Supermarket Shocker

Yesterday while at the supermaket I witnessed a mother hit her child, not one, but three times round the head. The child was crying, and cowering with his hands over his head (he was about 8 or 9 by my estimation) and was clearly in pain. She went to hit him again, for crying this time, and I said "excuse me, but don't you dare hit your child again", she told me to "F*&k off and mind my own business", and I said "you made it my business when you chose to beat your child in front of me". She stormed off, and I was left feeling angry and very sad. Angry because 1. she beat her child 2. no-one else stood up for the child, yet maybe 30 people witnessed it and 3. because I couldn't do more. I was sad because if this woman could do what she did in front of so many strangers, what the heck goes on in her home???? I wish I knew who they are so I could contact authorities......

I so hear you clare i have witnessed this before and sadly i must say i didn't say anything to the man. Its so sad that people do not have the skills to deal with these situations differently

omg, that must have been awful, that poor kid. good on you for saying something, that took some guts.

Poor kid.  Good on you for saying something, Clare.  If nothing else, at least the little boy knows there was someone else willing to stand up for him.  Breaks yer heart, this stuff. 

No child ever deserves to be hit, especially around the head. I am so glad you said something. I am the kind of person who would too - now that I have a child of my own. If anything, I hope she now thinks about what she did and is perhaps embarrassed by her actions after being confronted by someone else in public.

Wow good on you! That is just so awful/sad/disgusting. At least you know that you did something about it- its better to feel upset because you said something rather than guilty that you didn't. I only hope if I was ever in the same situation I could act the same as you

It is so sad that we live in a society that loks away from that kinda stuff - saying "not my business" and it IS ingrained in us, and difficult to talk out of, so good on you Clare for having the guts to say something. i like to think I would too, but in all honesty, have no idea.

That's awful! Good on you for saying something!

Yer good on you for confronting the women!! Its a shame she wasnt doing a large shop you could have called authorities when u were there. I hope she doesnt treat him any worse at home thats horrific!!!

good on you for saying something - i find i have a stern look that normally works without need to say anything at all...years of practice...
Otherwise I would have mentioned the need to call the police to refer her to cyfs etc...as the mere mention can often be enough to make them think, or if really concerned go get number plate of vehicle and report them via that method.
Im sorry but it seems to be island families that hit kids across head and esp on ears (i work with DOm violence every day) and there are studies on it showing that ear problems are prevalent as a result...no idea why they hit the head really but if i see it the look i give them makes them coil away! and usually stop - in public at least....what goes on in the home is usually far worse Im afraid.