Been shopping locally - here in Beloit - that's a good thing right?
Yes it is but two nights in a row - two different stores - my heart was broken.
Last night a nasty old man was "allowed" to have a little boy with him - I assume it was grandpa and grandson - - - yelling at the top of his lungs at the little boy - about 3 I would guess - - - telling him in many words just how bad he was acting - ordering him here or there - and saying - No wonder your parents never take you shopping! Oh let's see -I watched - the little boy walked around looking up at the clothes - wasn't running - wasn't crying - wasn't begging for toys or for anything!! Just being yelled at cuz an old man evidently wanted to be noticed?? make a scene? I know that I stopped my shopping and just watched. And listened. Sad.
Tonight more of the same at another store - only we were blessed with both mom and dad. Little girl was crying - guess she wanted something as they checked out. Probably didn't need whatever it was. Then came the loud ugly yell "Shut up that crying - shut it up - shut up" The little girl - oh yes about 3 began to scream - for her mother - as the dad and I use that word lightly - drug the little one - - - Mom was helpful. "Shut it up!" I stopped and stared as they all three left the store and climbed in the car. I looked around the store was anyone as upset as I was? Didn't seem so. I moved out from behind the music cd's and peered out the doors of the store - hoping not to see anything more that might have caused this fed up grandma to bolt after them.
Yes you might ask - "but did you ever take your children shopping and just want to ring their necks???" Yes I most certainly did - I did and said some stupid things as a mom. I don't care. I am infuriated and actually scared when I see adults yelling at defenseless children. It has taken me all evening to write this post - I am trying to think of something profound to say - but there is nothing I can say. No comments express how sad it was. No way to say why someday I may be in the news for chasing down a stranger and kicking him in the shin!
Blessings found? Another day to be thankful for my parents and grandparents and many aunts and uncles who treated me with kindness and love.
"Everything our children hear, see, and feel is recorded onto a cassette. Guess who is the big star in their movie? You are." -- Stephanie Martson - Parents as Role Models.
It makes me wonder if people treat their little ones like that in public what must it be like at home? It makes me sad too.
ReplyDeleteHmmmm ..... I posted a comment to this post and was re-directed to another site. I'm going to try again and see if you have been hacked.
ReplyDeleteWell - it seemed to wrok that time - Whew!!!
ReplyDeleteAs I was saying - I see this kind of behavior so often. And I agree with Patti - what are they like at home? I'm usually torn between the urge to smack some sense into the parent and offer some assistance. I remember how frazzled I got trying to get two kids under age 3 through WalMart or even the grocery store. A kindy lady who offered to entertain them for a few minutes would have been greatly appreciated - but in this day and age, it would probably get me arrested.
Good for you for keeping an eye on them to make sure they didn't need a Grandma intervention - or worse.
And we wonder why the world is full of people with no common good manners!!!