I'll tell you what happened to me:
I was away with the church youth group and my son was almost 14 months old. He ended up really cranky then I took his temp and he was 103 so off to the local clinic we went. Turns out he had bronchitis and a double ear infection, poor kid. He was miserable. We had to sit at the clinic for 3 hours since were were not normal patients and he was really not feeling well. Once we got our prescriptions, we had to go to KMart where it seemed EVERYONE was sick. It was a simple amoxicillin prescription and I asked if they could possibly rush it since he was now at a 104 temp and really miserable but they wouldn't do it. I bought some baby tylenol and dosed him up as we had to walk for 45 minutes before we got our prescription. I had so many nasty looks because my son was MISERABLE and often crying, but there was nothing I could do to soothe him. I couldn't even carry him for that long at the time because my carpal tunnel was in full swing and I had no strength in my left hand at all.
So what other people saw was a mother walking around with a dazed look and a screaming child. What they didn't see was the story behind it. It was not a lazy mother or a spoiled child by any stretch. I've always given the mother the benefit of the doubt when a child is screaming unless I see other behavior that doesn't belong (such as when a parent is being verbally abusive).
Additionally, we need to remember that not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye and a child who has autism or other mental disability will act out in such a way that is not normal - and no one would have a clue that the 7 year old who was kicking and screaming actually had the mentality of a 12 month old and mom just desperately needed to get some food into the house but had no childcare so she HAD to take the child with her.
Let's try to be a little compassionate. Hey - if you have ideas, share them. "Oh, when my kids had a temper tantrum like that, one time I asked the cashier to watch my groceries so I could sit in the car until he calmed down. It really worked well." or "He might be just needing a little snuggle before you move on. It's OK to stop and sit with him. It will only take a couple of minutes." I've had people do this for me and it's so appreciated because sometimes I just get so small-focused that I forget the big picture.
As to the OP? I hope he goes to jail. Touch my child and you die. Period.
I was away with the church youth group and my son was almost 14 months old. He ended up really cranky then I took his temp and he was 103 so off to the local clinic we went. Turns out he had bronchitis and a double ear infection, poor kid. He was miserable. We had to sit at the clinic for 3 hours since were were not normal patients and he was really not feeling well. Once we got our prescriptions, we had to go to KMart where it seemed EVERYONE was sick. It was a simple amoxicillin prescription and I asked if they could possibly rush it since he was now at a 104 temp and really miserable but they wouldn't do it. I bought some baby tylenol and dosed him up as we had to walk for 45 minutes before we got our prescription. I had so many nasty looks because my son was MISERABLE and often crying, but there was nothing I could do to soothe him. I couldn't even carry him for that long at the time because my carpal tunnel was in full swing and I had no strength in my left hand at all.
So what other people saw was a mother walking around with a dazed look and a screaming child. What they didn't see was the story behind it. It was not a lazy mother or a spoiled child by any stretch. I've always given the mother the benefit of the doubt when a child is screaming unless I see other behavior that doesn't belong (such as when a parent is being verbally abusive).
Additionally, we need to remember that not all disabilities are visible to the naked eye and a child who has autism or other mental disability will act out in such a way that is not normal - and no one would have a clue that the 7 year old who was kicking and screaming actually had the mentality of a 12 month old and mom just desperately needed to get some food into the house but had no childcare so she HAD to take the child with her.
Let's try to be a little compassionate. Hey - if you have ideas, share them. "Oh, when my kids had a temper tantrum like that, one time I asked the cashier to watch my groceries so I could sit in the car until he calmed down. It really worked well." or "He might be just needing a little snuggle before you move on. It's OK to stop and sit with him. It will only take a couple of minutes." I've had people do this for me and it's so appreciated because sometimes I just get so small-focused that I forget the big picture.
As to the OP? I hope he goes to jail. Touch my child and you die. Period.
