Thank you for the insight into Indian culture. I have a question about that. Had this happened in India, would the actions of the father seem as concerning? Assuming his story is true ( i know, i know, just for argument's sake) would it be unheard of to punish a child in that way and would it be unheard of to wait for the child to return? I remember a news story some years back that got a lot of attention. A Scandanavian couple went to lunch and their child was asleep in the stroller so they just left the child napping on the front porch of the restaurant and went on inside to eat. They were arrested I believe and charged with abandonment and/ or endangering but said it was a common practice where they come from to leave babies sleeping outside to not bother the diners. What is crazy talk in one culture may be common place in another.
I don't believe dad's story for a minute. But I am wondering if he thought it would fly here if it's common there and would not be questioned. TIA
This is a really great question.
When I worked at out advocacy center, we actually dealt with this a lot. There are cultures that view isolation or abandonment, especially in a scary place for a child, as appropriate punishment.(They would not view it as isolation or abandonment as we do.) I also don't believe his story, but perhaps it was a story he felt wouldn't get him in trouble. I don't pretend to know anything about their beliefs. They may be as "American" in their traditions as I am, for all I know. This culture talk may be way off. But it's a really interesting thing to ponder.