What Would You Do? To Speak or Not to Speak?

Photographer: Suat Eman, freedigitalphotos.net

Today I went to a local variety store and as I walked down the aisles a girl about 12 years old and a boy about 10 years old were playing in a shopping cart. She sat in the largest part of the cart as he pushed her up and down the aisles. They weren’t bothering me even though I had to move out of their way once or twice to avoid being hit. Each time though, both children were polite and courteous.

I said to myself, these kids must be bored, but at least they are occupying themselves. A couple of minutes later their Mom comes from another part of the store and yelled at them.

She yelled, “You are so stupid get out of that cart!” She then continued calling both children demeaning names and repeated that they both were “really stupid,” it was horrible.

Everytime she spoke I cringed. Her words hurt me and I wasn’t even her child. I wanted her to stop because she was bothering me way more than her kids ever did and she was hurting them even though I didn’t look to see their reactions. Honestly, I wanted to say something to her, but I didn’t feel comfortable with the situation. I wish I knew what to say; instead, I just went to another aisle afraid to impose.

What would you do in that situation?

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