This morning I walked into Target just as a mom and her 8/9 year old son were walking out, fighting. As we reached for the same door, I overheard the mother say, "well, that's why you're not getting a toy, because you're a GODDAMN ASSHOLE." Looking back on it now, I almost wish I had said something to her. Of course, she probably would have decked me.
The saddest part was that the son didn't look at all hurt or surprised. I'm sure he hears far worse at home. When I told my mother, who was a social worker for twenty years, she said I probably should have reported her to the police for verbal abuse. How terrible for this poor boy to be publicly shamed by the very person who should be providing unconditional love. I can't imagine that will bode well in his future. My new parenting goal is to never call my son an asshole. At least not to his face.
It is so so sad to me that there are parents out there like this. Like you said, I'm sure that's not the worst he's been treated. If she publicly calls him an asshole then imagine what she does behind closed doors. Honestly if shes verbally abusing him I am certain she physically is. Be careful when it come to intervening with situations like that. If she treats her own flesh and blood like that, imagine how she'd treat you. Scary!
ReplyDeleteI know! She had a really frightening presence. I honestly felt bad for her as well as the son. Hopefully, for the son's sake, she deals with her anger issues. Alas, that is probably unlikely to be the case...
DeletePs, I love the note you ended this post on. So funny!
ReplyDeleteI might as well set a low bar now.
DeleteOh that makes my heart hurt. But I agree with Sean Marie's P.S. :)
ReplyDeleteYes. Believe in the power of an internal monologue.
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