some self control. That's not your problem.
Meh. I've yelled at my kids at Target before too. I don't know ANY stressed out parent who has never yelled at their child in public. That's part and parcel of parenting IMO.
This is a way of behaving that you are not going to change with one encounter in a store.
If she were physically hurting the child, you could step in. Sometimes, though, confronting and admonishing an angry adult in public only makes things worse for the kid at home, if you know what I mean.
Here's one recent example of a shopper who started recording a mom who had been yelling at her child. Lots of bad decisions going on at once here:
Unfortunately, I don't think there is anything you can do.
1: it's her child, 2: you don't know her, and 3: sometimes parents threaten their kids but don't do anything. It's Chritmas time, maybe she was overwhelmed and "blew a fuse", that doesn't mean she beats her child. And even if she does, unfortunately it's none of your business.
Wrong. If you see a child being beaten, it is everybody's business. We are all mandated reporters under the law, well at east in 18 states. No idea where you live.
As far as the store incident....The only thing a person might have done is quickly talk to the store manager...
Sadly....if you had said something this person may have taken it out of the child. Poor kid.
Might be good to look up your laws concerning this type incident, then know next time what you can do.
Here's a few links
specific to this OP http://www.americanhumane.org/childr...ituations.html http://www.americanhumane.org/childr...d-neglect.html Child Abuse & Neglect: Recognizing and Preventing Child Abuse
Go for it! People yelling is obnoxious. They need to be informed they are jerks. Rarely is throwing a temper temptrum good for others. For parents yelling at kids, I've given rude stares but haven't tried talking to them yet. Perhaps:
1) Can you yell louder, I have trouble hearing you?
2) Start trying to explaining to them they should chill out.
Worse is two parents arguing in front of kids. Sitting next to a couple at an eatery having breakfast after 10 minutes I got aggravated enough and asked them if they could stop arguing it's extremely annoying to listen to.
get off the cell phone and the couch and parent your kids and sometimes yes there is gonna be a need to swat some butts and to yell the PC concerns are pushing us into a tattletale mode.. Kids push buttons .. they act up and need to be walked on a shorter leash in childhood .. thats a fact .. Yelling happens.. spanking should happen more often and with todays kids they need a very short leash ..
Well -- she obviously wasn't a parent who believes in spanking or she would have spanked him instead of been screaming at him.
There really are only a few methods of discipline. Spanking, screaming, time-outs, withholding something, threatening.
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