How to stop child abuse before it starts

[derby378]

I'm at the hospital where I work, doing my daily chores and otherwise minding my own business, when I pass by this woman who's telling her kid, "Come over here before I get mad!" When he does come over, she grabs him by the ears and starts speaking roughly to him with her face only inches away from his.

Well, I'm in no mood to tolerate that shit. I walk up to her and demand in a loud voice, "Excuse me, is there a problem here?" I make sure I'm loud enough that the whole room can hear me.

That woman let go of her kid, stared right back at me, and clamped up like an attorney for Karl Rove. She looked both embarrassed and mad.

I pointed at my eyes and then pointed my finger right at her without saying another word.

Then I stood over in the corner of the room and watched her to make sure she calmed down. She didn't speak again, but just sat there, really quiet.

My blood pressure is high enough without having to prevent scoldings from escalating into something worse.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone - I need a drink. :beer:

[ThomCat]

1. There is nothing like getting mad because your kid Obeyed you.

x(

You're right, sometimes it's obvious who the abusers are. :(

I'm glad you intervened. That was a good thing. I hope it makes her think. But I'm a pessimist about such things.

[derby378]

3. I know kids are supposed to test their parent's patience once in a while...

...but it didn't seem like that kid had done anything so egregious as to warrant that kind of treatment.

Hopefully I made a difference. :hi:

[distantearlywarning]

2. This happened to me on the bus the other day.

I hear, over my IPod, some woman *screaming* at her kid to "get over here now!". And I was listening to metal, so you know she was WAY too loud! I turned around just in time to see the woman grab this little girl by the arm and drag her across a seat. The little girl looked terrified, and didn't look like she had previously been behaving in a way that would warrant screaming and grabbing. Before the woman could open her mouth to start screaming again, I caught her eye and removed my headphones, continuing to watch her. She calmed down immediately and looked a little ashamed. I kept looking at her until I got off at my stop and she just sat there silently while the girl cowered next to her.

I will never understand why people think that treating kids like that is effective in any way. Crazy.

[redqueen]

4. I hate people who abuse their children.

Thank you for being there for that kid...

[derby378]

5. You're welcome

Hopefully I don't have to do that again for a long, long time.

[Rabrrrrrr]

6. LOL! "Clammed up like an attorney for Karl Rove"

:rofl:

:thumbsup:

[lildreamer316]

7. Now if we could just figure out how to stop sexual abuse..

...seriously.
I never realized it was such an...almost epidemic. Wow.
Thank you for doing what you did,and what you do every day.