A San Diego grandmother is sitting in jail on charges of child abuse. Last Saturday, she allegedly flung her 2-year-old grandson to the ground and slapped him. The child received minor abrasions on his back and head, and was examined at Rady Children’s Hospital.
Kelly Daffara was traveling by bus with her toddler grandson to visit a relative. When they got off the bus in a busy part of San Diego, the little boy ran away from her.
Daffara told police she yelled at him to come back, but he ignored her.
That was when Daffara allegedly screamed at him, went after him, picked him up, and slammed him down onto his back on the pavement. Witnesses told police Daffara slapped the boy once or twice.
The police reported that Daffara admitted to losing control.
Her reaction might have been extreme, but how many of us haven’t lost our minds when our children darted away from us near the street? Kids, especially adventuresome toddlers, are hit and killed by moving vehicles all the time.
Would Daffara be in prison for neglect if her grandson had darted into traffic and been killed when a car hit him? I know that I have had to check my toddler’s shoulder sockets after she ran off in a parking lot and I snatched her violently back. She even got a spanking, because I want her to learn that running off in a parking lot or road is extremely dangerous.
I didn’t witness the incident, so I have no way of knowing how forceful Daffara actually was with her grandson. I just know that I would rather be the mean mommy that overreacted when her kid darted off into the street than the mommy burying her child.
As parents (and grandparents), we sometimes have to make lesser-of-two-evils decisions. Do I normally freak out and punish my child for doing something that she doesn’t know she isn’t supposed to be doing? No. But when her life is at stake, I will do what is necessary to preserve it.
Image via JOPHIALsmiles/Flickr
Ashley Is a Widow Who Stays Strong...
This Hot Dad Wants to Vacuum Your Rug
This Hot Dad Wants to Do Your Ironing
KStew Refuses to Shower
Comments 73
What part of "she slammed him on the pavement" do you find acceptable? I don't see that as acceptable or explainable at all.
I agree with you on this one.
Okay...here's the thing though, have you ever grabbed your child either in fun or when they are about to get in harms way, only have them crash to the floor? I have. It sure as heck wasn't intentional. WE didn't see this...so who's to say that isn't what happened.
Oh Jen "watch your child more closely." The famous last words of parents who bury their children.
If you read the account in the link, this woman was out of control. The boy was no longer in danger of running into the street once she grabbed him. Throwing him to the ground and hitting him - to the point where people intervened? No way to justify that - if you're taking care of a child, you don't get to be that out of control with your actions.
You can NOT justify someone slamming their 2 year old grandson onto the ground. If you can, you need parenting courses.
She needs to be in jail. That wasn't protecting him or teaching him - that was being mad because he dared to ignore her.
My eldest did the same thing in the parking lot where I work. I grabbed his hood and his butt slammed into the ground. I then picked him up and spanked him(3 swats on the butt). I work in a fast food place and we were right at the drive-thru exit. And you know people drive crazy when they leave. I am not ashamed because I know he will never do that again. But I left no marks. His younger brother and sister also learned not to run off on mommy too. She was probably scared out of her mind. And when you panic you do things you would not normally do.