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When you see a child being mistreated what do you do? Do you say something to the parents call the police/cps or just turn the other cheek?
THis past Saturday my bff and I took our kids to the local beach. Well as we were leaving I heard a child crying so I looked up and this little boy couldnt have been more then 2 was walking alongside his mom on the blacktop with no shoes on. It was over 90 degrees. . SO as the little boy was crying his mom yelled at him to shut up.
Well My anger got the best of me and I yelled at her and told her I should make her walk on the blacktop with no shoes on. Well she ignored me but her friend behind her said he wouldnt put on his shoes. I said well either you MAKE him or carry him smh DUH!
Well things got a bit escalated and I ended up just leaving because they were getting weapons involved (typical Ohio guys pull out guns in a chick fight )
If I saw a child actually being abused I would call the police. What you described doesn't sound like abuse but "mind your own business" wasn't a choice on the poll.
If I saw a child actually being abused I would call the police. What you described doesn't sound like abuse but "mind your own business" wasn't a choice on the poll.
Have you ever walked on blacktop that is 100 % exposed to the sun in 90 degree waether? Yeah thats abuse IMO.
I have, and will again, say something when I see a child abused.
I got in a heated arguement with a Mother at the park, and I got her tag number, then blocked in her car after I called the police so she couldn't leave before they got there.
Someone has to advocate for children.
When you see a child being mistreated what do you do? Do you say something to the parents call the police/cps or just turn the other cheek?
THis past Saturday my bff and I took our kids to the local beach. Well as we were leaving I heard a child crying so I looked up and this little boy couldnt have been more then 2 was walking alongside his mom on the blacktop with no shoes on. It was over 90 degrees. . SO as the little boy was crying his mom yelled at him to shut up.
Well My anger got the best of me and I yelled at her and told her I should make her walk on the blacktop with no shoes on. Well she ignored me but her friend behind her said he wouldnt put on his shoes. I said well either you MAKE him or carry him smh DUH!
Well things got a bit escalated and I ended up just leaving because they were getting weapons involved (typical Ohio guys pull out guns in a chick fight )
I would follow her and take photos, take photos of the plates of her car, and then call the cops.
I have, and will again, say something when I see a child abused.
I got in a heated arguement with a Mother at the park, and I got her tag number, then blocked in her car after I called the police so she couldn't leave before they got there.
Someone has to advocate for children.
I think it's good you said something. I'm not sure if I would. If I did, I wouldn't have yelled at her. I would have said something like, "I think he's crying because his feet hurt, the ground is really hot". If she then said, "well he didn't want to put his shoes on". I might say, "well two year olds aren't really known for being rational, you know you could carry him right?" and if she threatened to get a gun I'd be running fast.
Sometimes people are just ignorant. And they can't help it. So sometimes, the best approach might be a nice one. If the person feels insulted, embarassed, or threatened, it's just going to make them angrier. It may be a way for you to express your opinion, but it probably wouldn't help the child much, because the parent would be busy arguing with you instead of helping the baby. Saying nicely "Excuse me, but the blacktop is smoking hot, and his feet are burning. Do you need help carrying something so you can carry the baby?" may have been more effective than saying what you, and probably anyone, really thought. The fact that the friend offered to put shoes on the baby showed that at least someone was open to listening.
Not that I don't agree with you. I know how hot blacktop gets in the sun. It can actually cause burns, and I can't imagine how painful that must have been on little baby feet! I just think that there are times when the message you are trying to give is more important than expressing your frustration and disgust. People usually don't want to hear that, and in cases where children are being mistreated, it is more important that they hear what you are saying.
ETA: I misread your post. You said the friend said he wouldn't put on shoes, offering an excuse, not offering to help. In that case, I probably would have just said, "I bet he wants to put them on now. If you get them, I can help him get them on," or something along those lines. NOT that I would have really felt that friendly, and NOT that I wouldn't have been calling the woman all kinds of dumb ******* when I got back in my car, but my main focus would have been helping the little boy out of a painful situation.
Last edited by AnnaNomus; 06-11-2012 at 08:19 AM..
Your specific example?
I probably would NOT say something.
Why?
You do not know the circumstances.
The mom could have battled for quite some time with the child to keep his shoes on. You even say that the friend noted that they boy would not put them on. Having him walk on the asphalt for a short time is a sure-fire way to guarantee that he WILL put them on next time.
Also, being confrontational is NOT the way to handle it. Being helpful instead of judgmental, as AnnaNomus notes above, would be MUCH better!
Yeah I should have definitly came at the situation a little bit mor helpful. The end result would have been a thousand times better I just was soo mad because when he was crying she yelled "shut the f*ck up crying like a little b*tch!" ughhh got my blood boiling.
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. SO as the little boy was crying his mom yelled at him to shut up. 
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