So, I have had several awkward social moments lately. Some are not so bad and some, well, let's just say I am still sweating over them. I have never really had these types of things happen to me, at least not this many is so short a time. This probably stems from the fact that we don't know anyone out here and so, instead of having play dates and going to the park with friends, we are interacting a lot more with strangers. And sometimes, let's face it, strangers are weird. I will only document the worst situation here and ask for your advice or comments regarding it:
At the library yesterday we were getting ready to leave when I looked up and noticed a little boy (probably around nine) sitting at a computer in the JUVENILE section -where I was with my two very young children - watching PORN. Yes, you read that right. Smack dab in the middle of all the kid's books at the public library a mere child was watching some very explicit stuff on the Internet. VERY explicit. Like, it still makes my stomach turn to think of it. And the kid was so, so young - it was devastating. It was one of those moments where I literally froze in place because I did not know what to do. If my kids looked up from their books, they would have seen it, it was that blatant and out in the open. This posed a big dilemma for me. I decided I should just go tell a librarian about it and let them handle it, but I couldn't leave my kids there alone while I went to find one and if I tried to take them with me, we would have had to walk right past it (and they would have seen it for sure). I just stood there with my heart racing and just stammered and stuttered to no one in particular will I tried to decide what to do. Of course, what I really wanted to do was grab one of my kids under each arm, cover their eyes, and run like heck out of there. Since that really wasn't a viable option, I started marching over to the check out desk and told my kids to stay where they were (and prayed they would obey and just keep looking at their books). Now, I have never before been thankful for flip-flops but I was yesterday. The boy heard the trademark "Flip Flop" of my sandals and I approached, turned to look at me, gasped in horror, and shut down the website. He then jumped up and nearly ran out of the library. I still told the librarian about it and he was visibly distressed. Of course, there was nothing he could do since the kid left but at least they know about and can watch out for it in the future. Feeling like the situation was over and done with, I went (still trembling) to gather my kids and leave. As we were getting in the car, I looked at the playground across the street and noticed the little boy talking to his mom who was there playing with younger siblings. Now, my husband thinks I should have gone up and said something to the mother, or to the boy in front of the mother. Maybe he's right, but I would never have had the courage to do that. Of course, I could have confronted the boy in the library or hauled him off to the librarian so he could get in big trouble. But, I am just glad he ran off and that was the end of it.
Now, I would really, really like to know:
What would have like to have done in that situation?
What would you have actually done?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
4 comments:
I would have definitely told the librarian, like you did, and also asked why in the world they don't block that kind of stuff from their internet. I might have asked to speak to someone "higher up" and made a formal complaint.
What I would like to have done is also approach the mom and let her know what happenend so she is aware. (This kid may be doing this at home, in private, and could have a real problem.) But, I know I wouldn't have had the courage and it probably isn't any of my business. What is my business is someone having that stuff out in the open, in a public place, around my children.
I would have talked to the librarian, like you did. Only, I would have tried to do everything I could to make sure that he got caught in the act (even using my CIA skills to sneak up to the desk without him seeing me)(It might have involved crawling on the ground too.) I actually think that I would have talked to his mom. Pornography is nasty and he's way too young to get messed up in it at all.
What I would have liked to have done is run up behind him, bop him on the head and scream in his ear, hoping that somehow he would form a Pavlovian association with pornography for the rest of his life.
I told you that I would have said something to his mother at the playground that would have really embarrassed him.
What I would have liked to have done is go up to him and make some joke about it being his mom on the screen. Never too young for a good "momma" joke....
Wow, Chef, that was way harsh. And I would totally agree with you if he was, like, 15 or something. It is something else entirely since the kids was only nine. That has to be handled with much more sensitivity.
Or, you could just scream in his ear and bop him on the head. Kentucky's a social worker, and she says it's okay.
Post a Comment