To have confronted this poor excuse for a mother?

[TeddyPickleStick]

So I'm sat at work, window open. I hear a commotion outside so get up and look out the window. There is a heavily pregnant woman with two small children - a boy of around 3 and a girl of maybe 4.

She is screaming at the boy .. ' you fucking piece of shit, what the fuck are you doing? ' and ' Come on you little prick ' etc etc.

I shout down ' Don't do that! Don't say that! ' in complete shock. ' Who the fuck are you? Fuck off ' she shouts back.

I then deliberated on what to do. I felt really angry so ran down the stairs onto the street but she had gone into the bank. And then I ground to a halt and couldn't work out what to do.

So did nothing more. I mean, what CAN you do? Only a bit of swearing after all eh? I have no idea what I would have done if I'd managed to confront her anyway.

I detest this, really hate it. If you swear at your children like this, in the street, then you are a shit parent.

Aren't you?

I phoned SS once b ecause someone was repeatedly shouting obsenities at their 2 year old. They did take it seriously, and investigated, I don'[t know what happened, other than this summer with the windows wide open, I've heard nothing of the kind, thank god!

Emotional abuse? I'm not defending it, if that's what you are getting at.. The way that the woman behaved as described in the OP is terrible - it is, however, not a physical assault for which I would very definitely call the police. Is that any good? Will that do. I wouldn't say they were "exactly my views" - it would depend how much I knew about the emotional abuse, I suppose, for me to be able to give you a clearer view.

Are you going to suggest I'm an abuse apologist now?

I do not call the police when I hear people swearing in an angry fashion in the street. It doesn't mean I think it's good. If someone swears in an aggressive fashion it is frightening and horrible. I feel very sorry for anyone on the receiving end of it - especially children.

I do not regard someone kicking the shit out of someone as being the SAME as someone calling someone else a fuck and a shit. It doesn't mean that calling someone a fuck and shit is something to be applauded.

Do I work in Africa?

Are you actually taking the piss?

I actually volunteer in haringey. North london.
With families who's children won't get a hot meal during the summer because school is closed. So we provide a meal service. For anyone that needs it.
We also do a collection of school clothes through the church.

And it's lovely that you don't believe children are living in poverty.
Pop down and volunteer this summer. Then you can see it.

What an utterly stupid, idiotic, response.

I think that one doesn't need a foot to lick the shit out of someone. It can be just as well done with a nasty and foul mouth, especially when directed towards a defenceless child.

I would also think that a woman who lets her mouth run like that in public will show the same lack of control when it does come to using her literal foot when she is in private with those children.

Libertine, that's an incredibly reassuring story. Thank you.

I meant Kick, not Lick.

I haven't called anybody an 'abuse apologist' and I never would.

I think ea is as bad as physical abuse so clearly we disagree verlaine

Would you call the police JustGive? If you had witnessed what the OP did?

missmarple thinking it is one thing.
Stating you know that is another.

Everyone has their opinion but some people would do well to remember a opinion is just that. It's not a fact.

Leaving the thread though now - have other things to do.

MrsDV, suggesting as you did that I am or was 'confused' is actually very insulting. You words were clear and very open to misinterpretation, as a number of people on this thread have clearly done subsequently.

No, Tantrums, I am not taking the piss. I simply don't believe 1 in 3 children in Britain is living in poverty.

Tantrums I don't know how you've got this far on this thread with only one deletion, you are clearly much more zen than me

Pram, you can believe what you want. The facts and the evidence speak for itself. I find it utterly frightening that a reactionary such as yourself, with no empathy for those around you and no concept of what UK families are up against is working for the very system set up to help people.
I don't believe that you do. The people I know who do, and the people I work with are far more in tune with what is going on in the UK today.
Oh to live in your bubble.

Like I say come and volunteer then.
Speak to the families who suffer when their children do not get free school meals. Who can't afford uniform because they are paying back payday loans that they took out last year to buy uniform.
Come and actually see the reality of child poverty

And then tell me it's a lie.

libs I am very restrained today

I am finding that the sheer ignorance on this thread speaks for itself better than I can.

I witnessed ds2's best friend from nursery being verbally abused (in a very similar fashion to what the OP witnessed) by his mother. I discussed the matter with nursery and i callled ss. I hope this very troubled lady got the help she needed Nd more importantly I hope it stopped the little boy from being abused. I have zero regrets.

Mental health is a huge issue in this country. Some of it stems from ea whether it's from a parent, friend or partner. The damage is less visible than a broken arm or bruised leg but it is no less severe. So yes, I still disagree with you that ea is less series than a pHysical attack.

Naturally, I'm only thinking and of course, I don't know.
Neither do you though, you only think too.

We base our conclusions on life experiences and there is no way of knowing which of us is right. I hope you are, I really hope that you are.

However, where there is doubt, I would rather err on the side of protecting the child even if, by doing so, I caused embarrassment for both myself and the woman in charge of the children.

I am sorry Mrs. deVere if Nything I have said has upset you. That wasn't my intention. I really disagree with you but I don't want to upset you.

justfiveminutes no - just saying it's hard isn't it, isn't enough. But a bit of empathy and support and a door left open is hugely more helpful for someone who may well be a vulnerable adult and her child than downright condemnation. I little bit of sympathy opens the door to receptiveness re support and in turn receptiveness to re-education. I don't think it's all black and white.

My post at 21.34 was for verlaine btw.

My whole point miss is that I don't know anything.

Every post I make, I say that.

That you cannot possibly know what goes on after that 10 seconds.

Is no one actually reading that ?

Lizzy, I can tell you for a fact that 1 in 3 children are not living in poverty. I'm not prepared to debate the issue, either, as I am sick of being labelled as 'goady' and 'inflammatory'. I know the truth as I see it and that is all I need to know.