A scary incident happened to Isabelle on Sunday evening. We had just taken dinner and were at Country Brot bakery to get mini buns for their quick bites on Monday. Isabelle stood behind me after deciding what she wanted to get, I was about to head towards that tray when I heard a very loud scream and incessant crying. I turned my head behind and it was Isabelle wailing. A boy (probably about 13 years old) had grabbed her handbag that she had slung across her body. She was shocked by this action of his and her strap snapped. The boy's father who was just behind him had grabbed onto the boy, and James was standing very near her and so we were really lucky that James witnessed the incident and managed to step in immediately. He grabbed onto the father and son, and stood between them and Isabelle. By the time everything registered in my brain and I went over to Isabelle, the boy and his father were standing at the other corner. The boy was in shock and he was beaten by his father. My daughter was wailing uncontrollably and I hugged her really tightly. She could not stop crying and I was at a loss, I didn't know what to do other than hug her tight and told her everything is ok now. It took a very long time for her to stop crying, or maybe it seemed like time had paused itself and it was a very heart aching moment for me. Onlookers were around us, all trying to figure out what had happened, and by then the boy and his father were nowhere to be seen. I teared too, I couldn't help it, my heart was all scrunched up from the tears that were on my blouse. After Isabelle finally calmed down did I feel a bit better.

I felt bad for the father and son. I believe the son had no malicious thought, it was probably an OCD trait in him that he had to snap the knot on her sling bag. I am not totally sure if this was the reason why he did that to Isabelle, but all I know is that he looked really scared when I saw him standing at the corner with his Dad. His father beat him really hard and pulled him away harshly whilst apologizing to us. I felt sorry that my daughter reacted in this manner and at the same time upset that it happened to my daughter.  But I am sure the father had tried his best to make sure his son is within sight and touch at all times and I hope the boy will get better and things will improve for their family. How many a times do we look at such children through our coloured lenses and eyes? I am sure it isn't easy for the family to get by emotionally on a day-to-day basis and they are all trying their best to cope. The next time I have such an enounter, I want to make sure I do not over-react or judge the family, instead I want to give them a smile and if I muster the courage to do so, give the parents a pat on their back and tell them they have done well.

A scary incident happened to Isabelle on Sunday evening. We had just taken dinner and were at Country Brot bakery to get mini buns for their quick bites on Monday. Isabelle stood behind me after deciding what she wanted to get, I was about to head towards that tray when I heard a very loud scream and incessant crying. I turned my head behind and it was Isabelle wailing. A boy (probably about 13 years old) had grabbed her handbag that she had slung across her body. She was shocked by this action of his and her strap snapped. The boy's father who was just behind him had grabbed onto the boy, and James was standing very near her and so we were really lucky that James witnessed the incident and managed to step in immediately. He grabbed onto the father and son, and stood between them and Isabelle. By the time everything registered in my brain and I went over to Isabelle, the boy and his father were standing at the other corner. The boy was in shock and he was beaten by his father. My daughter was wailing uncontrollably and I hugged her really tightly. She could not stop crying and I was at a loss, I didn't know what to do other than hug her tight and told her everything is ok now. It took a very long time for her to stop crying, or maybe it seemed like time had paused itself and it was a very heart aching moment for me. Onlookers were around us, all trying to figure out what had happened, and by then the boy and his father were nowhere to be seen. I teared too, I couldn't help it, my heart was all scrunched up from the tears that were on my blouse. After Isabelle finally calmed down did I feel a bit better.

I felt bad for the father and son. I believe the son had no malicious thought, it was probably an OCD trait in him that he had to snap the knot on her sling bag. I am not totally sure if this was the reason why he did that to Isabelle, but all I know is that he looked really scared when I saw him standing at the corner with his Dad. His father beat him really hard and pulled him away harshly whilst apologizing to us. I felt sorry that my daughter reacted in this manner and at the same time upset that it happened to my daughter.  But I am sure the father had tried his best to make sure his son is within sight and touch at all times and I hope the boy will get better and things will improve for their family. How many a times do we look at such children through our coloured lenses and eyes? I am sure it isn't easy for the family to get by emotionally on a day-to-day basis and they are all trying their best to cope. The next time I have such an enounter, I want to make sure I do not over-react or judge the family, instead I want to give them a smile and if I muster the courage to do so, give the parents a pat on their back and tell them they have done well.