How would you have handled this

[Saint_Rita]

because I didn't. Not really.

I didn't.

We were in the pediatrician's office Monday afternoon for my kids appts. (aged 10 months and 4)

Anyhow, this older woman came in with her teenage (I want to say grand-daughter) She seemed very put out that she even had to be there, gave the receptionist a hard time in subtle ways etc. at one point she dropped something on the floor and muttered the Lord's name in vain and asked her granddaughter to pick it up. As she was filling out paperwork she swore yet AGAIN.

this was in a pediatrician's office - in FRONT of children. The swearing I could handle although it bothered me. At least I can explain later that language like that is offensive and not acceptable. That said, I find it really offensive when someone uses the Lord's name as a swear because one, it does make my heart hurt, and two it is so much harder to explain to the littles.

I so wanted to speak up, but my mama-bear temper was rising and I was afraid that if she said something negative to me my temper would've gotten the best of me (as it has in the past) and that wouldn't have been a good Christian example. All I managed to do was give her "the look" after she swore the 2nd time and luckily our name was called.

I guess what really bothered me was that we weren't just in some random store, we were in a pediatrician's office where there are kids galore and she was speaking loudly enough to turn heads.

 

[LovebirdsFlying]

I've handled it before with a quiet, "Please ma'am, not in front of my children." If she attacks you after that, I'm quite sure office personnel would step in on your behalf.

That said, too often I'm a

and don't say anything at all.

 

[GreenMunchkin]

Tbh, I probably would have done the same as you, Rita. "The look" can work wonders sometimes... but it sounds like this woman was already climbing the walls, and I doubt there's very little you could have done. If she was being snippy with the receptionist just for doing her job, I can't imagine she would have taken kindly - or politely - to someone asking her to please not use that language in front of children, even though you would have been entirely justified.

If she went nutso on you, that would have been far more upsetting for all the kids

 

[Nadiine]

I think either way could of been right - a "Look" is plenty tho.

Sometimes we are following the Spirit's lead by not saying anything.
(we just may never know if He was leading us to be silent)

 

[Saint_Rita]

yes a friend had pointed this out to me. The Holy Spirit was definitely already present otherwise I would've run off at the mouth. My mama-bear instincts tend to get the better of me much of the time!

 

[Cris413]

It's interesting the people God puts in our paths...to sometimes simply pray for...

 

[Blank123]

honestly, i don't have any kids but i imagine if that had been me out with the little boys i nanny i would have reacted much in the same way, shoot her a look and then pick up a book or something to read to them to distract them so they wouldn't hear anymore vulgarity that might happen to slip out. If she were swearing a blue streak though i definitely would have asked her to watch what she said in front of small children.