Tonight my family and I went to a local kids pizza restaurant for dinner. We had a great seat, in front of a bank of windows, sunlight streaming in... Really nice... I got up to get a drink refill and passed a man and woman bickering in the lobby. Woman was nagging at the man about not being at her house when he was supposed to be. Man was telling her to get out of his face in a not very pleasant manner. A few minutes later, the woman and the man left the restaurant. The bickering continued into the parking lot, right outside our beautiful sun-dappled table and my three young children. Seconds later, the man began beating the woman about the head and shoulders. I was absolutely floored! I told my husband and just as we were going to call 911, two other men in the parking lot called 911 and interceded in the fight.
The fight ended up out of sight of the restaurant, and I got to explain to my children why hitting a woman, hitting ANYONE, is against the law. No, it's not just morally wrong but LEGALLY wrong. Later the woman was standing alone in the parking lot, outside our window again. I wondered if she was waiting for her attacker or someone else because she did not seem at all phased or altered by what she had gone through. I got the feeling it wasn't the first time -nor would it be the last.
I did find an upside to the whole event -two of them actually.... I am from California where rioters beat a man they dragged from a semi truck because he was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I am so grateful to be living in a community where people get involved and recognize that it is empowering to help each other. Secondly, I am grateful that I have children who were appalled and willing to discuss it with their parents and to share their opinions and their fears.
And I am hoping they apply those lessons they learned when they see bullies of any age taking advantage of someone else.
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