Example of great parenting down under

[Hugh Akston]

I had some coffee with my son and youngest daughter yesterday afternoon and on their way home they encountered this lady in Hurstville, Sydney. She dragged the kid approximately 30m on the leash. The kid was forced to get up when they got to a metal grate and he realised he was going to get hurt. He layed down again and his mum simply kept going. Some Asian ladies was urging the child to get up but was too afraid to confront the mother.

 

[Rob_Ilir]

That is tragic. 

 

On my morning run today I saw a woman dragging a very young 2 kg puppy that was screaming, I felt so bad to hear and see the agony. Even after I told her that its her responsibility to provide for her choice, I had a feeling that she will not change. Coincidently, the woman was Asian too.

 

 

I can only imagine how you must have felt, with other kids witnessing this humiliation too.Sometimes I think that the Australian "naming and shaming" thing should be a permanent website. 

[Greg1]

I don't know much about Australia and I know government is fundementally immoral but can't you call the police/ child protection on her? 

[Hugh Akston]

I've listened to a show on gubmint TV the other day. "Child Protection" services often put children in the "care" of very abusive foster parents.

[FreedomNoFilters]

Whatever you do, don't call CPS unless you want that kid to be molested, drugged, and even more violently abused.

 

But why didn't you confront her? Or if you didn't, do you know where you may find her to do so?

[ribuck]

For the child's sake, don't call police or CPS. I think direct engagement is the way to go.

 

Keep it positive. If it's going to have any chance of a worthwhile effect, the mother should perceive that you're trying to help her, not trying to help the child. From your point of view, the child gets helped as a side-effect. From the child's point of view, they get helped. Even if there's no long-term change in behaviour, at least the child feels a little less alone and helpless in the world, because he knows that someone actually cares about him.

 

It's hard to be specific without knowing more details, but I can imagine this type of outcome:

 

To the mother: "Hi, I see you're finding things difficult. Is there any way I can help?"

To the child: "Hi mate. You're a handsome lad. What's the problem?"

Mother: "I'm desperately late for a doctor's appointment. I have to get there before the surgery closes. I've walked a mile from the train station already and I'm only halfway there. My child is exhausted and isn't co-operating."

Child: "I don't want to walk!"

To the mother: "How about I give your child a piggy-back ride, and we'll soon be there."

To the child: "Would you like a ride?"

Mother: "Thank you so much!"