Huh!??!
04/22/2005
I had a conversation with a friend Tuesday afternoon that I think I need to revisit but have no idea how.
We were having a parting conversation about a mutual acquaintance with an eight-year-old child. I related a story of the child’s big crocodile tears when she found out her family wasn’t going to be able to attend an event sponsored by the church I attend. I watched the little one’s father sweetly try to console her even through his frustration knowing that she did not understand but he stayed with her and did not discount her tears or grief. My friend’s response was, "he needs to get a belt and beat her."
WTF!!!!???
Where does that kind of thinking come from? I searched my friend’s face trying to find some black humor in it only to find she was dead serious. She repeated the thought when I said shocked "what?" she stated the "family needs to get a belt and beat the child down."
It hurts to think people believe that abusing kids is a proper response. It hurts that I never knew she held this belief until three days ago. It hurts that I had no idea how to respond. And it scares the hell out of me because this woman used to be a part-time nanny. The rescuer in me wants to find the names and addresses of those she cared for in the past to make sure everyone is ok – to make sure there were never any questionable marks and bruises on the children. It makes me question my friend.
And it makes me question me.
That’s all,
zss
© 2005 Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
I had a conversation with a friend Tuesday afternoon that I think I need to revisit but have no idea how.
We were having a parting conversation about a mutual acquaintance with an eight-year-old child. I related a story of the child’s big crocodile tears when she found out her family wasn’t going to be able to attend an event sponsored by the church I attend. I watched the little one’s father sweetly try to console her even through his frustration knowing that she did not understand but he stayed with her and did not discount her tears or grief. My friend’s response was, "he needs to get a belt and beat her."
WTF!!!!???
Where does that kind of thinking come from? I searched my friend’s face trying to find some black humor in it only to find she was dead serious. She repeated the thought when I said shocked "what?" she stated the "family needs to get a belt and beat the child down."
It hurts to think people believe that abusing kids is a proper response. It hurts that I never knew she held this belief until three days ago. It hurts that I had no idea how to respond. And it scares the hell out of me because this woman used to be a part-time nanny. The rescuer in me wants to find the names and addresses of those she cared for in the past to make sure everyone is ok – to make sure there were never any questionable marks and bruises on the children. It makes me question my friend.
And it makes me question me.
That’s all,
zss
© 2005 Wrosesongs
All Rights Reserved
posted by I am Z @ 1:05 AM
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