Horrible Man

[horselady]

Why do some people stay on your mind after coming across them for about 10 seconds? Chap in supermarket this morning with two little children aged around 4 and 7. He was pulling one of those baskets on wheels behind him and hit it against the side of one of the freezers, I was right behind him and saw him do it. He thought the older little girl had kicked it and turned and screamed at her to watch where she was bl- - -y walking. Her eyes filled with tears and she said that she was walking properly and he just went on shouting at her. Don't know them at all but can't stop thinking about that little girl and how she must get shouted and sworn at quite a lot. :-((

[naomi24]

Poor little kid. If you saw it, why didn't you tell him she hadn't done it? I would have.

[Mamyalynne]

Some things do stay with you, I sometimes feel when I see things like that I am suddenly that child's age again and remember how it felt.

[AuntLydia]

Horselady its horrible isn't it? I saw the cutest little three year old helping mummy shopping and wanted some of those little mini fromage frais and went to put some in the trolley. The language that came out of her mothers mouth was disgraceful plus at the end she said 'OMG I wish I'd never had you you little *****!'
Makes you wonder what goes on in the privacy of the home.....its heartbreaking.

[horselady]

I should have naomi, but he was walking so quickly I would have had to run after them and I think he would have been pretty rude to me, not that I would care about that. Feel bad now:-((

[B00]

I see and hear it all whilst im on the till at work.

Only last week one mum threatened to kick her toddler son, I REALLY wanted to say something, but you don't do you?

[naomi24]

Some people shouldn't have children.

[kvalidir]

Some people don't deserve children :(

[Canary42]

///Poor little kid. If you saw it, why didn't you tell him she hadn't done it? I would have.///

Sadly Naomi, that would probably only make it worse with these kind of people - he would object to your interference but take it out on the child, being, like all bullies, too cowardly to confront you. That's what makes these situations so difficult for kindly people like you and me.

[naomi24]

Doubt it. I would have expected a mouthful of abuse - but that's fine by me. At least the child would have been exonerated.

[B00]

The thing is Naomi , you get worries that the parent will take it out on the kid that you've "shown them up" afterwards.

[naomi24]

He's bullying her regardless and keeping quiet isn't going to change that. I'd have said my piece - he needs showing up - but each to their own.

[rowanwitch]

I have opened my mouth at times. Often go the same reason, idiots giving small children high caffeine drinks . I just ask them if they would give the little one a double espresso. Usually they look shocked and snatch the drink away. I suppose I look like someone's mother even though I haven't got kids. I would intervene if I could do it safely. Funny enough men are often a lot easier to approach if you hide your indignation

[AuntLydia]

That was my evils mothers excuse for horrible beatings. I'd 'shown her up'. One day it was because I'd said a friend of hers cake was lovely - evil witches thinking was 'she'll think you've never had a good cake don't you dare show me up again - Thwack!'

[rowanwitch]

My mum's method was the dog lead for talking back until she worked out it had no effect whatsoever, only discussing the issue worked. I would say awkward things all the time, she could usually laugh those off.

[hereIam]

I probably would have said something too. I've always intervened when I see a dog being abused or treated unfairly even though I know the abuse will probably go on. I just can't stand by and say nothing. Poor little girl.

[10ClarionSt]

The worst thing I saw was many years ago, 1976 in fact, the year of the heatwave. I was in the supermarket and a woman had a young boy with her, aged about 5 or 6. He had terrible sunburn on his back. He started having a tant for some reason and the woman slapped him really hard on his back. The scream from the boy was terrifying, it really was, but she then carried on shouting at him and kept telling him to shut up crying. It was really pitiful. I've never forgotten that. Poor kid.

[237SJ]

I was in Manhattan a while ago and there was a large Eastern European family on the street who were selling food from a van on the sidewalk. The whole extended family were there, grannies, mum, dad, loads of kids. One of the little kids must have said something and the father kicked him so hard. The poor kid was crying his eyes out and the rest of the family didn't even bat an eyelid. Somehow, I don't think the NY police would have given a ***

[Davemano]

When I see this sort of thing I wonder how they treat their children at home. I always make my view known, but am able to look after myself - unfortunately others have to just watch and keep quiet.

[AuntLydia]

Believe me if you confront the parents the child will get it back home. They will have 'shown the parent up' it will be their fault and they will get a beating. These parents are very astute at passive aggressive behaviour.
Only once have I said something to a woman who had shouted so much at her child she was in tears. I said "stop being a beech can't you see your child is distressed" -she then hugged her child and said " oh mummy will take you away from this awful woman who has made you cry" ! ???

[ummmm]

You can't possibly know that, AL.