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Salvation Army Shopper Spanks Stranger’s Toddler
One day last week, I had no less than three strangers make suggestions to me on how to parent my kids. Annoying, yes, but I’m grateful for one thing: No one tried to slap them or spank them.
Earlier this month, Roger Stephens slapped a two-year-old in Walmart after she wouldn’t stop crying. Now a Cincinnati, Ohio woman is being accused of spanking a stranger’s toddler in a Salvation Army.
Gloria Ballard was shopping in a local Salvation Army store when the child in question — another two-year-old — said something to her to set her off. (Oh to be a fly on a secondhand pair of jeans. Two-year-olds are notoriously honest.) Ballard then allegedly put the boy over her knee and hit him three times on the behind. She faces assault charges.
But outside the Hamilton County Municipal Court, Ballard tearfully denied wrongdoing. According to her version of events, the child was crying and she simply picked him up to hug him and gave him a few gentle pats for comfort.
So is it grandmotherly love? Or is it abuse? The courts will have to sort the stories out, but in the meantime, let’s review: Being annoyed by other people’s children: normal. Advising parents on how to raise their children: aggravating. Disciplining other people’s children by way of corporeal punishment: Never acceptable.
Ballard faces six months in jail. What do you think — acceptable or way too harsh?
Photo: Ha!Designs ArtbyHeather, Flickr
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14 Comments
[...] Salvation Army Shopper Slaps Stranger’s Daughter [...]
Facebook “Kill Obama” Poll Was Created by a Child | Strollerderby commented on Oct 03 09 at 11:30 amGP commented on Sep 17 09 at 10:39 amWhere was this child’s parent(s) that someone else could pick the child up and do whatever to him? This person could have just as easily absconded with the boy. Shame on them all.
PlumbLucky commented on Sep 17 09 at 10:40 amWish there was a videotape for the court’s use. I think that there should be no difference between hitting another’s child and hitting another – its assault.
beep commented on Sep 17 09 at 11:28 amA parent could easily be right there when a stranger unexpectedly picks up a child. Unless the child is belted into a stroller or held by the parent or otherwise tethered, at close quarters anyone could quickly initiate a physical interaction. Why are we so quick to blame the parents?
GP commented on Sep 17 09 at 12:42 pmNobody would lay a hand on my kid, I’ll tell you that.
Citizen Mom commented on Sep 17 09 at 4:06 pmOkay, but 6 months in jail? Can we have some perspective, please? Our jails are over-crowded, we’re cutting law enforcement budgets, and courts are clogged with back logged cases – is this case really what we need to spend precious tax dollars on prosecuting?
Send her to anger management or parenting classes, have her pick up trash on the freeway, anything.
Lisa commented on Sep 17 09 at 10:26 pmI correct other peoples children all the time. Typically, a look and a shake of the head is all that is required. Occasionally, a “don’t” or a “gentlemen!/ladies” with my teacher voice is required.
Manjari commented on Sep 18 09 at 10:29 amI disagree with you, Citizen Mom. If you struck an adult several times, it would be considered assault. Hitting children isn’t better than hitting adults, it’s worse. You can’t simply walk into a store and start hitting people.
Knitty commented on Sep 18 09 at 2:54 pmI think six months in jail is appropriate, IF she spanked the kid. God knows this wouldn’t be the first time that a parent has filed charges over a stranger touching thier kid innocently — remember the cop that sued a bus driver to for laying a hand on his kid’s shoulder to get his attention?
I used to enjoy second-hand stores, but I’ve pretty much stopped going to them now that my two-year-old is in a tantrum-throwing stage. Thrift-store shoppers are the WORST with their glares and comments and so forth. It wouldn’t surprise me at all if the parent’s story turns out to be true.
Globals commented on Oct 02 09 at 9:59 pmall good things
HartSt commented on Oct 12 09 at 9:13 amIf the story played out as written and it was my kid, that lady would have had six months in the hospital instead of jail.
Alicia commented on Oct 14 09 at 2:16 pmIf that woman had hit my kid, six months in jail would be the least of her problems.
Hal commented on Nov 23 09 at 3:11 amComments
“If that woman had hit my kid, six months in jail would be the least of her problems.” Maybe true if it was my kid too. I would say my kid was in danger, so I had to put the nasty lady’s face in the floor as prevention. Then I would make citizen’s arrest with face in floor confirmation. True.
Almeta commented on Aug 27 11 at 4:37 pmI agree that the lady should not have spanked the child but six months jailtime is too severe as a punishment. Maybe a fine and or community service. WHAT WAS SHE THINKING??
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