Mumsnet Talk

Firstly, we're not in the UK, and here people to beat smack their kids. It is socially normal.

DD (17 months) had a bit of a breakdown in the chemists. She was tired and hungry. I was holding her and a few things at the checkout. She grabbed something and threw it on the floor and screamed. I was just about to pay, so couldn't really leave. She grabbed my neck and clawed me, then bit my shoulder. The shop assistant rang up the amout, then insisted on the correct change, which delayed things further, DD still screaming. She put the stuff in a bag, handed it to me, them smacked DD on the arm. Not hard, but deliberately. At this point she was screaming but not hurting or grabbing.

I didn't know what to do. I just glared at her and walked off. DD carried on screaming.

What should I have done? WIBU to walk off, or should I have said something?

It's difficult to say without knowing where you are, but I'd probably have said something to her.

Malaysia, KL.

I'm also in a non-UK, child beating country and I would have smacked anyone who smacked my child. Fuck 'em.

Well in the uk you could have her arrested for assault. I guess that's not an option there.

Was it a local shop or part if a larger group. Is there a head office or manager you could complain to?

She was quite young, not that it makes a difference but perhaps too young to have kids. I am still stunned to be honest. Especially that it was after everything - after the throwing, after the biting, just as we were leaving. Like she had thought about it, IYSWIM?

It was a chain.

I dont' really understand your OP

Is beating legal in Malaysia or smacking because you do realise they're two completely different things don't you?

I would have gone a bit mental actually and told her never to touch my child again.

Do you think I should? I didn't even get her name though. Maybe it's normal here? Surely not to smack other people's babies? Customers?

Ah, ok. Different country but still a country where parents think it's ok to give their kids a good hiding so I stand by my post of giving the assistant a slap.

I have no idea which is legal or otherwise, but I know discipline is on the much heavier side here.

I'd have punched her head in.

NO-ONE smacks anyone elses child. NO-ONE.

Also, the reason I'm sure she did it deliberately is that she reached out for her hand - I thought she was going to touch or stroke it as people often do here. DD withdrew her hand, so then she went in a second time but hit.

If you've left the shop then too late, that ship has sailed. In future though, you have to decide there and then if you think it's acceptable for a stranger to hit your child and act accordingly.

Personally, if someone wallops my child I'll hit them harder.

In all my time in Malaysia, I never encountered anything like that. Only kindness to children. You make it sound commonplace there. It's certainly not normal for random folk to wallop your kids when they're having a melt down. I would have dealt with it there and then, I hope. Of course strangers should not assault your defenceless child.

I am shocked at the comments of hitting the woman back - not exactly the best example to set...
I have no idea about the laws of the country. Perhaps your best option is to visit a police station?

'Punched her head in'

Yes, yes that would have made you a much better person than she is wouldn't it.

I suppose then her adult daughter could have decided that no one has a right to punch her Mum and could have stabbed you.

Then your Mum decides no one has a right to touch her child and so she decided to kill her in her sleep.

Yes, yes this clearly the right way to do things!

How about saying please don't smack my child, walk off and report it straight away. Like any normal person.

No, I didn't mean to suggest people hit random babies all the time here! Quite the opposite, they are really lovely most of the time.

However, I teach, and I know for a fact that a good amount of our Malaysian students are hit a lot at home.

Jaqueline

I'm not saying it's the right thing to do, but I just would have done.

Don't agree, I don't care. I don't expect you to.

well hopefully the lack of 40% tax will help you decide what to do. presumably nobody forced you to live in a tax free country?

It's 26% tax. What the hell has tax got to do with anything. And what makes you think it's tax free? I wish!

You clearly don't care.

Just as I suspect the lady in the shop didn't care and smacked the op's child.

Not so different really.

maybe time to go home

Are you drunk or just a twat?

What is wrong with the posters who advocate further violence, in a proud way?
Just call back in and apologise for the uproar, explain she is a baby and you are against violence as a form of discipline.