Whats with parents and abuse?

Question

I have noticed, quite often lately, that in public places, parents will scream, cuss, and slap their kids right in front of whoever is watching. Why would someone put a child on this earth and then treat them like they are worthless? I feel so sorry for these kids. If they do this in public, it makes me wonder what they do in the privacy of their own homes. I welcome anyones thoughts on this and what you think can be done to help the kids?

Answer 1

It must have been at least 15 years ago one day when I drove my mother to a supermarket to do her grocery shopping, and we witnessed a tragic scene that remains fresh in my memory. We had shopped and loaded all of the groceries in my car when I noticed something going on in the car parked in front of us. This woman, who had several kids in her car, was yelling at a young boy around 10 years of age. I thought, well, maybe she's just upset over something the boy did. But then she suddenly balled up her fist and viciously struck the boy in the mouth. He screamed and held his face in his hands, and cried uncontrollably, while the other children laughed at him. Suddenly, she noticed my mother and me staring at her with horror and shock written all over our faces, and she ran and jumped into the driver's seat and roared off down the highway. We were so stunned that we didn't think of getting her license plate number. I have often wondered if the boy was a foster child, or perhaps her own son.

Answer 2

a huge demoralizing issue and embarassment of being in the human race when you see this happenning
There is no excuse but there are explanations. Those parents are damaged most likely from their life experiences yet they have found themsleves in the unfortunate position of being in charge of the most vulnerable -kids. How to fix it is so broad an issue-economics,social,mental illness issues so many tied together.
Sometimes you just can't do anything except hate that it's happenning. Treating all kids with respect, helping other parents and families that are close to you to take pressure off can help. Each person has to try in whatever small way.
In my job I attempt to encourage the parent/child bond and to praise and encourage the parents. I also speak to kids and parents in the public and comment positively on their kid(s) or make some attempt to smile and acknowledge their hard job. Even so I realize that once small babies become more defiant 2 yr olds and older, adequate parenting skills may not be there to weather them through it. There is also a need to educate couples what kind of job they are taking on when comsidering having kids or adding more to a family.
We need a whole army of "Super Nanny's" like in the show as she knows how it works.