Problems at the park

Tonight we went to the park with the Sorensen's and Oblad's. We were celebrating Taylor's passing of the Nevada Bar Exam (Yeah Taylor!). The playground was packed and as soon as we got there and sat down we overhead a father SCREAMING profanity at his two daughters who appeared to be around 6 and 9. He was yelling things like, "it is all your fault" and "you are so selfish and stupid" with the worst swear words you can think of tossed in there as every other word. The older daughter stood up and started to yell back at him and then I heard him say, "here...if you want to kill yourself, just go ahead and do it here while I watch" and he handed her a KNIFE from his pocket. I couldn't believe it! She just stood there with the knife in her hand and after a few more minutes of yelling at her, he took it back. Then he picked her up and held her upside down over the pond telling her he would hold her under and help her drown herself. I was freaking out so I walked over to them (Scott and Taylor followed me so I was safe, no worries) and asked him if everything was alright. I told him it was not appropriate to speak that way to his daughter and especially in public with so many little kids around. He apologized but said his daughter was spoiled and having some issues. I told him I saw him give her the knife and asked if they need any help, he said no.

I thought that would have been the end of it, but he just picked up the family and moved to the other side of the fence and continued his abuse. I was so ticked...I called the cops! What made me even more upset was the fact that it took the cops a half hour to get there. What part of a father handing his daughter a knife and challenging her to hurt herself is not an emergency? UGH! Once the cops finally got there they split the family up and were talking to all parties. I didn't stick around to see what happened in the end, but I have been bugged all night.

If he felt comfortable enough to behave like that in public, it makes me sick to think what goes on in their home. Of course, I don't know the entire story or what provoked him but I do know there are lines you don't cross no matter how upset you get as a parent. I think I am really naive when it comes to bad things that happen in this world, my stomach can't handle the truth. There is no reason to this post, I am just venting.