Going out of a restaurant today, I saw a father harshly pick up his son in anger and say really nasty...?

Question

things to the boy. I did not know what to do. If I interfered, I was afraid the father would be even nastier to the child. What can one do when someone sees a parent being nasty to their child in public?

Answer 1

One time when I was out shopping, I saw a mother roughly pick up her son and shove him into a small shopping cart.  Her exact words, "When we get home, I'm gonna beat your a**, then I'll go to jail and you won't have a mom.  How's that one?"  She then turns to her older daughter and says, "Am I embarrassing you?"  Some parents are unfortunately like that.  I think it's best not to do anything about it because if you do not know this person, it could cause a problem and that would not be good.  You could make your feelings obvious about the situation though.  They might be embarrassed if you stare at them when something like that happens.  Hope I helped!

Answer 2

its not your place to pass judgement on somebody.  i wonder if you have any kids and how many and what other stress factors might be in your life.  i have three kids:  4, 3, and 2 and i am a military wife, whose husband is out to sea.  my kids hit me, slap me, pull my hair, and bite, they wrestle in stores, jump on beds, destroy the house one area at a time, dont let me read, write on the computer (ie:  it took me ten minutes to write this), do my bills or watch a little tv.  for the most part i try to be patient, but if i dont feel good (I have diabetes)  it can be really hard not to say something harsh or want to beat their little @**es.  and you would think that kind of threat or a good butt whipping has taught them a lesson.  NOPE!  I think its perfectly fine to show your dispproval in ways as a dirty look at the father, or murmur loud enough, "Poor child"  you are entitled to your opinion.  i am totally against child abuse.  BUT WHAT THE h**l ABOUT PARENT ABUSE!!!?  BY TIME THEY GROW UP AND GET THE h**l OUT I WILL BE OLD AND INSANE!  nobody tells you this part of parenting until its too late.  like its some kind of joke:  "Hah-Hah you stupid b@st@rd!"  

Answer 3

This is a real puzzle.  I don't know what I would do.  I could yell, "Hey, stop it!"  I think this sort of behavior is truly scarring, but we don't have any idea how far the son went before the dad blew up.  I guess I might say, "Please don't do that."  Luckily, I've never had to do this yet.  

We have reported dogs left in cars in parking lots during the heat of the summer.  Store managers take that sort of thing really seriously.  

Wish I had a better idea.  

Answer 4

call some kind of child services center and tip them off so they can check on them every so often

Answer 5

tell them you got the license plate number and your calling the police about cruelty to the child. you have a right to interfere when the child is being mistreated. the problem of today is everyone see things, but doesn't do anything about them anymore. then they are shocked when a child dies in there neighborhood from abusive parents. then say i should have done something about it.