This is so embarassing. I was on the way to an attachment parenting meeting too. I was in the subway with my two kids in a stroller.
What i did: (and i dont condone it, but it wasnt that bad).
Threw 2 yo ds' coat at him, and said in a raised, stern voice-stop throwing your coat out of the stroller! I put my hand on him very lightly which would have looked like a push, a very light one. I didnt actually push or hit him, because i dont believe in doing things like that. I do not hit or push my kids. Yes, I should not have raised my voice, shouldnt have put my hand on him in a threatening way, shouldnt have thrown the coat at him (it would not have hurt) ...should have kept my calm after he had thrown his coat out of the stroller for the nth time.
Here's what happened next-two women came over to me saying they were social workers and that they were mandated reporters. One woman said she wanted to talk to me.
The thing is, i was in a hurry as it was. I wasnt in the mood for a lecture from a total stranger, telling me things i already know and believe. First mistake.
I said, im in a hurry, sorry, i dont have time to listen to you.
She grabbed my stroller and wouldnt let me go. She then threatened to call the police.
Wow! I was so incensed, my blood boiling. Has anyone stopped you like that, effectively detaining you? A total stranger? Are social workers allowed to do that?
I raised my voice to her, and said let go of my stroller!
She said, alright, ill call the police then.
In the meantime, both boys , 2 and 5, start crying.
I said to her, you are making them cry. You must let go of my stroller, you have no right to do this!
So i asked my son, why are you crying. He says, mommy, i want to go.
See! I said to her, you mare making him cry, please let us go.
She said, you could make him say anything,
and then said, i cant let you go until you calm down.
I said, i understand what youre trying to do, but you are not helping here.
Eventually, they let me go only after i had to stand there and pretend to not be extremely incensed at them, and simply not say anything at all
As i left, i said, you are abusing your power.
So they followed me to the elevator, I said, stop following me!
One of them kept threatening to call the police, the other one seemed smarter, and just said, have a nice day.
I cant believe this happened. What do you think?
(flame me if you like for losing my cool with my 2yo, maybe i should have just listened to the social worker, but do i have a legal obligation to do so? )
What i did: (and i dont condone it, but it wasnt that bad).
Threw 2 yo ds' coat at him, and said in a raised, stern voice-stop throwing your coat out of the stroller! I put my hand on him very lightly which would have looked like a push, a very light one. I didnt actually push or hit him, because i dont believe in doing things like that. I do not hit or push my kids. Yes, I should not have raised my voice, shouldnt have put my hand on him in a threatening way, shouldnt have thrown the coat at him (it would not have hurt) ...should have kept my calm after he had thrown his coat out of the stroller for the nth time.
Here's what happened next-two women came over to me saying they were social workers and that they were mandated reporters. One woman said she wanted to talk to me.
The thing is, i was in a hurry as it was. I wasnt in the mood for a lecture from a total stranger, telling me things i already know and believe. First mistake.
I said, im in a hurry, sorry, i dont have time to listen to you.
She grabbed my stroller and wouldnt let me go. She then threatened to call the police.
Wow! I was so incensed, my blood boiling. Has anyone stopped you like that, effectively detaining you? A total stranger? Are social workers allowed to do that?
I raised my voice to her, and said let go of my stroller!
She said, alright, ill call the police then.
In the meantime, both boys , 2 and 5, start crying.
I said to her, you are making them cry. You must let go of my stroller, you have no right to do this!
So i asked my son, why are you crying. He says, mommy, i want to go.
See! I said to her, you mare making him cry, please let us go.
She said, you could make him say anything,
and then said, i cant let you go until you calm down.
I said, i understand what youre trying to do, but you are not helping here.
Eventually, they let me go only after i had to stand there and pretend to not be extremely incensed at them, and simply not say anything at all
As i left, i said, you are abusing your power.
So they followed me to the elevator, I said, stop following me!
One of them kept threatening to call the police, the other one seemed smarter, and just said, have a nice day.
I cant believe this happened. What do you think?
(flame me if you like for losing my cool with my 2yo, maybe i should have just listened to the social worker, but do i have a legal obligation to do so? )
She was following me around and I was very uncomfortable...unlike my sleeping daughter.
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