AIBU to have commented (harshly) on a woman's parenting, at the train st.

[yukoncher]

So, we're all waiting for the train home after a fair, I happened to be sitting on my own at this point.
A woman and her 3/4 yr old lil boy and his dad come sit next to me. The woman is obviouslly really annoyed and dominating the atmosphere, saying 'I've had a fucking nuff of you today' at her child.
So the mood around us (including other people already sitting there) is like; uhh god, everyone goes a bit quiet.
So she goes 'just go ahead one more time, I'll smack ya one', etc
I actually cannot see this lil' boy doing anything wrong at all, just looking bewildered.
So his dad goes to him 'please, I'm asking ya mate just stop it, (and what sounded like;) stop looking at her', please.
Asking the little boy to stop looking at his mum, what the hell?
So the mums swearing and stuff, the boy goes to take a swig of his juice, she wacked the little bottle of juice right out of his mouth and it flew across the train station platform spilling everywhere.
The little boy is just in shock.
I thought he had tears down his face, but in hindsight it could have been splashed juice, so I was fuming.
The boys dad quickly said 'come on mate' and took the boy away.

Well I stood up and bent down in her face and said 'that poor fucking child'. And she looked all shocked and goes 'I'm so sorry'.
I looked at her in disgust and stormed off.
Then other people that were sitting near us also left the area where she was sitting and walked past us commenting on how she knocked the drink out of the poor kids mouth.
My little sister suggested buying the kid another drink, but I thought that was imposing ourselves a bit too much, and the boy had a good dad with him anyway.
I so nearly went back over to have a good chat with her about how the hell she was acting, I was so upset.
But I wanted her to feel ashamed of herself and think about it, so I thought my comment alone would be more effective.

Was that unreasonable of me?

'I so nearly went back over to have a good chat with her about how the hell she was acting, I was so upset.'

I be just wondering myself, if I had been you, if having a chat with the mother would have just tipped the balance enough for her to go and get some help for herself (and ultimately the chid).

She said 'I'm sorry', perhaps she was sorry. Perhaps it was the first time something like this had happened (doesn't make it any right in any way shape or form). Perhaps you could have been the one to help nip it in the bud. Perhaps your actions have helped nip it in the bud. You?ll never know.

Next time, if it ever happens again, why not finish the job off. Go back for the chat. Then you won?t be left wondering.

I might have intervened as I have in the past but hopefully wouldn't have been as aggressive though i can be gobby at times. If this is her usual behaviour though I doubt what you said would have hit home, i would have worried that my intervention might have made things worse for the little boy and the father when they got home while i went merrily on my way. This kind of behaviour though towards children is horrible.