Say Something

IF YOU SEE SOMETHING (positive) SAY SOMETHING 👠👠👠
Yesterday after church, I ran into Walmart to pick up a few things. As usual the place was filled with the after church families doing the same thing. But in and amongst the crowd, there were those families just trying to get through the isle without a melt down of their small children.
I feel for these families. Most have not had the discipline and training themselves...yet alone the ability to pass along positive corrective behavior. However, I got a real surprise and a spiritual "jab" at my jaded perspective of this generation.
Standing in the freezer food isle, I heard a commotion up ahead of me. A child of about 2 1/2 was screaming, as only a small child can do.. lol. I really didn't know exactly what was going on but something in me knew I needed to pay attention.
The child, with lifted hands over head kept screaming.."hold me ... hold me..."
The young father was about 25-28, scruffy looking, unshaven and appeared to be very tired. He had a list in his hand and was going over it with the wife. The basket was partially filled. Not sure what the background story on this was, but she was either sick or overwhelmed..at any rate the father seemed intent on helping her make some decisions...all the while, this child was screaming and causing those of us in the isle to be a little uneasy.
All of a sudden, this man turned to this child and calmly said, " I told you when you wanted to get out of the basket that you would have to walk. I could not carry you." The child continued to scream.."hold me." I expected to see him pick her up and carry her...giving in to the demands of the child....as I see so often in young parents.
But then I saw him do something I rarely see in public. Ignoring the frustration of the other shoppers around him, he bent down and said..."walking or back in the cart...which will it be..." she said "hold me"...again, I expected him to pick her up and start carrying her just to alleviate the screaming.
But, he didn't. He just picked her up and put her in the basket. ..no easy task for trying to get a mad, screaming child with legs flailing into the leg holes of the basket. But he did this calmly...without talking to the child .. not reminding her that she had made her decision..just being consistent to the consequences of what he had told the child. Then he went back to helping his wife.
I know I was standing there with my mouth open.  The child quickly quit crying, knowing...even at her young age that she had made her decision. I don't know where this young man was taught these skills , but being early childhood specialist, I was very impressed.
The isle quickly cleared out and we all went about our business. As I continued on my way, I had a spiritual nudge to compliment this young father on how he handled this frustrating situation in front of the audience of shoppers.
So I turned around and located him. I told him I was proud of the way he had handled the situation and to have a blessed day. By the way, the little girl still had tears in her eyes, but she was sitting quietly...lesson learned.
As an older adult, I sometimes cringe at the inconsistency of the parenting skills of this generation.. but I would challenge you that if you see a young parent "doing it right," to say something. Many have no model to pull from and are just doing the best they can.
Have a great day.. !!!!