Moms Talk: Would You Intervene if You Witnessed Child Abuse?

Recently, I was at a public park with my two-year-old, when I overheard a woman say to her teenage daughter, "Shut up, or I'll punch you in the mouth."

On another recent occasion, I was at a playground with my son when I saw a mother hit her toddler on the hand because she had put rocks in her mouth.

And during yet another outing, I saw a woman grab her three-year-old son's arm, yank him up off the ground and, while he was in mid-air, spank him on the bottom three times.

During all of these events, my heart wrenched for the kids involved. I was very much compelled to say something to the parents who were abusing their kids, but I didn't.

I justified my actions by telling myself that I wouldn't accomplish much by accusing a parent of child abuse and trying to rationalize better parenting. So I ignored it, but wondered, If these mothers act like this in public, how do they treat their kids at home?

Have you seen a parent verbally or physically abusing a child in public? Did you turn the other cheek, like I did, or did you say something? Have you ever called Child Protective Services on a parent?

Could someone who's hitting or cursing at their kid just be having a bad day and deserve some slack, or do you think such behavior is unjustifiable?