Is It Okay To Yell At Someone Else's Kid?
Before I became a stay-at-home-mom I had no trouble telling rogue children what I thought of their behavior. I was a flight attendant, I knew how aggravating obnoxious kids were to passengers and crew members alike. On several flights I got into the faces of some particularly disruptive kids, pointed my finger at their little button noses and barked, "Not on my plane!"
Usually it worked. I felt like I accomplished something and my patient passengers were thankful.
I had a run-in with a rambunctious 4-year-old last week. This time, not being in uniform and not having any backup from my peers, I found myself doubting my actions for days after the incident.
My husband and I were at Best Buy searching for a new TV. Our 14 month old son had grown quite weary from the shopping process so while my husband talked with the salesman, I took the kiddo to the play area. (Who knew Best Buy had a play area? I love you for that, Best Buy!)
My little guy isn't walking on his own yet, but he loves cars and wagons and other things that roll. I hooked him up with a toy shopping cart and he was happy as a clam.
Along comes Damien from some dark cleft in the universe. Of course his parents were nowhere to be found, and he makes a beeline for my toddler. He tries to talk to my son, who doesn't talk back, but it was a cute little exchange. He then grabbed a little pink doll stroller and starts swinging.
Holy moly, there goes my ankle. I put on my best mom voice and said, "No, no, let's play gentle. Leave the stroller on the floor."
Then the little devil launched a roundhouse stroller serve at my little guy, knocking the shopping cart out of his hands causing him to fall to the floor. My face flush, I shouted, "STOP IT!" My kid was crying, Damien froze dead in his tracks, I even left my husband speechless.
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