Verbally abusive mother at the park - what would you do?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Nothing. Yelling and swearing at your kids is horrible but it’s not illegal. People suck.

+1

[Anonymous]

'“DO YOU WANT ME TO BEAT YOUR STUPID A*$?! GET IN YOUR F*****G CARSEAT!!!”

I can imagine saying the second statement in a moment of utter frustration/exhaustion/stress, but I would never say the first. I think it's likely that they do beat the kid if they think to threaten it. But, like many others have said, in that situation, unfortunately you probably have to just mind your own business.

[Anonymous]

Threats (hopefully empty threats in this case) are the sign of a parent flailing as they're feeling overwhelmed. I would never threaten physical harm to my kid but I sure as heck have threatened to throw her favorite toy in the trash, take her stuffed animal out of her bed, etc. in moments of pure stress.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:'“DO YOU WANT ME TO BEAT YOUR STUPID A*$?! GET IN YOUR F*****G CARSEAT!!!”

I can imagine saying the second statement in a moment of utter frustration/exhaustion/stress, but I would never say the first. I think it's likely that they do beat the kid if they think to threaten it. But, like many others have said, in that situation, unfortunately you probably have to just mind your own business.

I don't think you can say that. My mom might threaten "you won't be able to sit down for a week!" Her actual spankings, on the other hand, were mild and by the book. Unpleasant and effective, sure, but certainly not abusive.

[Anonymous]

^^ Yep. My mom once yelled that she was going to "cut our heads off" and it was so absurd that we actually laughed at it. She was a mild-mannered person, not at all abusive but was having issues with PPD and stressed out by being a SAHM.

[Anonymous]

Being a mother is freaking hard. I would have said, "Hey, do you want some help? Let me buckle him into his car seat while you get the baby." And then I would have sympathized with her because anyone who hasn't lost their **** while parenting multiple kids alone is a better person than me.

[Anonymous]

She was having a bad day. Have you never snapped at your kids?

[Anonymous]

I would have either offered to help or done nothing. Parenting is really hard some days. Not your business, unless you want to offer a hand.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:She was having a bad day. Have you never snapped at your kids?

Ugh, this. It sounds like she has at least two young kids and was overwhelmed. Are you all perfect parents literally every second of every day? I wouldn't threaten beating or swear but I have definitely threatened things I didn't actually mean in moments of stress and spoken intemperately to my toddler when she's getting on my last nerve.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once told a woman that the things she was saying were inappropriate to say to a small child and she threatened to beat me and chased me in her car. I was on a bicycle with my kid. Never again. People are crazy! If she's actively beating the kid get her license plate number and quietly call the police for a welfare check otherwise MYOB.

Well you are an idiot

Yes, I'm the idiot! I start with the assumption that most people are good and love their children. Shame on me. I should start with the assumption that all people are judgy a$$holes like you who think they're perfect.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once told a woman that the things she was saying were inappropriate to say to a small child and she threatened to beat me and chased me in her car. I was on a bicycle with my kid. Never again. People are crazy! If she's actively beating the kid get her license plate number and quietly call the police for a welfare check otherwise MYOB.

Well you are an idiot

I'm not surprised. What did you expect PP? You actually escalated the situation by becoming confrontational and smug.

You take that as confrontational and smug. This is the training I've been given for corporate leadership when it comes to DEI. Call out bad behavior. Folks here seem to want to brush it under the carpet. Social pressure is not always a bad thing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would do nothing. People have different situations in life and honestly it’s none of your business.

I once saw a mom acting similarly to her kid. When they stopped near where I was sitting I complimented the kid’s shoes. I complimented the mom on the kid. She sat next to me and started talking. She had just gotten out of the hospital and had no family support. She was doing her best but she was overwhelmed. The poor kid and poor mom. That’s where my mind goes.

I don’t see what being in the hospital has anything to do with telling your toddler you are “going to beat their stupid a**”

DP, but you don’t understand how being incredibly stressed can lead parents to lose their shit with their kids? Really?

There’s not much you can do in these cases, other than to offer some empathy as the PP did. It’s hard.

Plenty of people are unbelievably stressed and manage not to speak speak to others that way.

[Anonymous]

Video. license plate, anonymous tip to cops.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I once told a woman that the things she was saying were inappropriate to say to a small child and she threatened to beat me and chased me in her car. I was on a bicycle with my kid. Never again. People are crazy! If she's actively beating the kid get her license plate number and quietly call the police for a welfare check otherwise MYOB.

Well you are an idiot

I'm not surprised. What did you expect PP? You actually escalated the situation by becoming confrontational and smug.

You take that as confrontational and smug. This is the training I've been given for corporate leadership when it comes to DEI. Call out bad behavior. Folks here seem to want to brush it under the carpet. Social pressure is not always a bad thing.

This was a joke, right? Sarcasm?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Video. license plate, anonymous tip to cops.

Yeah, they'll get right on that, I'm sure.