Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow
Creeps in this petty pace from day to day,
To the last syllable of recorded time;
And all our yesterdays have lighted fools
The way to dusty death. Out, out brief candle!
Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player
That struts and frets his hour upon the stage
And then is heard no more: it is a tale
Told by an idiot, full of sound and fury,
Signifying nothing.
-- Macbeth, Act 5, Scene 5
Frankie and Slim
Happy New Year
Monday, December 07, 2015
IS IT YA BEESWAX
Question Of The Week, 12-7-15
WHAT COULD YOU DO
(or should you do)
IF YOU SEE A PARENT
BERATING A CHILD?
The parents are shouting, "You are a worthless piece of crap and we wish we never had you."
This is a difficult question and I think it would require a lot more information about the circumstances before I could even venture to try to answer it.
Berating could mean almost anything from scolding to abuse. Though children need protection, I think I'd want to be pretty sure it was on the wrong side of the spectrum before I interferred.
i think berating is a verbal things and beating another. Berating can be abuse, but you must have a long term bit of information instead of a single happenstance.
I agree with the others...more information would be needed...the scenario would be needed.
If a child was being scolded by it's parents I'd mind my own business in the general scheme of things...but there is no way on earth I'd stand by not acting if I witnessed physical abuse being inflicted.
Like everyone else, more information required. Sometimes abuse can be verbal. And a public berating indicative of other problems. Not an easy question. At all.
Changes, Barb, Brite Mist, Lee and Elephant's Child, Okay I see the dilemma. Now what if the parents were shouting, "You are a worthless piece of crap and we wish we never had you?" I am not sure how I would act either.
I once was grocery shopping and there was a dad that was yelling at his son to pick out a pumpkin. He was swearing at him and saying something alone the lines of "Just pick out an f'ing pumpkin." I did step in and said that he needed to calm down and be a little gentler to his boy. Then he turned one me. He was about 2 seconds away from hitting me when the management of the grocery store came up behind me and he backed off. The store told him to get his pumpkin and leave.
More information is needed. That said if I felt I could defuse the situation in some way, I would step in in a heart beat. People have been so condition any more to over look, excuse, ignore bad behavior that common sense and courtesy have gone by the wayside.
When I read the words "I wish I never had you" it makes me shudder. Having gone through such a long process to adopt my kids I know how much they are wanted and loved, it's something I could never say or feel. If I heard someone say it to their child, I think I would say very calmly with a smile "You don't realise how blessed you are to have that child in your life."
We all have really bad days and being a parent can be hard sometimes. Perhaps a little compassion toward the distressed parent would help. My best self would give my best "not okay teacher look" and calmly say in words "it will get better." Not sure if I would say that to the parent or the child though.
All depends. If it was in the heat of the moment and things looked like they were calming down, I wouldn't interfere. However, if it was continuous and unrelenting, then I would step in and say something.
Like, "I strongly suggest that you stop the abuse, otherwise, not only would I contact my job to make a complaint, but I would step in to make you stop."
I actually did say something to a family member who said about her child, who was standing right there, "The child has NO sense!" I talked to her later and told her she was putting her little girl on the road to low self esteem.
This isn't answering your question exactly, but it made me think of that. Sorry to be so late - I've been slammed at work and am sick with a cold.
This is a difficult question and I think it would require a lot more information about the circumstances before I could even venture to try to answer it.
ReplyDeleteBerating could mean almost anything from scolding to abuse. Though children need protection, I think I'd want to be pretty sure it was on the wrong side of the spectrum before I interferred.
ReplyDeletei think berating is a verbal things and beating another. Berating can be abuse, but you must have a long term bit of information instead of a single happenstance.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the others...more information would be needed...the scenario would be needed.
ReplyDeleteIf a child was being scolded by it's parents I'd mind my own business in the general scheme of things...but there is no way on earth I'd stand by not acting if I witnessed physical abuse being inflicted.
Like everyone else, more information required. Sometimes abuse can be verbal. And a public berating indicative of other problems. Not an easy question. At all.
ReplyDeleteChanges, Barb, Brite Mist, Lee and Elephant's Child, Okay I see the dilemma. Now what if the parents were shouting, "You are a worthless piece of crap and we wish we never had you?" I am not sure how I would act either.
ReplyDeleteI see Venezuela...
ReplyDeleteI once was grocery shopping and there was a dad that was yelling at his son to pick out a pumpkin. He was swearing at him and saying something alone the lines of "Just pick out an f'ing pumpkin." I did step in and said that he needed to calm down and be a little gentler to his boy. Then he turned one me. He was about 2 seconds away from hitting me when the management of the grocery store came up behind me and he backed off. The store told him to get his pumpkin and leave.
ReplyDeleteMore information is needed. That said if I felt I could defuse the situation in some way, I would step in in a heart beat.
ReplyDeletePeople have been so condition any more to over look, excuse, ignore bad behavior that common sense and courtesy have gone by the wayside.
When I read the words "I wish I never had you" it makes me shudder. Having gone through such a long process to adopt my kids I know how much they are wanted and loved, it's something I could never say or feel. If I heard someone say it to their child, I think I would say very calmly with a smile "You don't realise how blessed you are to have that child in your life."
ReplyDeleteWe all have really bad days and being a parent can be hard sometimes. Perhaps a little compassion toward the distressed parent would help. My best self would give my best "not okay teacher look" and calmly say in words "it will get better." Not sure if I would say that to the parent or the child though.
ReplyDeleteAll depends. If it was in the heat of the moment and things looked like they were calming down, I wouldn't interfere. However, if it was continuous and unrelenting, then I would step in and say something.
ReplyDeleteLike, "I strongly suggest that you stop the abuse, otherwise, not only would I contact my job to make a complaint, but I would step in to make you stop."
Father Nature's Corner
I actually did say something to a family member who said about her child, who was standing right there, "The child has NO sense!" I talked to her later and told her she was putting her little girl on the road to low self esteem.
ReplyDeleteThis isn't answering your question exactly, but it made me think of that. Sorry to be so late - I've been slammed at work and am sick with a cold.
I always give a nasty look, look at the child n roll my eyes. Usually I say "That was mean!"
ReplyDelete