Woman slapped stranger's baby in High Wycombe

[arolf]

Although I'm sure many have been tempted in the past, who in their right mind would actually do it?!

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/beds/bucks/herts/8437548.stm

I doubt the child would be more shocked after being punched by a stranger tbh.

Unless you have the reactions of a sloth you'd see someone "running" or heading towards your child to start with and have plenty of time to smack them imo. Not being "hard" or anything but, I really would if someone hit my young child. I don't think that's being thugish either, I think it's not being a walk over. Turn the other cheek, let them punch you on that one too....

"Turn the other cheek, let them punch you on that one too...."

PMSL.

Yes, I agree there's a difference between self defence and thuggery.

I think most people would be too shocked to respond if she slapped the child and promptly ran off.

Though I expect now her photo has been released there'll be countless people ready to deck her when they spot her shopping

Because I wouldn't be expecting anything like this to happen, I doubt it would register straight away but I think I would want to check my child first whilst probably hollering for someone to grab the woman.

I think you're probably right edam, but just thinking about it gives me a visceral reaction, and I am pretty non-violent. If sometimes a touch aggressive

I can't say how I would react, if I'm honest, but I might turn into a thug.

Fair enough if anyone's automatic reaction without having time to think about it was to respond in kind... but I was very shocked by everyone being so keen to say 'ooh, I'd hit her back twice as hard'. Two wrongs don't make a right and all that. Thumping people is wrong, that's why we are all so outraged. Especially in front of a child. And as a mother I'd be more concerned about ds than whether I'd taught her a lesson or anything.

agree with edam - hitting someone else is bad enough but in front of your children veers on the unforgivable....it's how they pick up problem-solving techniques. In this case it's ok to hit out. If someone were to hit dd for some reason I know/am pretty sure that my instinct will be to stop it happening, not seek retribution.

truth is prob. we'd all just stand there gobsmacked.

How horried for mum and child.

I wouldn't have hit back though; it is just not me. I'd have been too stunned to start with, and then my priority would have been DD - holding her, cuddling her, consoling her - not running after some thug. I would have shouted and screamed, and hoped someone might have been able to grab hold of the woman til police got there - but DD would have been my priority without a shadow of doubt.

I also cant afford an assault charge - even for self defence - on my records.

And as far as I know, I am a very normal mum.

I've been in a very similar situation but with DH instead of DS. I saw red and lunged at the crazy bastard who hit him, but someone held me back, which was a good thing really.

If it happened to DS though I think I would be too shocked and more concerned with his welfare.

lol at the 'i'd have decked her' posts. bunch of internet hard men.