Parents of Preschoolers  Discussion Forum

What's the most appalling behavior you've seen by a young child's parent? Samay replied. The woman living next door sent sweet bread for me yesterday. She?s maybe 20 years old, mother of a toddler. It?s been a year they moved in as tenants and aren't exactly the ?hey, how are ya neighbor? type of folks and firmly practice minding their own business. Last night, as I was back from work and having dinner. My wife brought a plate of sweet bread and said that Faiza (name changed) brought some sweet bread today and sat for a chat; it was delicious and kids loved it. We ate it while she was still here And after noticing the empty plate, she went back and brought some more, saying? I'm glad you liked it. Here... I have brought some more for brother Neman. He should have some of it too. And I thought... wow! I tasted it and yeah it was nice. Sweet and crispy. Later, I went to the other room and fired up my laptop. I sat there and thought of her. Faiza. A short brick wall separates our yards. I hear them all the time. She yells a lot at her husband and vice versa. She says "F" words to him which is quite uncommon. She sobs and nags. A poverty-stricken and miserable woman, indeed. Worst of all... she curses her own son sometimes. I hear her saying "Drop dead" or ?Why don?t you just die? to her own son. Downright awful. Strangely... I didn't hate her. I would have hated anyone else in this situation. But not her. In fact, I felt for her. I remember seeing her as a toddler years back, running in the streets barefoot and playing with clay pots. She grew in this neighborhood. It is complicated to explain to you, Quorans that in our lower-middle class culture... we just cannot go and tell people to behave on their personal matters. It can be considered rude and might actually trigger an irreversible chain of events that lead to "why did I do it in the first place" . Believe it or not... I spoke to her one day. I initiated that neighborly talk and told her that I remember her as a toddler, playing in front of my house. She smiled. That's what I was hoping for. A smile. ?I hear you cursing your son, Faiza. Trust me... he'll remember it when he grows older. You love your child, I know. Do you want him to hate and abandon you as soon he can? It's not his fault for whatever troubles you're in?. And that was it. A few days later, I was home alone, opened my door upon hearing a knock and found her holding a piece of paper. It was the first time... she actually came to our door. She requested me to have her husband's character certificate stamped by the local police as he's applying for a security guard's job. I got it done. It's been weeks. Yelling between them is there but not so much, I would say. And certainly no more cursing towards her own son. I think? the kid has started going to play group. I saw him in his cute uniform. And now this... a plate full of sweet bread. Life's good, people.