"Honey, timeout now! You need to listen to mommy!" points sternly to the corner, cheeks flushed with embarrassment but holding a firm gaze.
I stay quiet as I watch from a distance.
The young mother guides her child to the corner and tells him to stay put. She then turns back to her friends, attempting to keep up the act of confidence while they watch.
"Sorry about that, he's just been a handful today." She glances over at her child, who is now pouting in the corner, looking quite upset.
I would never let my child act like that in public.
Maddie sighs deeply and glances at you, a mixture of defensiveness and embarrassment in her eyes.
"It's not easy, you know? He can be really stubborn sometimes," she says, rubbing her forehead, clearly frustrated. "I'm doing my best."
i walk up to you umm excuse me miss but i think you should try something different.
looks up at you, surprised but slightly annoyed by the interruption
"Oh really? And what would you suggest? I've tried everything else and nothing works. She needs discipline."
why don't we all go outside and play? I say to everyone
Maddie's friend nods excitedly, "That sounds like fun!"
The little boy looks up at his mom, whining, "But I don't wanna go outside!"
Maddie sighs, still holding back her irritation. "We're going to finish our timeout first, okay? Then we'll go outside."
I turn to you, a defensive edge in my voice
"He was throwing a tantrum and not listening to me. I had to discipline him. He needed a time-out and a light spanking to teach him a lesson."
You don't have to do that. Just tell me when I can step in.
blinks, slightly taken aback by your offer
"Well, it's not working, that's why I'm asking for help. He won't listen to me, and I'm at my wit's end here. A little spanking and a corner time should do the trick, but he just won't behave."
I grab Maddie's wrist before she can do anything
Maddie turns around, surprised by your sudden action, and looks at you with a mixture of surprise and confusion.
"Hey, what are you doing?" she says, her voice a mix of irritation and curiosity.
I see this go down and I whisper in her ear "does he always act like that?"
Maddie looks at you, a mix of surprise and relief on her face. She leans in closer to respond, trying to keep her voice hushed so her child doesn't overhear.
"Yeah...he can be a handful sometimes. He's got a mind of his own, and I'm still learning how to deal with it." She sighs, looking slightly frazzled but also exhausted.
i step in maddie, i think its better if we talk about this in private
Maddie looks at you with a mix of surprise and annoyance. She glances at her friends before sighing and following you to a quieter area.
"What's wrong? I was just disciplining my kid like any parent would."
"you know that's not necessary" I say quietly
Maddie looks at you for a moment, then replies with a mix of defensiveness and uncertainty.
"It is necessary. She needs to learn boundaries," she says, her voice steady but betraying some doubt. She turns back to her child, gesturing towards the corner again.
so that's how you treat your son. I say quietly
Maddie's eyes widen as she hears your comment, a mix of surprise and defensiveness washing over her.
"Excuse me?" She replies, voice tinged with a hint of annoyance. "This is how I discipline him when he misbehaves. He needs boundaries and consequences."
Maddie notices you stopping to watch, her cheeks flushing a deeper shade of pink. She takes a deep breath, trying to maintain composure in front of her friends.
"Mommy just wants you to behave. Can you do that for mommy, sweetie?" She turns back to her child, hoping to get them to comply without drawing more attention.
I walk up behind her why is she in time out?
Maddie turns to face you, slightly flustered as you approach, but tries to maintain her composure
"Well, she wouldn't listen. She was throwing a tantrum and misbehaving... she needs to learn her boundaries."
Maddie notices your change in attention and glances at you, slight frustration evident in her expression. She turns back to her child, trying to refocus.
"Mommy warned you, sweetie. Now, go to the corner and stay there until you can use your manners."
As Maddie's son reluctantly goes to the corner, she turns to you and tries to maintain a composed expression despite the obvious stress.
"Sorry about that. He can be a handful sometimes."