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You Win This Round...
- Nov 4, 2009 at 6:24 PM
- By
- Comments (13) Total Views (229) Everyone can see this journal post.
So, I was at a local sandwich shop with my son, we were waiting in line to order. We were just getting a sandwich to split, as it was a quick snack before dinner since we seemed to have skipped lunch.
A head of us was a tall, big, tattooed man...didn't pay much attention to him after that.
My son and I were having fun. We were laughing, and he was twirling around me. There were even some women my age sitting nearby smiling and quietly laughing at us.
He's four, we were having fun. We weren't bothering anybody.
Then, my son ran up to the chips display and grabbed a bag of chips and asked for them. I said no and to put them back. He again pleaded. I sighed, and said no, put them back! more firmly this time.
The man then pointed a finger at my son and in a big booming voice said, "YOU LISTEN TO YOUR MOTHER RIGHT NOW!"
To which I replied in a scathing voice, "Do NOT talk to my son that way, and do NOT tell MY son what to do!."
The women in the corner gave me a sympathy look...tensions mounted...
The man shifted from his back to me, to his side, to which I noticed then a big, folded pocket knife in his big pocket....
Dumb man...
Smart woman...
You won this round. I shut up, got my sandwich and left.
Comments:
wow! Really?! If a perfect stranger was YELLING at your child for no good reason...when you had things under control. Would you be offended? Now, if he had said it nicely, I would have approached it a HELL of alot differently. But when you YELL at a four year old for being a four year old...
I think the person you need to be appalled at is you.
He had NO right to tell MY child what to do. If I was being irresponsible, that would be different...but I wasn't. My child wasn't acting up, he wasn't throwing a fit or a tantrum, he was asking in a normal tone.
And yes, it does take a village to raise a child...fortunately, I know the people in my village. And they know their limits as to what they can correct my son on. And I know my limits on what I can correct their kids on.
Helping a parent round up kids is one thing but, yelling at them is totally different. This man was a total stranger. I wouldn't let it slide either.
The man had no right to yell at your son.You had at all under control and he was just being a normal kid.I would reacted the same way and told the man off too.I'm with you on this mama.
I wouldn't much care for a perfect stranger yelling at my kid either.
It takes a family to raise a child, not a village...and people need to butt out of other people's business. Offering to help is one thing, but undermining a mother and yelling at her child is absolutely uncalled for. Chelle, you have every right to be upset at this man. I had this happen to me one time at Walmart with my disabled child (a man came up and yelled at him) I was so shocked that I didn't say anything (literally my mouth was gaping open). He walked away and I left the store. We teach our children to beware of strangers and for someone to just walk up and start yelling is inappropriate. To the first poster on here, I am appalled at your post...how dare you attack this mother? I would never wish for someone to come out and verbally attack your child in public. You should be ashamed of yourself!
I think it's great you called this man on it. Most would have been too shocked to say anything.
OH hon, this whole story [and some comments here as well] just upset my stomach... I do not like confrontation at all, and I can be very protective of my kids- so I know I wouldn't of liked a stranger telling my child to do anything. A village to raise a child? yes... but I think that pertains to the people within your private circle and comfort zone - the people that you share the same values with. This man doesn't know you or your child, so it was none of his business- period. And if he was 'just trying to help" - he could of done that with a different approach and tone.
You handled yourself well.... it wasn't you hon.....
I want to explain my comment as far as a family and not a village...I consider a family loved ones and our own personal circles....so in that respect I agree with people on here. I just think too many people try to butt in where they have no business. Like I said, if this man had approached Chelle and asked if he could help, that would've been more appropriate.
That man was completely out of line. If it was a friend or another family member, that would be different. But no TOTAL stranger will yell at my child.
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you were upset about someone helping you keep your authority over your child? really? honey it takes a village to raise a child. you should have THANKED him for his support and even used it as a learning lesson for your child. I am kinda appalled at how you treated someone who was only trying to HELP you. sheesh
- sati769leigh
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