Was I out of line at the grocery store with a shrieking toddler?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday late afternoon I went to the grocery store and almost immediately heard a child letting out loud, ear-piercing shrieks, the kind that reverberate through the aisles and make people wince. Every time it happened, I noticed other shoppers grimacing or exchanging uncomfortable looks.

This went on throughout my trip. Eventually, I ended up in the same aisle as the child, a little girl, maybe 2 or 2.5 years old, and her mom. What surprised me most was that the mom was laughing and clearly encouraging the shrieking, not trying to redirect or stop it. I was frustrated, not just by the noise, but by what felt like a complete disregard for others in the store. I walked up to their cart, looked at the child, covered my ears, and said “Ouch! Your shouting is really hurting my ears!” The little girl immediately burst into tears. The mom called me an expletive and told me I was rude. For the record, the shrieking stopped after that.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I didn’t yell or scold, I tried to speak calmly but honestly. Still, I’m wondering, was I out of line? Should I have just ignored it? How do others handle this kind of situation?

You were more than out of line. You were a cool unicorn needing tacos.

How dare you scold someone else’s child? Like, who do you think you ARE?

I love you.

Also, that is now my way of describing folks that are so self involved - cool unicorns needing tacos 😂😂😂😂

THANK YOU

The only self involved person here is the mother who is letting her toddler disturb a 100 other people. The fact that you two don't see that is beyond worrying.

Oh, get real and stop being so dramatic. I’m actually worried about the kid too. Because something’s going on but most likely they’re tired or Mom said no I’m not going to buy you string cheese today.

Children are human beings too, and sometimes they have tough moments and can’t regulate themselves as well. As adults, we can be more patient.

It was harder for me to deal with when my child was little and I was burnt out. Now I see it differently I can deal with a kid who’s making noise because if they could do better, they would.

Funny how she was able to regulate herself just fine after OP told her to knock it off. If only her mother had done that.....

That wasn’t funny at all. You’d likely shut down if some stranger scolded you in public, too. OP is a complete tool.

Nope, she performed a good deed. Everyone was able to enjoy their shopping trip because of OP. Kids need parenting and redirection when they are doing something wrong. If the parent won't do it, others will step in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You sound crazy OP to yell at a toddler.

I wish I had been there because I was a Voice major and could hit a High C with no problem which I would have used to shock the brat and her awful mother. If your brats are screaming in public then you leave immediately.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound crazy OP to yell at a toddler.

I wish I had been there because I was a Voice major and could hit a High C with no problem which I would have used to shock the brat and her awful mother. If your brats are screaming in public then you leave immediately.

Heh, you should go for that ultra high register so no one can hear it except the toddler.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound crazy OP to yell at a toddler.

I wish I had been there because I was a Voice major and could hit a High C with no problem which I would have used to shock the brat and her awful mother. If your brats are screaming in public then you leave immediately.

Yes! Scream right back at a screaming brat. They'll probably be so shocked they would shut right up.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound crazy OP to yell at a toddler.

I wish I had been there because I was a Voice major and could hit a High C with no problem which I would have used to shock the brat and her awful mother. If your brats are screaming in public then you leave immediately.

Main Character Syndrome is really shining through in all of the "I hate children" posters. Yes, I'm sure the people in the store who are cringing when a kid shouts would all line up to throw flowers at your feet for screeching out at a tone that shatters glass. You show those dastardly child-havers! You can be the hero that all antisocial weirdos deserve!

[Anonymous]

Are you people actually so fragile that a loud kid in a store genuinely bothers you? How do you even leave the house?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yesterday late afternoon I went to the grocery store and almost immediately heard a child letting out loud, ear-piercing shrieks, the kind that reverberate through the aisles and make people wince. Every time it happened, I noticed other shoppers grimacing or exchanging uncomfortable looks.

This went on throughout my trip. Eventually, I ended up in the same aisle as the child, a little girl, maybe 2 or 2.5 years old, and her mom. What surprised me most was that the mom was laughing and clearly encouraging the shrieking, not trying to redirect or stop it. I was frustrated, not just by the noise, but by what felt like a complete disregard for others in the store. I walked up to their cart, looked at the child, covered my ears, and said “Ouch! Your shouting is really hurting my ears!” The little girl immediately burst into tears. The mom called me an expletive and told me I was rude. For the record, the shrieking stopped after that.

I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it. I didn’t yell or scold, I tried to speak calmly but honestly. Still, I’m wondering, was I out of line? Should I have just ignored it? How do others handle this kind of situation?

You were more than out of line. You were a cool unicorn needing tacos.

How dare you scold someone else’s child? Like, who do you think you ARE?

I love you.

Also, that is now my way of describing folks that are so self involved - cool unicorns needing tacos 😂😂😂😂

THANK YOU

The only self involved person here is the mother who is letting her toddler disturb a 100 other people. The fact that you two don't see that is beyond worrying.

Oh, get real and stop being so dramatic. I’m actually worried about the kid too. Because something’s going on but most likely they’re tired or Mom said no I’m not going to buy you string cheese today.

Children are human beings too, and sometimes they have tough moments and can’t regulate themselves as well. As adults, we can be more patient.

It was harder for me to deal with when my child was little and I was burnt out. Now I see it differently I can deal with a kid who’s making noise because if they could do better, they would.

Oof, people really need to learn the difference between being empathetic and respectful towards kids (good) and just abandoning them, which is what you are doing.

It is important to be understanding of kids in public spaces, and if the child had shrieked a few times, or was crying or tantrumming, I would say we need to just understand kids aren't yet adults and can't always regulate their feelings and we should extend the child, and mom, grace.

But that's not what was happening. The child was engaging in an anti-social behavior which she was capable of stopping (case in point: she did). OP let her know the behavior was anti-social, because she appeared not to know this. Now she does. Net positive.

Being empathetic and understanding towards kids doesn't mean pretending that everything they do is great and has no negative impact. Kids need to learn what behavior is okay and what is not okay.

[Anonymous]

You were wrong and should have walked on by. Who needs to "enjoy" a grocery shopping?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you people actually so fragile that a loud kid in a store genuinely bothers you? How do you even leave the house?

+1. Smh

[Anonymous]

Hey DCUM I intentionally walked up to a kid I don't know who was with their mom, made the kid cry and the mom cursed me out, is it possible I was in the wrong?

NO, you're amaaaayyyzing! I fantasize about doing worse to kids all the time! That mom should be in prison!

This place is nuts.

[Anonymous]

I just want to note that my kid is always really grateful when we explain to her what behaviors are likely to get negative responses and public, and why. Sometimes she's disappointed that she has to stop doing something she's enjoying, but the older she gets, the more she realizes that it is really helpful to know how to act.

This is what parenting is. Your two year old might cry or pout about it, but your 16 year old will be so glad to know how to act in public and how to ensure that she is received well by others in public spaces.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Hey DCUM I intentionally walked up to a kid I don't know who was with their mom, made the kid cry and the mom cursed me out, is it possible I was in the wrong?

NO, you're amaaaayyyzing! I fantasize about doing worse to kids all the time! That mom should be in prison!

This place is nuts.

Making a kid cry is not automatically a bad thing. Kids cry a lot. I've made my kid cry lots of times by accident, and other times I've made her cry by doing necessary parenting, like leaving the playground when I said we would leave, or telling her it's not okay to hit.

The mother cursed OP out because the mother has her own emotional maturity issues. Cursing someone out in a grocery store is not an acceptable adult response to a confrontation.

No one said the mom should be in prison. And OP didn't actually do anything to the child except communicate to her that the screaming was hurting OP's ears.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Hey DCUM I intentionally walked up to a kid I don't know who was with their mom, made the kid cry and the mom cursed me out, is it possible I was in the wrong?

NO, you're amaaaayyyzing! I fantasize about doing worse to kids all the time! That mom should be in prison!

This place is nuts.

Making a kid cry is not automatically a bad thing. Kids cry a lot. I've made my kid cry lots of times by accident, and other times I've made her cry by doing necessary parenting, like leaving the playground when I said we would leave, or telling her it's not okay to hit.

The mother cursed OP out because the mother has her own emotional maturity issues. Cursing someone out in a grocery store is not an acceptable adult response to a confrontation.

No one said the mom should be in prison. And OP didn't actually do anything to the child except communicate to her that the screaming was hurting OP's ears.

Exhibit H

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You sound crazy OP to yell at a toddler.

I wish I had been there because I was a Voice major and could hit a High C with no problem which I would have used to shock the brat and her awful mother. If your brats are screaming in public then you leave immediately.

Main Character Syndrome is really shining through in all of the "I hate children" posters. Yes, I'm sure the people in the store who are cringing when a kid shouts would all line up to throw flowers at your feet for screeching out at a tone that shatters glass. You show those dastardly child-havers! You can be the hero that all antisocial weirdos deserve!

Stop saying stupid shit. No one hates children. We hate parents who refuse to parent their brats. I'm guessing you're one of them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You were wrong and should have walked on by. Who needs to "enjoy" a grocery shopping?

Can you please tell me where you shop? I'd like to join you and shriek occasionally right in your ear. Let's see how you react.