To the Editor:
I am a part-time associate at a department store. One of our busiest times in the men’s department is prom/wedding season. I feel compelled to write this and I pray this woman that I had the displeasure of meeting reads this.
I have fitted and helped young boys choose their tuxes for a special day many times in the last six years, but not once did I encounter such a disgraceful act of parenting. From the very beginning, “mom” had an attitude of indifference and anger. The young man was quiet and respectful; made his choices, got measured and the whole time ignored his mother’s jeering comments. When it came time to pay, despite the fact that she clearly could see the prices, she began throwing a temper tantrum. She yelled at this young man in front of others, gave him the nastiest of looks, gave me a look to kill, as she proceeded to swipe her credit card and slam the pin pad.
Upon their exiting the store, my manager and others heard her continue to rant and berate him on what a “worthless” being he was. I wanted to cry for this kid.
It is so true that it is unfortunate children don’t get to pick their parents. I hope she is reading this, because I would like to say to her that God blessed her with a beautiful child and she is destroying him a little more every day by belittling him and bashing him the way she did in that 30 minutes that I sadly witnessed.
If she could act like this in public, imagine how she talks to her children in private.
Parents, open your eyes. I see it every day; if you are miserable and unhappy with life, don’t make it reflect on your children. They didn’t ruin your life. They didn’t bring you to where you are today. They were your choice and yours alone. Don’t take your unhappiness out on your children.
The way this woman acted disgusted me to no end. I will never forget the look in that boy’s eyes. And if this young man happens to be reading this, or any other child reading this has a parent who verbally abuses you and is crushing your self-esteem, please remember that this is a reflection of their own shortcomings in life. Rise above your parent; be better than him/her as a parent. Above all, secure a way to flee this toxicity as soon as you possibly can. We all have the right to surround ourselves with love and positive people. We don’t choose our family, but we certainly don’t have to live with them forever.
