WIBTA If I stopped taking my daughter in public
The original poster (OP), a 44-year-old Black-identifying man with a Japanese partner, was at a store with three of his children: an 11-year-old son and twin 3-year-old daughters.
While shopping, the two younger girls began to cry and have a tantrum after the OP denied their request for candy. The OP, who is large in stature and deaf, picked up one of his daughters to leave the store.
This action led to a woman yelling about kidnapping, followed by a man punching the OP and snatching the child.
Police arrived quickly, and before the OP could explain his situation or have his son translate, he was arrested and ha****ffed while his children were taken into custody.
The OP is now debating whether he should stop taking his light-skinned daughter into public settings without his partner present due to fear of future incidents.
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The poster is facing an extreme dilemma rooted in justifiable fear stemming from past dangerous encounters involving racial bias and misunderstanding in public.
His proposed action—avoiding public outings with his daughter without his partner as a visual identifier—is an attempt to preempt violence and protect his parental rights.
The central question is whether restricting the daughter's public life based on the father's safety concerns const*tutes an overreaction or an understandable protective measure given the documented risks he faces.
Is the OP justified in limiting his own presence with his daughter to ensure his physical safety and continued presence in her life?
The Comments Section Came Alive:
Support, sarcasm, and strong words — the replies covered it all. This one definitely got people talking.