What Happened When My Son Wore A Pink Headband To Walmart - Page 2

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 12:35pm

"The whole interaction with the man likely took less than 90 seconds. Just WHEN was she suppose to call the police or even store security. He was already gone. When you are faced with this kind of aggression, you are more shocked than anything."

Nope, not me. The very nano second that man touched my kid I would be dialing 911 at the same time as screaming out through the store to stop that man, he just assaulted my kid.

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:17pm

Goth, her outrage isn't only with the man who insulted, touch and took her child's headband (as if there would be something unjustified about that), it's also with the fact that although many people saw this, no one said anything.

henrik, could it be that the other people in the store thought the woman had it under control? Could it be that unless someone is actually crying out for help that people don't always pay attention to what's going on around them? Maybe they thought the man was with her because it takes a lot of boldness to walk up to a stranger and do something to them. And of course, maybe everyone was frightened of the man himself.

I just think that making this into a bigotry issue is off the mark. The mother obviously wants everyone to know she is an open minded parent "Oh look, my son is masculine enough to wear pink" but when it comes to actually protecting her son, she's a confused mess.

I think Jane2 has it right. A mother's instinct is to protect her child.

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:18pm

Except it is a bigotry issue because the man was very clearly anti-gay.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:26pm

"I think Jane2 has it right. A mother's instinct is to protect her child."

Yes but that's beside the point. If someone touches you, it's assault and reason to call the cops. I wouldn't only want to protect my child, I'd want to protect myself or anyone else I witnessed this happening to.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:31pm

He calls her kid a f****** f***** and she's "making it a bigotry issue"?

Yeah, where on earth did she come up with that idea?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:39pm

Come to think of it, this mother sounds a little like being in denial to me. She starts off the story by mentioning how much of a "boy's boy" he is because he likes to wear costumes. She also said a child has no sexuality at age two. That is INCORRECT.

I hope she's just sounding that way in her story, and doesn't really feel that way.

Updated On: 8/3/13 at 01:39 PM

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 1:54pm

Shock is a funny thing.

I am very quick with responses and have no trouble speaking my mind, or coming up with a snappy come back when needed. But, just this last week, I had someone who was working for me, basically refuse to follow orders and said so to my face. It was so out of left field, and unexpected that I shut down and didn't know what to say.

So, to condemn someone for not behaving the way you think they should is just silly and stupid.

Updated On: 8/3/13 at 01:54 PM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:03pm

^^^ Thank you for that example.

Everybody else who reads the story and thinks they would absolutely positively have responded with total control and to devastating effect toward the adult who called a two year old an effing fagit (which is probably how the guy would spell it if he knew how to write) is little more than a Marky Mark who thought HE would have stopped 9/11. The rugged individual American superhero narrative goes right out the window most of the time when the crap hits the fan.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:13pm

If you two last posters are referring to my response as to what I would do, I know you mean well, but I do know how I would respond in a situation like that and I already have.

I don't know if you meant me, but I was the only one who responded in that way.

p.s. Where did I condemn someone

Updated On: 8/3/13 at 02:13 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:29pm

Jane, they're responding to Goth.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 2:32pm

figures I got it wrong. thanks Kad.

[Visceral_Fella]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:00pm

For everyone who's saying that she should have hit him, or done something back, if he grabbed her 2 year old child aggressively, then he probably had no problem getting violent with her.

[Reginald Tresilian]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:12pm

I think she handled it properly, though I do think she should have called the police and alerted the store manager. But her first priority was getting the guy away from her child. Starting (or escalating) a physical encounter with a drunk doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:34pm

Jane, my post was directed to Goth.

You NEVER know what a situation is going to turn into, so it's impossible to judge someone else's reaction or behavior in a situation like this.

And, BTW, Jane, I probably would have done exactly what you posted.

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:38pm

Diva, yeah, I'm the kind of person who IS able to use my wits in emergencies. Then, later on, I totally go into anxiety, lol. But I do get the job done with a level head when most people fall apart.

[justincharacter]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:43pm

Where's the father?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:51pm

^ didn't you read the article?

[justincharacter]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:56pm

^I see now.

I have to say, it kind of surprises me that a father would let their son wear dresses and skirts.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 3:58pm

Jane, you could make a killing if you went pro with that skill.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 4:18pm

"I have to say, it kind of surprises me that a father would let their son wear dresses and skirts."

Why? What's the problem? It's a two year old! They are going to wear what they want to wear. Why can't they be happy?

I think it's YOU who has a problem with it.

[javero]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 4:22pm

I always find it interesting how individuals today manage the fight-or-flight reflex when facing a potential physical confrontation or duress. As much as it pains me, I gotta side with Goth on this one. And please don't everyone rip me a new one for what I write next.

Arguably, the milquetoast mom is mainly to blame for not taking into account the surroundings before taking her son to that setting decked out like that. She herself admits that other store customers were giggling at her son's attire and questioning his gender. Her son is only a few years removed from some teen-aged gaggle somewhere. I get her aim at being tolerant and supportive of her son's choices but I was raised to not give someone a stick to beat me over the head with.

Unless she lives in a bubble she should have a sense of the reaction that attire on her son would most likely elicit, right, wrong, or otherwise. So, why she chose to make her young son a litmus test for tolerance (or intolerance) at such as tender age is beyond me. I'm also in the same camp as Jane in thinking that she's also slightly in denial and perhaps conflicted about his bent.

I've concluded that the world in which we live is extremely dangerous and unpredictable. The moment we leave the sanctity of our homes anything goes. Sometimes the best offense is a good defense and that extends to our presentation, i.e. go-along to get-along. If all the world is indeed a stage then perhaps it's wise to play to the audience before us.

Finally, Wall-Mart shoppers are human beings many of whom are highly literate citizens of this great nation and registered voters. I haven't found belittling adversaries an effective tool with which to win their support in any cause, ever.

I'm confident at least one of you will reply with a full account of all that's wrong with my line of thought here.

[StockardFan]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 4:41pm

I probably would have been in shock too. What kind of loser hits a stranger's 2 year old child? Poor kid. Wasn't there another story about a WalMart customer someone striking someone else's child because she was crying?

[Jane2]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 5:05pm

javero, the problem I have with your theory is that you'd be compromising your own values because someone else may not like them.

That woman, and others, are proud of their children. They want to encourage their kids to express themselves. We're still free in this country to do that.

I could never be something I wasn't. And I'm sure most of our gay friends here can relate to someone having to hide who they are in public.

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 5:31pm

I agree with Jane.

Why should you care what other people think? Unless your child wanted to go out naked, then I don't see problems with letting a child dress the way that makes them happiest. It makes me smile when I see a kid wearing a princess costume or a superhero costume. And it wouldn't bother me in the least if it was a boy wearing the dress or a girl wearing a Spider-Man costume. If the child is happy and not hurting anyone else, it is no one else's business.

Life is too short and mean not to do what you like, as long as it's not hurting anyone else.

[ErikJ972]

Posted: 8/3/13 at 6:17pm

"Decked out like that"? It was just a headband.