I am not sure how this video found its way to my email, but I find it very disturbing. Here's Melissa Catherine Smith-Means of Gaylesville, Alabama seen on a Verizon store's videotape dragging her toddler through the store by a leash. She was jailed for first degree child abuse. Comments on some sites are equally disturbing since some folks seem to think the mother's behavior is OK -- is not child abuse.
It's not the leash I have a problem with. In 1969, I had a harness and leash on my hyperactive youngster when I went to a large downtown department store. I used the harness and leash to ensure his safety. To be sure, I got a lot of disapproving stares because such gear was not widely used in those days. But my child was safe.
Now watch the video. First of all, while I am not a total germ freak, I cringe when I see youngsters on the floor in public stores. Who knows what has been brought into the store on the shoes of customers? Children are always putting their hands in their mouths, thus responsible parents don't let them down on the floor to gather microbes.
Worse, this mother doesn't even look back to see if her child is safe. She swings around the end-cap of an aisle without a thought for the child. What if she'd clunked his tender head on that end cap? Cuts and bruises would be certain, and she would have to have him examined in an emergency department to ensure that he did not have a concussion.
While first degree child abuse seems a heavy charge for this, I still believe her conduct warrants oversight by an agency until she develops some parenting skills that will ensure her child's safety. What do you think?
More about child abuse and neglect can be found here on my website, including contact numbers for child protective services in your community.
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