Feeling extremely guilty after WDW visit

[Poohlove]

If you had said something can you imagine what that poor little boy would have had coming when they were no longer in public. Those people would take their anger out on him for sure. I am very fortunate that my kids stepmother treats them like they are her own.

You shouldn't feel guilty, it doesn't sound like there is anything that you could have done to change the situation. With any luck he will go home and tell his mom what daddy and step&#% < said to him and she will handle it. It would have broken my heart to have witnessed that, I am sad just reading it.

 

[bcwife76]

If you had said something can you imagine what that poor little boy would have had coming when they were no longer in public. Those people would take their anger out on them for sure. I am very fortunate that my kids stepmother treats them like they are her own.

You shouldn't feel guilty, it doesn't sound like there is anything that you could have done to change the situation. With any luck he will go home and tell his mom what daddy and step&#% < said to him and she will handle it. It would have broken my heart to have witnessed that, I am sad just reading it.

I have to agree, 100%. It breaks my heart reading this, that poor little boy. But honestly I'm not sure what you could have done in that moment, I don't know what I would have done myself other than give them dirty looks.

 

[Disneylover99]

I think I would have lasted in line maybe 10 minutes. After that, I would left and gone to Mexico for a margarita.

 

[Gumbo4x4]

Well, my gut reaction probably would have been to throat punch Dad and stepmom. Probably not the right answer.

 

[Marchand63]

I would have video taped it and sent it off to the media. I would have said something. I am not saying you should have but I have suffered abuse and no one stepped in. Now many many years later it still affects me. I am short (4' 8" tall) but have been know to say my piece. Not mean but I get my point across. If that is how the are in public it is probably a LOT worse in private.
tigercat

I would have turned my phone in secret, so not to escalate the idiot father & evil girlfriend. This when YouTube is a great thing.

You should not feel guilty you were all by yourself so it's kind a hard to act when you're alone. Although I wish the elderly lady had clocked them with her purse . Sweet looking little old ladies can get away with a lot

 

[Bluestars]

This story is sad. That poor little boy. Child abuse just breaks my heart and I have trouble even reading about it. I think the people who suggested secretly taping it made a good suggestion. I'll bet that little boy's real mother would not appreciate her son being abused. I would have had a very difficult time staying silent for so long. I think I would have either said something or left the line.

 

[Jennasis]

I've seen some hair curling stuff...

In line for Soarin' and there is a family in front of us...mom, dad, teen daughter and teen son. The son and daughter are quietly laughing to each other and being goofy happy kids. Everyone seemed fine. I had my back to them, and was facing DH. I hear a noise behind me and suddenly his face goes and he is staring over my shoulder. He leans over to me and whispers "The mom just slapped the girl in the face." Not a little tap or even a small slap. She apparently full on, open hand, hauled off and slapped the girl across the face. I turned around and the girl is leaning against the wall with tears streaking down her face.

On another trip, we were walking through AK in the morning. It was around 11 and it was letting up a very soft rain. We passed under the arch in Dino Land and there is a girl of about 10 pressed up against the wall under the arch with her mom just inches from her face screaming at her that she would "WHOOP YOUR *** right here in front of everyone if you don't cut it out!!!!" and she dragged the girl out from under the arch by her hair. The transgression? The kid didn't want to leave the park yet "Mommy we just got here and haven't even ridden anything yet!", but her mother was screaming that "I ain't stayin' here in all this rain!"

 

[MataHari22]

God, that was hard to even read. I cannot imagine listening to that for 90 minutes. I'm honestly not sure what I would have done. Not sure what you could have done to help either. In the past, I have stepped in between people to break up some crazy situations that were going on in my place of business when I was the GM and the store manager. I'm am a tiny thing and really should not have jumped in between fist fights. (One couple was fist fighting in front of their little children. The man was literally shaking the woman by her hair when I charged out there to stop him.) Also jumped between customers aggressively going after the kids that worked for me. In the past I definitely have been more apt to be confrontational if I saw things like that. I think these days, I might be too afraid that I could get hurt, because I'm pretty frail now. I really don't know if anything you could have said would have helped. That poor kid.

 

[Vijoge]

Well, my gut reaction probably would have been to throat punch Dad and stepmom. Probably not the right answer.

Definitely the RIGHT answer!

 

[tigercat]

Sorry I put media. I ment that I would you tube it or maybe facebook it in the hopes that the Mum might see it. As for talking to the so called parents it would not be a yelling at them but I would try to find something to say. I just wish someone had stuck up for me once. But when you are in the situation it is hard to think of what to do.
tigercat

 

[PollyannaMom]

I'm not sure. I guess I might have tried to engage the kid in conversation, cheer him up a bit and keep him from listening to them.

Maybe attempt to tell a cast member as we were getting on the ride, in hopes that they could have a plainclothes security person follow them after the ride and observe?

But, then again, I'm sitting here all comfy at my computer. On the spot like that, I'd have probably been too shocked and upset to think!

I like the idea upthread of offering to take the kid around the park myself, give him a really great day - but I would be afraid they would say yes, and then later accuse me of kidnapping.

I'd like to know why on Earth they took the child if they were going to treat him that way?

 

[adisneyaunt]

This was so sad to read. Brought me to tears. OP, you don't deserve to feel guilt.. I don't know if or what I would have said. But 90 minutes...just plain awful!!
And if they/Adults felt so comfortable to do this in Public, heaven only knows what would have been done to him After you/someone spoke up.

Someone replied saying ... take out a cell and VIDEO it... and ya know what, I'll keep that in mind for Any situation that seems Off/wrong. YouTube, Facebook come to mind.
The Adult/s you described sound Unworthy and clearly need guidance to raise a child/ren.
I Pray that little boy gets the love and attention he surely deserves and likely craves.

 

[crazee4mickey]

Well, my gut reaction probably would have been to throat punch Dad and stepmom. Probably not the right answer.

Just to clarify, this wasn't his stepmom, it was his dad's girlfriend and their daughter. She was visiting them for a few days and had said how she even left her other kids to come down and the little boy was ruining it all.

Thanks for all the responses.....while in the situation, I didn't think to let people go past me because I wasn't really thinking of what was best for me......my mind was racing on the little boy and the horrible things they were saying.

I didn't try talking to him as I was scared for him on what they might say or do.

I kept looking at his big brown eyes as he looked at me a couple of times and would give him a tiny smile....he would get told to quit looking around and to keep his eyes only on his dad's face.

It was unbelievable that adults would ever even think of speaking to another person that way, let alone a tiny little boy

I just wanted to hug him......all I think about is I wish I knew who is mom was as I would phone her... it can be one hurtful damaging situation that could change that little boys life forever, that went on for 90 minutes and that could have been it

 

[Tinijocaro]

Abuse is abuse. Imagine what they are doing to him at home. As a teacher, I would have had no choice but to report them, it's the law. A law that protects children from this type of abuse and all abuse.

 

[ronandannette]

{{shudder}} It's almost impossible to imagine this scenario actually unfolding - not that I'm questioning the OP - just that it's so unthinkable. What kind of monsters could get any satisfaction from hurting a defenceless child - I'll just never understand.

And any opinion on what I think I might have done is pure conjecture, but what I HOPE I would have done is try to engage the little guy somehow, as a distraction and comfort, but maybe that wouldn't have been possible. I definitely would have been praying for him; I'm praying for him now actually. This thread has been very thought-provoking. I am trying to "prepare" myself in case I ever encounter such a horror and I do hope I have the courage to act, but I guess I won't know unless it happens; none of us really can.

 

[Hikergirl]

Abuse is abuse. Imagine what they are doing to him at home. As a teacher, I would have had no choice but to report them, it's the law. A law that protects children from this type of abuse and all abuse.

Just curious, in a situation like that, who would you report them too? Disney security? Then what if they don't do anything about it?

OP, don't feel guilty. Anything you would have done probably would have escalated things. If they were like that in a very public place, I'm sure they are like that at home. I find it hard to believe that teachers, doctors, the boys mother, aren't aware of what is going on, and hopefully something is being done about it.

 

[anniemae]

You were in a very horrible position OP. there was not much you could do. You were by yourself so confronting them would have ended badly. You couldn't really alert a CM, because, well, what would they do? They are not CPS workers, most are just teens.

The only thing I would do is try to catch his eye and smile, engage him in conversation. Maybe this would stop those monsters and let them know people were listening and watching. I would be kind to him and my heart would be breaking because I would know the awful comments would continue after the ride. But maybe for a few minutes he would feel love and kindness and relief from those wretched "parents."

 

[L&Lfan]

I would have minded my own business.

 

[Dizneefamily+4]

Sounds like the A Child Called It book about abused boy, Brian Pelzer written by him as an adult. Just horrifying. I wouldn't have known what to do either. I probably would've been making eye contact with the dad and gf and giving them dirty looks.

 

[Soldier's*Sweeties]

Sounds like the A Child Called It book about abused boy, Brian Pelzer written by him as an adult. Just horrifying. I wouldn't have known what to do either. I probably would've been making eye contact with the dad and gf and giving them dirty looks.

I read the whole series of his books. unfortunately he continued to experience abuse in foster homes.