Mom "Blasts" Target Employee Who Called Her Kid a "Brat,” Sparks Debate

Sep. 15 2023, Updated 10:42 a.m. ET

It's said that it takes a village to raise a child, and even though there are conflicting opinions as to how true this is, it's hard to argue that there are inherent benefits to having multiple people in your community interact with and help form a child's personality.

At the end of the day, however, the main onus of rearing a kid lands on the shoulders of their parent(s) or guardian(s).

That's who they'll be interacting with most of the time. That's who they'll be living with and either emulating or adapting the majority of their life lessons from. In short, if your kids respect you, the way you act, and how you go about fulfilling your own dreams/duties, they'll probably want to do the same.

That's not to say that external influences don't play a major factor, and if a parent isn't giving their child what they need for their development, they're sure to seek other avenues for that fulfillment, which is where external communications from outside the family unit come into play.

And as for the "village" analogy, when it comes to discipline, especially for young children, that burden, again, usually falls on the shoulders of parents.

That's not to say other people can't call out your kids' crumby behavior if they're being disruptive but to directly address a child and not their parent, this is where things tend to get a bit testy. But what happened to TikToker @kenzie_shayne while she was shopping at Target goes beyond "optimistic child-rearing" and more into child abuse.

Here's what happened: Kenzie went with her three year old daughter to a Target location to shop for a card for the little girl's daddy who was getting ready to enjoy his white coat ceremony, which is a "identify of passage for medical students."

Kenzie picked out some stickers for her little girl to hold as she was sitting in her shopping cart, probably all stoked to play with the cool new little bits of decorative adhesives, when a Target worker approached the little girl.

Kenzie says she was preoccupied when the employee snatched the stickers out of her daughter's hand, alarming the toddler. When the TikToker turned around to ask the employee what was going on, they said that her three-year-old was about to drop the stickers.

Kenzie thanked her, but it was evident that something felt a bit off, given her child's reaction. The employee then looks at Kenzie and, referring to her daughter says, "She's were given a bratty face."

In the video, the three-year-old can be heard saying in the back of the car, "I don't have a bratty face," and Kenzie agrees with the little girl, assuring her that she doesn't.

Users who watched the video were shocked by the interaction.

"You should name target and ask to speak to the manager. This is so not k."

"Awww her voice announcing she doesn’t🥺 this isn't ok and is not her position to say that in any respect."

"I'd’ve left target in a cop automotive."

Kenzie said that she is not calling Target but her husband would be. Other users suggested that there was more to the story, but Kenzie denies this is the case: "What else would be part of the tale hahahhaha like why would I lie about what any person said to my child? She literally LOOKED at This woman and she mentioned she had a bratty face. I didn’t get this woman fired. I didn’t complain. I killed her with kindness and walked out. Thanks!"

How would have you reacted if anyone treated your kid like this, especially when they have been simply chilling in a buying groceries cart and in a different way minding their own business?

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