Monroe Chat

Holy Moly!!! As a Mother I've had more than my fair share of breakdowns mid shopping, I understand that it can be annoying and distracting for others around us (I would tend to leave the store if I thought this was bad behavior) but to reach over and slap a two year old What was he thinking?????
Even approaching the Mother with such a threat was off kilter, but to actually physically touch the Child

There are now as strange as folk - jeepers!

~ I'll bet he'll be getting an attorney real soon if he doesn't already have one


Report Fox News:
STONE MOUNTAIN, Ga. — Police say a 61-year-old man annoyed with a crying 2-year-old girl at a Walmart slapped the child several times after warning the toddler's mother to keep her quiet.

A police report says after the stranger hit the girl at least four times, he said: "See, I told you I would shut her up."

Roger Stephens is charged with felony cruelty to children. It was unclear if he had an attorney and a telephone call to his home Wednesday was unanswered.

Authorities say the girl and her mother were shopping Monday when the toddler began crying. The police report says Stephens approached the mother and said, "If you don't shut that baby up, I will shut her up for you."

Authorities say after Stephens slapped the girl, she began screaming.

Sounds like he may of "snapped" a bit, but can you honestly say you havn't wanted to/been tempted to/ for a faint moment wished you had been born with no arms for restraint/on multiple occasions/maybe said something to the mother/wanted to slap her also/lecture both of them/give them both a timeout/send them to their respective rooms with instructions to not leave till grown!

ditto what BB said

No, screaming babies really don't bother me. It's easy enough to move on to another aisle. I usually just feel bad for the mother because I think most of us have had those public moments when our little ones decided to throw a tantrum.

I have very little patience for little ones. Never really have been the "baby freak" that my mother and sister are. I suppose that's why I only have one kid.

I guess I have been very fortunate ... or I'm so mean that my "Hush, that's enough!!!" actually DOES work

I have been the Mother with a small child who will break out in song (Blues Clues and Barney) whilst grocery shopping. My Son had a radar ... shopping cart anxiety so I would entertain him, unless it was bad behavior then the lean in close and use my 'cross Mummy' voice was usually quite effective, failing all else, we're leaving and they means a hefty price to pay when we get home!!

I don't get agitated when I hear other Children creating in the store, I know (for the most part) the Parent is mortified and wishing for that hole in the floor.... I have only stepped in once when a Mother was beating the dickens out of a little boy (cannot of been more than a year old) swinging him by his arm..... that caused more of a scene that a 2 year old temper tantrum! But I surely wouldn't even contemplate spanking another person's child - Crazy!!

I don't mind the singing and the happiness they seem to find over the silliest of things (I do as well) but I HATE hearing the screaming kid/toddler...that's where my patience wears thin.

I can handle and or understand/have been through all those toddler things that happen and fully realize babies have their own agenda's that are not under your control, but the situations that drive me over the edge is the parent that is oblivious to what is happening before all eyes but seemingly their's and refuses to address the bad behavior whatever that might be. It becomes more about the parent than the child, for it will push the limits and when there are no limits.........................

The singing and happiness would be a pleasant thing to observe.

Surely this man has a screw or two loose. No one in his right mind would slap someone else's child and a stranger at that! I want to know how he got at the child four times. After just one slap, and maybe even before, I'd have been between the man and my child in a heart beat!

Nancy Grace covered this story last night. Evidently he slapped this Child 4-5 times across the face then said to the Mother "see, I told you I'd shut her up!," He was being held without bond until at least Sept 8th, his next court hearing.