Oh my goodness dear do not blame yourself. When you are in the situation you freeze. You don't know what to do. I watched a similir situation happen at a store here. I did the same thing as you. I stood there and stared I could not believe someone would do that to there child, and like you I remember it like it was yesterday. The sad thing is I bet this is not the first time the child has heard somthing like that. Please do not beat yourself up over it. Just say a prayer for that little boy, and you have done all you can do.

I always wonder, if people will go that far in a public place, how much further will they go at home. I saw a lady at Fred Meyer a few years ago who I called DSHS on. She was yelling and swearing at her kids and whacking each of them super hard numerous times as they got into the car. Keep in mind, that I do believe in spanking, but that's not what was going on here. I got her license number and car make and model. I was told that somebody would be going to her home but I never got to find out if anything happened. Definitely do not beat yourself up about not calling the police. Like skuhn said, pray for that little boy and I'm sure next time you see something like that happen, you will be calling the police.That's actually what I did. I had seen another woman at Fred Meyer who I should have called DSHS on but didn't. I think that's what made me feel so compelled to call the next time because I remembered not doing anything the first time. Please do not be upset with yourself. It's a lot easier to look back and think "I should have called the police" than it is to think of doing it at the time. Hindsight is 20/20.

skuhn echoed my sentiments exactly. While I haven't had the displeasure of being in the same situation, I've been in others and have frozen on the spot. My thought processes just shut down and then I think about what I should have done afterwards. When that happens, I give myself multiple mental kicks and rip myself to shreds over my non-action. Like reply #1 said, pray for the little boy and pray for yourself. Ask that God watch over the child and that He gives you the strength to not shut down and be pro-active when/if another situation like that arises. It's what I ask for and my reactions are getting alot less frozen and more of taking control of the problem.

Try not to feel guilty. Based on what you saw, the police would not have been able to do anything. Unfortunately, I work in a job where there so much child abuse. For child services to take a child from a parent there must be some evidence of neglect or abuse, other than what you saw. They most likely would not have characterized that as abuse. It is sad that you have to witness such treatment when you struggle to have such a blessing in your life.

Oh my Im so sorry its always hard when I see that kind of stuff in public I always want to say something Im going through an issue right now with my SIL with her cursing and bad mouthing her oldest (saying eithier he goes or she does or she tells him she wants him gone)etc and I have to tell her off so I know how you feel its heartbreaking My best is pray for the little boy and hopefully he,ll get the treatment he deserves

That is horrible! I will pray for that child (and sibling). One thing I've learned over the years is when things happen we don't expect, we often freeze in our response. Now that you've been through it you will have time to think about how you will respond should it happen again. I know that does not undo the events of yesterday, but it will better prepare you in the future. For now, all any of us can do is say a prayer for them.

She will get hers. What you do in your life comes back to you ten fold. This may sound crazy but this is true. I had an animal when I was young. I was being so mean to the animal. Well the animal ended up dying. It was taken away from me. This goes for everything in life that you don't appreciate. This is not always the case. Sometimes people lose things that they don't deserve to lose. But she will get her some way some how. God don't sleep. Someone else may have seen her and called you never know.

Dont beat up on yourself. I know I would have just been stunned too and stood their not believing what I had just witnessed. That mother is just horrible. I cant imagine saying anything like that to a child. Just say a prayer for that little boy and may God watch over that little boy and keep him safe.