Being picked on at such a young age?

Question

Yesterday, My four and a half year old and I went to the grocery store. We were in the frozen food aisle packed with people, when a boy came up to her and called her fat. His mother was standing there and did nothing. This boy was about 6 or 7 years old. I gave him the look of death and told my daughter to keep moving. She didn't understand what he said, but from my reaction and the other customers reactions, she knew it was bad. She asked if we could leave. I am outraged that this boys mother did absolutly nothing to her son. She was standing right there when it happened. He was not quiet about it. In fact, after he said it, he started laughing!!! How would you handle the mother who clearly didn't care that her son was completlely out of control?

Answer 1

You have to get a license to cut hair, drive a car, get a dog, but not to be a parent. My condolences for running into such a bunch of jerks....keep your eyes open though...someday, they'll probably all be on Cops....

Answer 2

OMG... my heart aches for your baby.

As much as I want to say you should have told the little monster he is an obnoxious troll and smacked him upside the head (I love the vision, don't you?) we both know the mom would have gone postal on you.

That being said, talk to your daughter about what a horrible child he was. Start a dialog about how not everyone in the world is as kind and thoughtful as her. Reiterate how perfect she is. Then hold her and give her LOTS of hugs.

Everyone is telling you what you SHOULD have done and hindsight is always 20/20. I have a 7 yr old slightly chubby daughter myself and I would NEVER confront the parent simply because I would blow my top with her/him and that is not a behavior I want my daughter to learn from me. I want to teach her to be the better person, don't you?

Answer 3

This boy as one of those parents that just doesnt give a crap or thinks it is cooll that there kid is the bully. I see this all to much having 4 in school. I would not have handled the mother I would have said something to the child...."that was not a very nice thing to say. Would you like it if someone called you name or said something bad about you" then walk off....it would absolutely humiliate the mom. I have learned to speak up to t he kids themselves when I see them bullying another child rather the tell the parents because most parents ignore it or are to busy with themselves to even care.

Answer 4

Me personally, I would have said something nasty to her. I am very protective of my children and their feelings. It probably would have ended up in an argument or fight but I wouldn't have let it go. Kids that say things like that in front of their parents and the parents do not correct the child lack any measure of decency. If my child said something like that I would make them apologize and then discipline them for it when I got out of the store or home. Don't get me wrong I don't over discipline my children but I have raised them to respect all people no matter what. I had an incident when we were in a restaurant one time and my daughter like me is thin and a woman looked at her and said why don't you feed that kid (while sitting at a table with 4 very overweight kids. So I told her maybe you should stop letting your kids stuff their faces with junk food and feed them a balanced diet. Well maybe not the best way to handle it but it shut her up.

Answer 5

This isn't about the little boy. It's about the parent. If you had confronted her there most likely would have been a big scene and that's the last thing that little bratty boy and the mother needed. It was only a little kid who didn't know any better. Ignoring the situation without the mean look would have been better. I do hope that when you talk to your little girl about it to just tell her to walk away from kids like that, because any negative reaction is what they want. Or any reaction for that matter.

Answer 6

You did the right thing. Unfortunately, we cannot go up and smack the crap out of such moms although we wished we did! But I am sure the boy got the message.. We cannot change people but do the best we can to protect our children. It is a rough world out there for them!!!

Answer 7

I have no qualms about defending my child in public. I would have waited for mom to say something, then said, " you are an extremely rude little boy, and I feel bad for your parents." and left the store.
In the car, explain some poor unfortunate children don't learn any manners because their parents are ignorant.

Answer 8

I would tell her right then and there that the reason her child is a little #$%^ is because of her. OR maybe tell her she was fat or something else insulting really loudly and let her see how it feels. But i definetly wouldn't have let it go. She would have definetly have heard my mouth.

I hate seeing a child get their feelings hurt. It would be nice if they would make it to where you could sue people who let their kids be mean to other kids. Like emotional distress or something.

Answer 9

Well first of all, even if your child is a little chubby, don't put her on a diet. Maybe limit sugar a little, but don't cut down on food. 2nd, don't listin to this kids comment. Maybe take your child aside and talk to her about it. She cant understand THAT much at 4, but what she does learn sticks in her head =)

Answer 10

I don't have a kid, but I would have totally confronted the woman and told her about her child. If she didn't care, I would make an issue about it right there while remaining calm. And if she started giving me attitude I wouldn't back down. And if she started trying to get physical, I'd warn her, and if she didn't stop, I'd tazer her (or pepper spray her).