mother of the year

while standing in line waiting to check out at the store yesterday, i witnessed one of the saddest encounters between a mother and child.

the little girl looked to be between one and a half and two years old. i could tell that she had been crying, but she wasn't crying anymore. she stood there in the basket, silent with her fingers in her mouth, just staring. all of a sudden, her (poor excuse of a) mother kicks off her flip flop and holds it in her hand, shaking it at the little girl's face as she says, "hush your mouth! HUSH your mouth!" i was floored. i could not believe anyone would treat a child like this, much less their own. i wanted to scoop that little girl up and hug her and take her home. but i couldn't. all i could do was smile at her and wave, and hope that she knows not everyone in this world will treat her badly.