I was MORTIFIED!!!!!!!

What should I do?  What would another mother do?  What is the right thing to do?  Should she apologize?  Will this scar her for life?  Will this scar this man for life?  Will this build her character? Is this a life lesson?  Is this an opportunity to teach a life lesson? Am I a good person?  Am I raising good, kind, little people? Am I a good mother?  Is she this mean?  Was this an innocent 4 year old moment?

Those were literally just the handful of questions rushing though my mind in a matter of seconds......I didn't know what to do!!!

We were in Home Depot getting paint. The kids were giggling and playing.  After paying we went back toward the entrance door so the kids could say goodbye to my mother as she was working at the returns desk. After waving and laughing goodbye we strolled toward the entrance doors.  Kyle riding on the side of the carriage. Hailey sitting in the back, and Cole sitting up front. When I saw Hailey stick her finger out and point at a man and shout "Oh my gosh! That man is so fat!!! hahaha"

I was SHOCKED! I was MORTIFIED!

I shouted HAILEY ROSE DEVINCENT!!! and while calling her name slapped her pointed hand without even realizing......I rolled that carriage through the entrance into the entry way as fast and as hard as I could!

I told her we do not point at people and we certainly do not say things like that!  We need to take other peoples feelings into consideration.  What you did was cruel! 

She said "I am sorry Mummy!"

"You need to tell him that!"

As my 4 year old walked to the door she looked back at me. Tears in her eyes with pain and fear behind them.  The thoughts and questions, doubts and assurances rushed through my mind. 

Should we just leave??  Do I make her apologize??  I rushed toward her and saw the man literally staring out the doors, standing in the same place he was as when we first flew by him with his mouth wide open.

In that second I knew....we needed to go and apologize.

She looked at me and said "I am scared Mommy....." I told her I am standing right here! Right by you. Let's go do the right thing and be brave.

Hailey walked up to him brave and true, by my side. Kyle was holding my hand

and Cole was in my arms.  She looked at him and said while crying "I am sorry for being disrespectful and for hurting your feelings."

He said "Thank you for apologizing. It's OK."

I looked at him. All I could say was "It is not OK and I am so sorry.  Thank you for understanding she is 4 years old and I am truly sorry. Thank you for being a beautiful person and accepting our apology."

Can I add that this literally all took place in under a minute and every second of this minute terrified me and every millisecond had 3 questions running through my head!

When we got to the car I felt like we did the right thing. Everyone buckled up and I sat in front of Hailey. We discussed how and why what she did and said was so wrong. We talked about treating others the way we would like to be treated, and empathy. We discussed how it would make her feel if something like that happened to her. She was more upset that I slapped her hand. I apologized for it. We also talked about how PROUD I was of her for apologizing. That it was strong and showed good character.

We have reviewed the lessons learned several times. I just hope we did the right thing for everyone in  the situation. I pray that I am raising my children to be kind, and true. I pray that I act as a positive role model and that I am leading my children with love and respect for others.

I just hope I am a good person and a good parent, and that I can let this go and that it will not haunt me.