What do you do when you see a parent smack their child in public???

Question

I saw a lady really laying into her kid the other day, are we supposed to just sit by and let them do that? It looked terrible, and like she was genuinely hurting the child...I had to look away.

Answer 1

You have to know the difference in a spanking and a beating.  If a child is being spanked on the bottom or the leg and the parent is telling them "No" or "I warned you I was going to spank you if you did it again.", then that is one thing.  If a parent is slapping them in the face, or closed fisted hitting them or pulling their hair, or kicking then yes, I would say something.  More than likely, what you seen out in public was a spanking.  Most people that actually beat their children to where the law would consider it abuse, do it behind private closed doors.  They know they are wrong and that is why it is hidden.  My suggestion to you, is unless you know 110% for sure that child is being BEAT, then you do need to just mind your own business.  Raise your kids the way you want to, and by all means, step in and help out when someone is being hurt...not when someone is being corrected.

Answer 2

If it is at a grocery store or something I will pick my daughter up out of the cart and walk by them talking sweetly to her and pretend I need to get something RIGHT next to them. I will even say excuse me and make them move so I can grab something behind them. Haha.

Some people don't know how to parent so they let their rage get the best of them. What can you do, honestly? By the time the cops came they would be gone. Some people just shouldn't have kids.

Answer 3

I confront the child-beater, and generally let them know that I'm calling 911.   The parent usually turns his/her anger toward me and lays into me by screaming and stuff, but too bad, so sad.

I'm talking laying into a kid, not just a small spank.

Answer 4

I speak my mind. I'll be rude..no problem pissing people off, I do it all the time anyways. Something like "wow, great parenting...beat the kid"...or "hey hunny, there's the parent of the year"....or "gee thats an unfit parent if you ever saw one".

It's ridiculous, to be doing that c**p.

Answer 5

i say a silent prayer for the parent. maybe look over cautiously. otherwise, let it be. you never know what's behind it all.

Answer 6

I hate seeing that in pubic too. If my son is being bad enough to need a spanking, I take him into the bathroom and do it there. No need for a public show.

Answer 7

Just look away and mind your own business, you might not know how this agressive people would react towards you whom they have not blood relation what so ever (JUST LOOK WHAT THEY ARE DOING TO THEIR CHILDREN FOR CRYING OUT LOUD) Sad, unfair, illegal in 48 states??? Yes, sadly yes!!! But we are not Superman (or Wonder Woman in this case) to solve every problem in the world and while doing so we might get mix up in some serious problems just cause, so let the by gones be by gones and lets fix our own issues!

Answer 8

If one is merely giving a spanking (swat/two on the bottom), nothing.  If one is actually beating the child, then I'd say something and call the police.

Answer 9

i look away and mind my own business, although i whisper in my daughters ear when she being horrible in public, i have not spanked her or anything bc i dont want to embarress her, its rude, but i guess people just have different ways of parenting.

Answer 10

Open a barrel of Whoop @$$ on that sorry excuse for a human being, saying, "Don't hurt people lesser than you!!!"

In the real world, I am reaching the point to where I may break some law if I were to witness that.

What I see more often and what is perhaps just as harmful is the complete and utter contempt that parents have for their own children or how they neglect the child's safety.  

I don't care what you say or do to me; but you cause a child harm in my presence, there will be bloodshed.

Amazing how we can be so civilized as to protect adults who are obvious criminals from other adults but do nothing to protect children from their parents who are so obviously unqualified and unworthy to have children.

Okay, I've got to lay down and listen to Chloë Agnew sing, "One World".

Answer 11

Cringe.

Honestly if somebody is hitting their child anywhere, let alone in public, saying something to them is not going to change their mind.

Answer 12

Unless someone is beating a child, it is none of your business.

Answer 13

I say nothing. Where i live spanking/hitting your child and such is  legal, as it should be. If i see blood then it's a problem.

Answer 14

Well if the kid was misbehaving he deserved it. The problem with society today is that kids aren't able to be disiplined because you get called into child protective services. If the kid wasn't doing anything I would probably say something.

Answer 15

It's none of your business if the kid deserved a spanking then he gets a spanking. Of course a spanking hurts it's not supposed to fell good. It's supposed to make sure that kid doesn't do it again. I don't agree with spanking in public, but it's her child and she can do what she deems fit.

Answer 16

If it looked like she was hurting the child---not just a regular spank---you should have said/done something! Too often, people do *nothing*, and then the mother (or father) believes it's an okay thing to do, and the poor child grows up thinking this is normal (cause everyone just watched it happen), and the circle becomes complete.

If it's just a spank, I just look, and make sure that's all it is... If they seem to be getting a little rough, then I'll glare them down, and let them KNOW I'm watching... They will look at me, as well, but they sure stop... At the very least, it tells them to be more aware of their behavior, in public, and let's them know that not everyone thinks it's okay to hit your kid.

I have a right to go out in public, in peace; without seeing a parent beat their kids, or hollering at them so loudly that everyone in the store can hear them... My kids don't need to see that, either, as it usually scares them... That's when I get pissed.

Answer 17

Okay, 2 me, there are 2 answers. one either the kid is terrible and never obeys his parents or his parents have issues and  child abuse needs to be called .

that is all I can say.

skigibora

Answer 18

I cringe and look away.

Answer 19

once i saw a lady cussing out her daughter in public her daughter was like 7 or 8 it was the saddest thing i felt like telling her something poor little girl =( it just makes you want to cry.. how does a mother expect her child to respect her if she doesnt respect them. i know i will never hit my kids theres no need to. i was spanked as a kid and now im not very close to my dad i always saw him as the discepliner my mom never laid a hand on me and i love her and trust her more than anyone

Answer 20

if I think it's abuse, I go ballistic. I've been known to get right in their face and scream at them. The last time was when I saw a lady hit a baby because he was crying. I guess because she was in a parked car she thought it was no one's business. She slapped him right in the face, I ran right over there and started screaming at her, she screamed back, it was quite a scene. Not sure I accomplished anything but I find it impossible to keep quiet when I see something like that.