I was shopping with my 7 year old daughter, 11 days before Christmas in a busy town centre department store. The music seemed a little loud, the shop was crowded, the shoppers were possibly feeling hot in their coats, the children were possibly feeling tired and bored. Nearby, two women who looked like sisters were browsing intently. They had a boy of about 15 months in the trolley and girl with them about aged 8. The little girl spoke to the toddler in an attempt to entertain him. Perhaps feeling frustrated, he suddenly began to hit her in the face. She stepped back and one of the women (perhaps the girl's mother) said to the other "He's just smacked her in the face!" The other woman spun round and looked angrily at the toddler, then said to the little girl "Smack him back!" The little girl quietly said "No." The woman spoke louder and more vehemently "Smack him back!" and the little girl again refused. This exchange continued a few more times with the little girl looking like she felt embarrassed. At this point, the woman grabbed the little boy's hand and spoke aggressively to him saying "You DON'T smack people!" punctuating each syllable with a smack on his hand to emphasise her point.
My daughter and I, with all our passion for PBs, were speechless. Then we walked away. (We did talk about it as we walked).
I wonder now what we, or anyone else in the shop could have done to help both the children and the parents? What could I have modelled for my daughter so she felt less helpless?
Judith
