McDonalds Drama

Yesterday I had an odd experience at McDonalds. I went in on my lunch break, got my food, and grabbed a fairly secluded table, and started eating and reading a book. I noticed at one point that a family was eating two tables away from me because their little boy started crying about something. But I didn't think much of it, and continued my book. A minute later I noticed the dad grabbed the little boy and walked him outside. Again, I didn't think much of it, but it was nice to have some quiet again.

So later, my reading was again interrupted, but this time there was another person involved. A guy from several tables over was yelling something at this dad, and I didn't catch it, but the dad's response was that if he was so concerned then he shouldn't use the "f-word" in front of his son. And the guy shut up, but kept glaring over at this dad. At this point I was just kinda like, gee... what the heck happened? The dad and his wife seemed pretty frustrated, which is understandable anyway, the kid was still crying, but it looked like they were doing their best to ignore this guy several tables away. It looked like the show was over, so I decided to read again.

Once again the yelling started. The guy was yelling at the dad because he saw how he was "wailing" on his son in the parking lot. That he saw him "beating" him. The dad said he wasn't beating him, and the guy asked him what he would call it then. The dad said that he had spanked his son and that was it. Then, this was a rediculous line anyway, but the guy was like, well maybe someone should spank you! (I totally wanted to laugh at him for that one...) The dad said he had no right to say that to him, and the guy said he had no right to do that to the little boy, and the he didn't want to know what he'd do to him in their own home. Then he finally left, glaring through the window as he walked to his car and drove away.

That was pretty hard to watch since I was sitting so close by and I totally thought the guy had no right to talk to the dad that way. I wanted to defend the dad and say it was none of his business how he disciplines his kids. Spanking IS a controversal issue, and some people have very stong opinions on it. And I'm not talking about this to create a debate or anything on this issue, but I do have a strong opinion that it is totally up to the parents to discipline their children how they see fit, as long as it's kept under control. I was spanked when I was little, and I think I turned out ok. :) But if you let it turn into abuse, then yes, it's a problem. I didn't see what happened in the parking lot, but I kinda doubt that he was really beating his kid. The little boy even stopped crying before the other guy left, so he was fine. So I dunno.

Afer the guy left the parents just sat there and ate in silence for a little bit. I could tell they were embarassed. Everyone in the room heard everything. I almost said something to them, but I decided to keep out of it. They left right before I did anyway. That was a weird lunch hour.