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06-05-2010, 06:47 PM | #1 |
Rose Garden
Finding the Good
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Texas
Posts: 12,816
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Walmart Discipline Experience.
I had a really interesting experience at Walmart earlier this afternoon. I was there looking for some last minute WDW supplies when mid-shopping I heard a blood curdling scream. The sound was immediately followed by more gut wrenching sobbing and shrieking.
I saw people look in the general direction of the screaming but no one seemed to be rushing to the aid of the child who was screaming. Stomach in knots I headed over. I was expecting to find a child who was being beaten, but instead there was a seven/eight year old boy in the middle of clothing section who was SCREAMING at the top of his lungs. I want to be clear, he didn't sound like he was screaming in anger, instead he just sounded out of control and desperate. Thankfully (?) the parents were giving him room and I never saw them touch him angrily. Although, they were angry. Really angry. In as much as they never (at my witness) struck him, they were totally strung out. When the parents saw me, the mom screamed right back at her son, "STOP SCREAMING, STOP SCREAMING, STOP SCREAMING!!" The Dad, in turn, yelled "AND THIS IS WHY WE NEVER TAKE YOU ANYWHERE. YOU ARE UNREASONABLE. YOU ARE OUT OF CONTROL. KNOCK IT OFF." I could tell they were overwhelmed, embarrassed, and totally out of their league. I honestly didn't know what to do. I knew it was possible that the boy was dealing with special needs, but the parents were >.< this close to snapping. I couldn't imagine any way for me to approach them that wouldn't further escalate the situation. There was a lot of angry shouting (from the parents) about how they were NOT going to buy him a game. So, as near as I can gather, the whole episode had escalated from the boy asking for a game and the parents saying no. Dr. Karyn Purvis always talks about "predator posture" when it comes to approaching a child who is raging. The parents had "predator" written all over the way they were moving and talking. I literally stood there. I wasn't willing to walk out of sight, because I was pretty confident that my being there was all that was stopping the child from getting punched. Yet at the same time, I was so lost as to how to help. Right as I was gathering some strength to step in, an older (think: Grandma) Walmart employee walked right up to the couple. She virtually ignored the parents and approached the boy confidently. She said in a conversational, friendly -but no non-sense- voice, "Oh boy, I bet you're exhausted. Here, I brought you some water. It's cold and will feel good on your throat." She knelt by the boy and held out an ice cold bottle of water, saying to him "Go ahead and take a deep drink." Followed by, "Take a second, you really look thirsty." She then wet her hand against the condensation of the bottle and ran it across the boy's sweaty forehead. In an instant the boy went from full on desperate screaming to quiet sad sobs. He took two big drinks of the water and then wrapped his arms around his Dad and cried. The Dad gave him an awkward hug, and the Walmart employee said, "I bet, you both would feel so much better if you got a nice big hug. Hugs feel good." So the Dad knelt down and gave the boy a big hug and the boy hic-cupped and just held onto his Dad. The mom was shifting uncomfortably and said something like, "how much do we owe you for the water?" I didn't hear what Walmart employee told her, but essentially she acted like the water was no big deal. Almost like she gave out free bottles of ice cold water all the time. The employee sat and chatted with the parents, talked to the little boy, and then I wandered away. I saw the parents and son a little bit later and everyone looked soo much better. The parents were smiling, the boy was smiling.
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Single Mama to my three beautiful kiddos: DD1 (8 years old) DD2 (6 years old) DD3 (4.5 years old) Eternally missing DFS3 (stored safely in our hearts) and DFS1 Praying for Little R as she transitions into a new family. May you always know God's love and His comfort.
Last edited by BHope; 06-06-2010 at 06:01 AM. |
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06-05-2010, 06:53 PM | #2 |
Deactivated
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,318
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
How beautiful
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06-05-2010, 06:53 PM | #3 |
Rose Garden
Srsly?
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: DFW
Posts: 24,442
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
What an angel that woman is! Thank you for doing your part until she got there.
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Heather (ISTJ) working full time, wife to Jason since '02, mom to C 12 years old, J 9 years old , and T 6 years old , mouse catching, Izzy, and rabbit chasing, Ellie. |
06-05-2010, 06:56 PM | #4 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 6,944
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
That is SOOOO beautiful and not what I expected from the title of the post. Thanks for sharing that. I *just* told a mama-friend yesterday that a cold drink of water can sometimes help de-escalate a tantrum situation.
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Melody Married since 1999, rebuilding since June 2013 Hybrid Mommy to ds1 (12/02, SPD) dd (9/04) ds2 (10/07, C22 disorder) ds3 (5/08) ds4 (1/09) dd2 (9/11)
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06-05-2010, 06:59 PM | #5 |
Moderator in A Twinkle in Our Eyes, Cradled in Our Wombs, Gentle Discipline, Nurturing Our Children, and Let's Talk
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: BC, Canada
Posts: 9,856
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
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Cynthia Ezer Kenegdo to Isaac since 2007 Raising Jacob (16), Luke (14), Lily (11), Elizabeth (9), Clara (6), and Emily (3) in the knowledge and love of God Blogging at The Hippie Housewife about attachment parenting, natural living, life as a Jesus-follower, and more, all tied together through our journey towards a more intentional life. |
06-05-2010, 07:02 PM | #6 |
Deactivated
It is good to be Queen!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Nothin' could be finer...
Posts: 8,231
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
It is good to hear one with a happy ending.
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06-05-2010, 07:06 PM | #7 |
Deactivated
Niff-er-doodle!
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: My city's filthy
Posts: 17,683
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
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06-05-2010, 07:04 PM | #8 |
Administrator
Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 25,949
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
What a wonderful example she was to those overwrought parents. I bet they'll remember that. I'm so glad you told us.
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Kelly Wife to my sweetheart for 29 years Grateful mom to 3 young adults Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13 |
06-05-2010, 07:10 PM | #9 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 30,329
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
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06-05-2010, 07:13 PM | #10 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 27,356
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
How awesome!
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Erin born of water and of the Spirit 4/96 married 5/02 Mama to: 2004 2007 2010 2012 2017 2019 Jan 2, 2024 And many I hope to hold in heaven one day |
06-05-2010, 07:25 PM | #11 |
Rose Garden
Word of God speak...
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 18,661
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
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06-05-2010, 07:29 PM | #12 |
Deactivated
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 11,249
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
I am taking that with me. What a lovely story for sharing |
06-05-2010, 07:33 PM | #13 |
Rose Garden
Encircling Mountains
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: High above a great and beautiful canyon in a Golden State city...
Posts: 19,063
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
That's beautiful!
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Привет! Меня зовут Джен! Hi! My name is Jen! May the wind under your wings bear you where the sun sails and the moon walks - Gandalf |
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06-05-2010, 07:37 PM | #14 |
Deactivated
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 9,444
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
Okay, that did it. I have been holding on by a thread tonight, and now I am full on sobbing.
Thanks for sharing...that was a beautiful example of "dealing with disappointment." |
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06-05-2010, 07:43 PM | #15 |
Rose Garden
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: ..
Posts: 10,737
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Re: Walmart Discipline Experience.
Cold water, huh? I gotta' write that down. Or is it the spirit you take on when you wait on someone?
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DS (12), DD (10), DD2 (7) And my kids were going to behave perfectly all the time and if they didn't, they'd be Dobsoned, but I was going to Dobson so perfectly that they'd know not to slip up but once or twice because I was going to be sooooooo consistent and awesome and wise. |
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