While I was working at the Court House as a Deputy Clerk, one day a young boy (age 9 at the time) came to my counter along with his Mother and Grandfather to inquire about his court date. He walked up to my counter with an attitude and little did he know I was ready for him. I asked if I could help him and he it the worse tone of voice and attitude I have ever seen in a child said, “That is what you get paid for."
Okay so he caught me off guard with that one. Anyway, he told me he was there for court but did not know which room to go to. Right off the bat I knew what courtroom to send him to because he was a juvenile. However, I went the long route and asked him what kind of case he was appearing on. His answer, I dunno. Every question I asked him, he answered the same way. So finally he was frustrated because he realizes that I am picking with him, he says he is leaving
His mother grabs him by the arm and tries to make him stay put so she can give me the information and he yells,"B*T$H get your dayum hands off of me."
Me being a child that would have never thought about even thinking about saying something like that to my mom blacked out for a minute. I came from around the counter and asked to see the little boy in the hallway. He told me he did not have to go anywhere with me. At said time, I told him he had two choices, to meet me in the hall way or be escorted downstairs by the big men in the brown suits with the real guns. Needless to say he chose to come with me. When we reached the hallway I backed him up against the wall and told him I do not allow children to call their parents names in front of me and that he was going to in their and apologize to his mother. He again told me what he was not going to do. Again the southern motherly side of me appeared again. I told him that I was not asking him I was telling him and that I know I was not his mother, but he was on my playground and what I say goes. I then asked him if he had a job. Of course he gives me one of those
looks. So I said well who bought those Tommy jeans, that Tommy shirt and those Jordan's that fit him to a T. His response, "my mom."
So I go on to say and you have the nerve to call her such a terrible name when she buys you the top of the line things. He said she gets on his nerves. I then said to him," right now you are on my nerves and before I get on something of yours you better go apologize and with some sense. So he walked back in the office bowed his head when he reached his mom and said sorry. I said that is not acceptable and before I hit this buzzer I am going to give you one more chance. Just like you were confident enough to call her out of her name, you be even more confident to correct your horrible mistake. He looked up right in her eyes, grabs her by the waist and said I am sorry with tears in his eyes as almost as loud as he had when he cursed her. She looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, " He has given you more RESPECT in five minutes than he has given me in 9 years, thank you." My supervisor told me that I was out of place for saying something to him. After thinking about it, I asked myself how would I feel if someone had done the same thing to me. Personally, I would have felt as if I had failed as a parent. If someone that doesn't know your child from Adam could make them behave, if even for a moment, what is that say for you as their parent? I don't have that problem with my son or nieces because there is no sparing of the rod in my household. My kids know, if you want to put on a show with me at home or in public hold on to your hats cause my performance will bring the house down.