Howay, or I'll kick your head in

I was in a shop the other day when I heard a young mum, 20 or so, threaten her young son, in a bid to get him to leave.

Now we've all done it, but I thought "Howay, or I'll kick your head in" a little over the top.

The bairn, who must have been all of two, wisely grabbed his mam's hand and left as fast as his little legs could carry him.

As my mouth fell open and I tried hard not to stare, I wondered if it dawned on this lass for even a moment exactly what she had just said.

Now the bairn was well dressed and looked in rude health, but when his mam is threatening to "kick his head in", what hope does he have of growing up with proper morals and values?

I'm not suggesting for a moment that she would have harmed a hair on his head, but I was appalled at her casual use of such violent language.

Did she stop for a moment to think that if he is brought up being used to grown-ups talking like that, he'll think nothing of uttering similar threats when he starts school in a couple of years' time?

How will she feel then, when she is summoned to see the head about her offspring's aggressive behaviour, or when social services come knocking on her door?

It's all too easy to forget just how big an influence we adults can have on children - they copy the things we say and do, often without knowing what they mean.

My son, who's 13, has picked up lots of my mannerisms (not too many of the bad ones thankfully), and it's only when I hear him say them that I realise where he's got them from.

Every parent owes it to their child to bring them up right, teaching them the basics of decency and respect, and there's time yet for that young mum to do just that.

I just hope she reads this and thinks twice before she issues such a throwaway threat again.