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DEAR ABBY: While shopping recently, I saw a mother with two small children in her cart. One of them began making a loud noise, and to my shock, the mother slapped the child across the face and shouted, “You’re not getting what you want, so BE QUIET!”
I felt torn. On one hand, I wanted to say something to protect that child. On the other, I worried that speaking up might make things worse. What could I have said—or done—that would show compassion toward the child and parent while making it clear that striking a child is not an acceptable response?
— CONCERNED SHOPPER IN ARIZONA