A Lesson in Patience: Dealing with an Unruly Child
We’ve all encountered situations where a misbehaving child disrupts the peace in a public place. One man, however, decided to take matters into his own hands when he couldn’t bear the incessant whining of a child nearby.
An Unpleasant Encounter at Burger King
Sharing his story on Reddit, the man described his experience at a Burger King. He found himself in a long line when a mother and her unruly child joined the queue behind him. From the moment they arrived, the child’s behavior became increasingly disruptive.
“This kid was out of control, screaming, punching his mother, throwing around a gameboy whenever something didn’t go right in the game,” Redditor THR111 recounted. “The mother didn’t seem to pay any attention to him and his continued yelling of ‘I want a f***ing PIE’. After about 5 minutes in line with these people behind me, I had gone from a headache to a full-on migraine…”
Attempts to Restore Peace
Feeling overwhelmed by the situation, the man attempted to address the mother and request that she calm or quiet her child. Unfortunately, his well-intentioned approach was met with hostility.
“I calmly turn and ask her nicely if she can please calm or quiet her child down. Immediately she gets up in my face telling me I can’t tell her anything about raising her child and to mind my own business,” he explained. “I nod and turn around, she’s still yelling at the back of my head when the child cries out again how he wants a pie, the mother consoles him, calling him sweety and ensuring they’ll get pies for lunch because she loves him so much.”
Seeking Revenge
The constant complaining continued, further exacerbating the man’s frustration. When he finally reached the front of the line, he decided to take action that would teach the disruptive child a lesson.
“All I can think of is how the people behind me ruined my splurge and gave me this headache. I then decide to ruin their day. I order every pie they have left in addition to my burgers. Turned out to be 23 pies in total, I take my order and walk towards the exit,” he recounted.
Moments later, as he was leaving, the man overheard the woman’s reaction to the pie shortage. Confused and frustrated, she searched for answers, unaware that the man was responsible for the lack of pies.
“What do you mean you don’t have any pies left? Who bought them all?” the woman yelled. The cashier pointed out the man, and the woman directed a death glare in his direction. Unfazed, he stood his ground, pulled out a pie, and began eating it while locking eyes with her. Although she attempted to approach him, she was obstructed by other lineups in the food court. The man turned and calmly walked away.
Reflecting on the Encounter
While the man’s retaliation may have provided him with a momentary sense of satisfaction, it’s important to consider alternative ways of handling such situations. Dealing with an unruly child requires patience, empathy, and understanding. Engaging in revenge may only perpetuate a cycle of negativity.
Next time you find yourself faced with a similar scenario, take a deep breath and remember that kindness and compassion can go a long way in diffusing tense situations.