Child Abuse or Leave Them Alone?

Recently I was at a midtown grocery store and the below scene unfolded before my eyes in the afternoon.

A mom & her son standing in line at the check out stand. The mom is relatively young, she looked to be in her mid-20's. Her son, maybe between 2 and 3 years old. Her son was crying and crying hard & loud. Mom was carrying her son on her hip trying to pay for their items. Mom was in a tank top, shorts, and flip-flops, body tattoos were visible.

A woman stood behind them witnessing the crying scenario. The woman was a stranger. A bit older , probably in her early 50's. She was dressed in a full length solid-color cotton-like short-sleeve dress with comfortable walking shoes. She was alone and also waiting to pay for her items.

The woman voiced her concerns to the mom for the child's stress (crying) during the line, some words were exchanged, and the mom took offense and created a scene by shouting "the boy bumped his head on the door knob, call the police!" and stormed out to get the store's security guard & manager.

The mom & son, who stopped crying now, spoke loudly to the security guard and manager (for all to hear), that she was basically being harrassed by the woman. That she [the mom] was accused of child abuse and was threatened to have Child Services called because her child was crying! Obviously the mom was angry!

The woman then came up to the mom and said "I am right here and can hear you" turns to the guard and manager and voiced the following in a calm quiet demeanor "I am concerned about the child because he was in distress and crying non-stop. I had been witnessing the child's crying throughout the store the entire time. It was continuous and did not stop."

The mom rubuted immediately that "he was crying because he wanted ice cream ma'am and I am not going to give him ice cream; what child wouldn't cry when he can't have ice cream?"

However without hearing the reasoning or excuse, the woman continued with the manager and pleaded for "...somebody to step in and help that child..."

So question(s) of the day:
Do you feel that that woman had the right to step in as an advocate for the child? OR Do you feel the mom had the right to discipline her child by letting him "cry it out" in public?

Weekend Meme: 3 Books Your Toddler Enjoys Reading

This one is created on Tabitha's own thought since Erik is really into reading. I know a few of the toddlers are also so let's share some of the favorite titles.

Rules:
1. Share 3 book titles that your toddler enjoys (and WHY)
2. Tag others
3. Leave a link or your actual book titles in the comment section

3 Books that Erik Enjoys Reading

1. Tumble Bumble - we borrowed this from the local library and it is indeed one of Erik's most sought after book in the evenings. SPOILER ALERT: He loves the part where all the animals get together in the kitchen eating away. Erik pretends to chow down as well!

2. Little Bo Peep Can't Get To Sleep - this is again borrowed from the local library. Erik loves this book because it rhymes as well as he can count the sheep and he loves saying "Cow jump over the moon" or "Dish ran away with the spoon"

3. Jungle Babies - This one we actually purchased from Borders Books, HAHA! Erik loves this because it has tiny "stuffed" animals for counting. It rhymes and it has an elephant! Our boy is really into elephants (and other animals, as well)

Okay, NOW your turn! Share away!

Inspire Your Children

From a blog that I follow closely, AdventureDad recently posted a Readers' Digest article he read. It was on "How To Inspire Your Children".

Small Excerpt:

1. What you say: "You're the best!"
What they hear: "Your job in life is to make me happy."
A better way to say it: "You should be proud of how hard you worked."

2. What you say: "Watch your language!"
What they hear: "I've tuned out what you're really trying to say."
A better way to say it: "I'm so glad you came to talk to me, but I have one request for the future. I find that word offensive, so please don't use it."

4. What you say: "Don't worry -- it'll be okay."
What they hear: "You're such a drama queen!"
A better way to say it: "I totally understand what you must have gone through. Tell me about it."

I am definitely guilty of item #4 whenever Erik wails. However, I also "sportcast" and tell my toddler that he's feeling sad, frustrated, angry, upset and it's okay that he wants to cry or need Mummy or Daddy to hold for a little bit until he's okay again. So maybe I'll just stop saying the "Don't Worry, you're okay" to Erik?!

Read more on the article and see if you agree or disagree. Comment either way.