Not A Good Day: Part II

So after finding out that I'd sent the cat to the guillotine (see below), I took Ella to the mall to play. As Ella is playing, she crawls out of a tunnel and this kid, the same size as her, body slams her, puts her in a head lock, and tries to pin her arms behind her!! Ella is flat on her stomach, face pushed in to the floor. His parents, of course, were no where in sight, so I had to physically yank him off my screaming, hysterically crying toddler (while trying not to burst out in tears myself). I see the father a few minutes later (I guess it was the father) half-heartedly chasing the kid around. No discipline. No apology. And the kid continued to play and harass other kids. Needless to say, we left. And I don't plan to go back on a busy Saturday again. Ever.

I wish I could put in to words the feelings I had at the moment I saw my daughter being attacked by another kid. The kid is lucky my focus was on Ella, because in the moment I wanted to beat him and throw him as far away as I possibly could. This was not your normal toddler hitting, biting, disagreement. He was trying to hurt her. I have never, ever experienced that kind of emotion in my life. I'm still in shock that a child would even do that on a public playground. And don't even get me started on the parenting (or obvious lack there of)....! I would have confronted them, but let's just say that we literally don't speak the same language.

Now I'm going to bed. Tomorrow will surely be a better day!