to have wanted to cause a random man physical harm?

[taboot]

I took my son to a local festival today (which turned out to be nothing more than a very expensive fair...grrrr). As we were sitting having our picnic on the field I saw a dad with two girls (one possibly 6, the other around 2/3 she was very much a toddler) they were both crying and playing up a little. At first I felt a little bad for the bloke, we've all been there in public when the kids have had a meltdown! But soon changed my mind! The youngest girl had thrown herself on the thrown mid-tandtrum, so the dad feigned leaving her "bye, we're going now". She wasn't having any of it! So he walked back over to were she was (she was now standing) and he pushed her, full force with his hand,pushed her onto the floor. I stood up to say something at which point he picked her up by one leg and shook her like a rag doll. I have honest to God never seen anything like it, everyone has their moments and it's frustrating having to deal with tantrums but this was ridiculous and I was fuming! I shouted at him to put her down. He replied "she's my daughter!" To which I said "I don't damn well care who's child she is you have no right to put your hands on her". Luckily, one of the events 'people' (?) Had witnessed it all and intervened. Me and my son left at this point and I heard the man (event person) talking about calling the police. I was shaking so much, I was so angry and upset and my poor boy didn't have a clue why I was shouting at a random man in the park! Would you have done anything different? Feel better that I said something but probably could of handled it better "/

I was repeatedly treated like this in public, by my father.

My mother has re-written my childhood and when i try to challange her, one of her responses is, that it couldn't have happened, as someone would have said something.

I think that if anything had of been said it would have helped me to confide in my teachers, or, at least, realise at the time that it wasn't me causing this, it was my parents that were at fault.

You couldn't have done anymore, but, it does need everyone to stand up against child abuse.

I think you handled it really well. Well done you for saying something :)

Birdsgottafly I'm sorry to hear that :( My dad was very rough and often reacted to 'child related stress' in the same way, I am very lucky to have a mother who stopped it happening. I've been in this situation before (not this severe) and have walked away saying nothing. What you've said will stay with me and push me to stand up more.

toughasoldboots sorry if that was me, it's late! Lol.
Thank you :) makes me feel a bit better about it, but you're right there's no follow up. I hope it was a one off and he was mortified enough to rein it in!

Bravo to you for saying something! What a bastard. I think I would have wanted to smash his face in if I'd witnessed that, it makes me angry just thinking about it!

happyaschips if my boy wasn't with me I think I would have! I was so angry! But...he reacted to a tantrum by throwing one, I didn't wanna do the same so I put my Momma voice on! Lol

happyaschips if my boy wasn't with me I think I would have! I was so angry! But...he reacted to a tantrum by throwing one, I didn't wanna do the same so I put my Momma voice on! Lol

I was watching on the news tonight about a 'father' who shook his baby to death. Made me sad to think of that poor child. I always think, if thats what they're like in public what are they doing behind closed doors? You did the right thing & hopefully, maybe if will make him think.

Sadly, only a small minority of people would have spoken up like you did.

Well done, it takes guts to do the right thing in this sort of situation!

No you're definately not being unreasonable. Well done for standing up & getting attention on the matter.

I hope the police were called - poor little girl

Well done you. I don't think there is much more you could have done.

It always makes me shudder to think if they do that in public what they must be capable off behind closed doors

YANBU. I worked at a local supermarket and at 17 saw a woman with toddler on reigns literally fully swing her over her shoulder by them then attempt to drag her round the store like it. It made the national paper in the end the CCTV was given to the police and eventually the papers! At the time though The woman was very nearly rugby tackled by every single female member of staff.. Literally we all descended on her. She was ghastly woman, laughing like it was a joke, the police later said the little girl had welts under her arms people are vile and we should speak up for children s well done you!

BBwolefs that is horrendous!!! There must have been something seriously amiss with that woman, that is sick! Thank you all! Don't think I would have felt good about the situation whatever I'd have done, I wanted to take the little girl with me :( Yeah exactly, it takes someone very brazen to do that sort of thing in public but to not think anyone would disagree and say something (I know many don't, it's a hard call sometimes) is just ridiculous!