Quote Originally Posted by cassiesmom View Post
I don't think it is okay for an adult to drag a 7 year old by the face under any circumstances. Except, maybe, his clothes are on fire.

And Wom, I impose my expectations on others every time I go out in public, and others place expectations on me. One of those is appropriate behavior. Subjecting one's child to such "discipline" in a public place far exceeds the boundaries of appropriate behavior for me. Even if you're having a bad day, as Moosmom said, that's still no excuse for the father to act the way he did. I might have said something like hey, take it easy to the father but I'm with Marigold-- I'm not able to stand by silently and witness something like this.
No, by doing this you are trying to influence others to your standards. I'm with LH on this. You have no idea what the reasons were for that fathers reactions.
For a start, it is illegal to do what you condone. It is not illegal for someone to chastise their child.
You are viewing this as some sort of child abuse, whereas it may have simply been a discipline lesson. And it may have been the only way the father knows how to discipline his own child.