Editorials & Other Articles

missingthebigdog

(1,233 posts)

27. Jerk- and shame on anyone who thinks otherwise

Sat Aug 9, 2014, 12:24 PM

Aug 2014

Even if the kid is an indisciplined brat, and even if Mom is less than worthless as a parent, this spiteful response did nothing to help the situation.

My oldest son had a phase in which he had some public tantrums. I always did my best to get him calm and remove him from the situation. Sometimes it took awhile. Once, during an epic meltdown in the frozen food aisle, a woman approached me. She touched my shoulder, looked me on the eye, and said, "you are doing a good job. Is there anything I can do to help?"

No scolding. No judgment. Kindness. It made me cry.

This approach was so much better, and is how I address these kinds of things now. Sometimes there isn't anything you can do to help, but letting a frazzled, overwhelmed mom know that you are willing to help may be the thing that gets her through the day.

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Highlight:

Hero or villain? Man buys 23 Burger King apple pies to spite screaming child [View all] emsimon33 Aug 2014 OP

Most likely not true but if true the guy is a jerk. CBGLuthier Aug 2014 #1

Voting results - 96% hero, 4 % villain Divernan Aug 2014 #2

so do i. the mother learned DesertFlower Aug 2014 #51

If it made him feel better, why not? His money. Demit Aug 2014 #3

'cause Apple pie causes over stress and the Kochs all aggree, "Its my money, I can do with it what.. marble falls Aug 2014 #17

Don't you make your own decisions how to spend your own money? Demit Aug 2014 #19

Imma say hero. Inkfreak Aug 2014 #4

LOL get the red out Aug 2014 #7

how sad that this kid got the mother he got nt msongs Aug 2014 #5

That's right. Some people just don't know how to teach their kids manners. Louisiana1976 Aug 2014 #37

Sounds like a bad day all around... hlthe2b Aug 2014 #6

If true, word for word...hero. Wait Wut Aug 2014 #8

Totally agree! avebury Aug 2014 #15

And adults getting one over on a kid is really sweet, right? marble falls Aug 2014 #18

My scenario. Kid runs training wheel bike into me in store and tells me "Move!!!" Thor_MN Aug 2014 #21

First of all, there was a warning misworded as it may been. Secondly, we all clipped some adult.... marble falls Aug 2014 #25

Huh? Warning? what? Thor_MN Aug 2014 #40

"Move!" marble falls Aug 2014 #44

Ah, I see... You were traumatized as a child for running your bike into someone... Thor_MN Aug 2014 #49

What a nasty retort. Shame on you. The worst thing was the coffee man taught that kid a new trick... marble falls Aug 2014 #55

No, you have been been bringing the nasty. Thor_MN Aug 2014 #56

Been disagreeing with what majority? Those who like spiking the apple pie on a kid? As for ... marble falls Aug 2014 #57

My you have an active and wild imagination. Thor_MN Aug 2014 #60

Neither Warpy Aug 2014 #9

I see him as a hero get the red out Aug 2014 #10

Really Demsrule86 Aug 2014 #29

Sorry you feel that way get the red out Aug 2014 #35

To REALLY be a hero... shedevil69taz Aug 2014 #11

PieGuy is a loser doug1105 Aug 2014 #12

I count three jerks, mom, jr and the pie guy. marble falls Aug 2014 #13

Hero - no doubt about it. avebury Aug 2014 #14

I'd take my complaint to a supervisor or the boss (unless the co-worker is a supervisor or the Louisiana1976 Aug 2014 #38

Unforuntately, this person is so far avebury Aug 2014 #58

Woo hoo,what a hero, he got over on a child! He stood his ground!!!! marble falls Aug 2014 #16

No. He put one over the Mother who was not avebury Aug 2014 #20

I cannot believe the mother allows her child to hit her! If I/we had done that as children we Hestia Aug 2014 #22

I have a co-worker who occaisionally brings her kids into the office avebury Aug 2014 #23

i agree. i'm 73 years old. DesertFlower Aug 2014 #53

Because he lives for these kinds of confrontation? There had to have been a teachable moment... marble falls Aug 2014 #28

Actually, the child did not have a right to the pie. avebury Aug 2014 #31

True. Rewarding bad behavior turns brats into spoiled brats. I'm glad the man bought all the pies Louisiana1976 Aug 2014 #39

Villain. What if this was a mentally disturbed homeless person cheapdate Aug 2014 #24

See reply 31 avebury Aug 2014 #32

I'm not persuaded. C'est la vie. cheapdate Aug 2014 #36

if the kid d_r Aug 2014 #26

Jerk- and shame on anyone who thinks otherwise missingthebigdog Aug 2014 #27

Finally Demsrule86 Aug 2014 #30

The problem is that that mother made no effort to actually avebury Aug 2014 #33

I agree that Mom should be doing a better job missingthebigdog Aug 2014 #41

The problem is that the mother was too stupid avebury Aug 2014 #42

Yes. Punish the child further for the stupidity missingthebigdog Aug 2014 #43

I don't believe in pussy footing around an issue. avebury Aug 2014 #45

Where did I say the child deserves pie???? missingthebigdog Aug 2014 #46

I think you missed the part where the guy did try to avebury Aug 2014 #47

You seem to know a lot of brats missingthebigdog Aug 2014 #48

Hero! I'd like to buy him a pie. n/t Chan790 Aug 2014 #34

Magnificent bastard JVS Aug 2014 #50

I tend to think hero Prophet 451 Aug 2014 #52

‘I want some f***ing pie!’ Adsos Letter Aug 2014 #54

Hero. hifiguy Aug 2014 #59