Man slaps stranger’s crying kid

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution ^ | September 2, 2009 | Katie Leslie

[GoldStandard]

A Gwinnett County man is in custody Wednesday accused of slapping a stranger’s crying toddler in a Stone Mountain Wal-Mart.

Witnesses say that Roger Stephens, 61, warned the mother of the child that he would “shut up the crying child if she couldn’t,” WSB-TV is reporting. Stephens is accused of slapping the 2-year-old multiple times in the face and then walking away.

A bystander held Stephens until store security came to assist, according to the story.

[ravingnutter]

You've got that right. I always told my kids before we went into the store "You don't want anything, you don't need anything and don't tell me you have to go to the bathroom!" (they had a weird fascination with public restrooms). It always worked for me.

[BulletBobCo]

Me thinks Roger has anger issues.

[Hatheos]

I’d do a little bit more than punch. That guy would have to visit the doctor after I go through with him. When I didn’t have kids, I couldn’t stand a screaming child. Now that I have 2 small children, I feel for the parent (for the most part). Anyone slaps my kid, they’re in for a world of hurt.

[calex59]

I would say a left wing radical whose nerves had finally snapped because he read Bozo’s poll numbers yesterday!

[Albion Wilde]

I’ve found that some encouraging words to a parent obviously stuck in that situation helps. Somebody did that for me when I was a brand-new parent and it gave me the strength to get through it without doing something stupid.

Sadly, I lost my little whistle that used to hang on my keychain and haven't found another so sweet-sounding -- like a little flute. I often would tootle it gently near a crying child in a store to distract their attention from their snit. They would almost always quiet down to try to hear it, then I would toot it again and start speaking to them soothingly, as long as the mother was right there (I am a mom). Many times they would calm down, or at least catch a breath. Most mothers were grateful.

[Albion Wilde]

even if the place is full of obnoxious kids and irresponsible parents, that's not a license for anyone to start hitting children.

And for a grown man to hit a girl? Never.

[Albion Wilde]

LOL!!!!!!

[Tax-chick]

You’re right.

[Albion Wilde]

I think of the Cosby “Jeffrey” routine. Little Jeffrey. I remember his name, not because he said, “I’m four years old,” but because Jeffrey’s mother said his name all 2500 miles of the trip.

Now THAT's funny!

[EBH]

The child was crying, doesn't say meltdown. Toddlers cry and when in a store can be quite annoying. I work a small gift shop and see many a mother struggle with a toddler who has decided to insist on an item, that is not on the purchase agenda.

I've seen three kinds of parents in this situation. The one's who give in, the one's who get out, and the one's who leave behind the child. Steps I have taken when the parent fails to take some sort of appropriate action include approaching the child and telling them to knock it off, asking them to put the toy back (usually works with amazing ease) and taking my in-store timeout stool placing it in front of the child and asking them if they need a timeout to compose themselves(they stop crying) giving the parent time to exit the store gracefully.

It is extremely aggravating when a parent insists on continuing to shop instead of dealing with their out of control child. Temper tantrum/meltdowns are learned behaviors in many cases, they get some sort of reward for them; be it the toy, cookie, or attention. Even a child, toddler, can understand their behavior is unacceptable. There have been times when I've asked the child to leave the store because their behavior isn't acceptable here. Crying stops, tears stop, and with head down out the door they go with Mom.

Honestly my father had a saying for the faux crying whine, “Stop crying or I'll give you something to really cry about.” We stopped crying then too.

[seoul62]

Well would you look at the mug on that face. It certainly does not spell kindness and tranquility./Just Asking - seoul62......

[calex59]

How do you get your 21-year old to hold still for it? Mine started getting hard to put over my knee at about 16 or 17, LOL!

Not THERE'S the age you feel like slapping the snot out of them sometimes, 12 to 21:), but not 2. Leave the store, the only time crying is really bothersome to me is when I am flying but then I don't fly that often any more(if at all)and would never slap someone's child even so.

[DJ MacWoW]

sometimes you just have to shop with upset kids or run out of food and diapers.

Yup. As I said to somebody else, life isn't always on a schedule. LOL

For people who can’t stand the fact that there are other people in the world, there’s mail-order.

There's also 24 hour WalMarts.

I honestly think this guy's problem was he believes that he should never be inconvenienced. It's all about them. How much better a kind word would have worked.

[tioga]

are you NUTS? slapping the child is child abuse.....the man deserves to be arrested.

[Freedom2specul8]

All stupidity aside (and I hope the bystander kicked his hiney), it’s just going to make the 2 year old cry MORE.

[dfwgator]

It would be child abuse not to slap the brat! spare the rod and spoil the child.....

Fine, let the parent do it then, not a stranger.