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smacking in public

Rosalie - posted on 08/26/2009 ( 102 moms have responded )

9

29

I was in a department store today when a mother walloped her daughter right in front of me, just because her daughter had dropped some chips in the pram.
I was so shocked and upset be the incident, and the daughter was obviously very upset by it.
I feel guilty for not saying something to the mother, or for somehow sticking up for the daughter who was not only hurt and upset, but embarrassed it had happened in public.
What is the right thing to do in such a situation ?
Have I the right to say something to the mother, who clearly can't control her temper ?
What would you have done ?

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Mel - posted on 08/26/2009

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well im a smacker and i do smack in public I realy think that its not any one elses business how a mother raises her children, provided they are not abusing them of course. you dont know the full situation just from seeing them for 5 seconds at a shopping centre so you really cant judge. i saw an aboriginal lady at the shops in the parents change room the other day she had alot of children about 5 of them i think and they were horrible she told them to get out of the play room so they could eave they wouldnt she had to hold her hand up as if she was going to smack them to get them to do something, saw her pull one out roughly by the arm. At first i judged but then i realised hey i dont know what she goes through every day with those kids especially having that many. i have no rights to place judgement on her and if I was in her position i would probably do the same thing if not worse. My fiance doesnt like me smacking in public he doesnt like me making a scene but i simply tell him i will do what i want til you are the stay at home parent keep out of it. and Hes starting to learn to respect that

Sharon - posted on 08/26/2009

11,585

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Define "walloped"? Dropped chips in a pram?



she slapped her across the face? smacked her bottom?



she put a bag of chips in a shopping cart? or she spilled an open bag in a stroller?



Regardless - of the situation it seems like it upset you.



The last time I was in that situation I was about 17 years old - I saw a woman slap her babys' face. Child had to be about 2 years old. completely knocked the child's head around. She parked her shopping cart to close to the shelves and the baby grabbed a box of cereal or something and was putting stuff in the cart.



I didn't even think - I walked up to her cold cocked her upside the head. My fist hurts remembering it. I couldn't believe what I had seen. she started screaming about assault and the police, but a stock boy who saw what she did pointed out the babys' reddened face and the store manager told her to hold on the police were coming and told me I should leave but told her I was going to wait in his office.



I got lucky - I would stop an actual beating but there is NO WAY I would confront a parent in an argumentative manner these days. I MIGHT go up and ask in a super nice way if maybe I could help. IF she said yes then I'd offer up some tips or places for help if she got snippy I'd tell store security and let them handle it.

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