Shannon (Giraffe Days)’s Profile

"You look beautiful," he repeated. Looping an arm around her shoulder, Geoff pulled her in close. Chloe thought he was going to kiss her, but Mary Beth made short work of that idea.
"Daddy!" Ripping off a patent leather shoe, she flung it at Geoff's face. It hit him square in the jaw, just missing Chloe.
The other kids at the park gave up a collective gasp. Mary Beth was obviously In. For. It.
Dropping Chloe's hand, Geoff took a step away. "I'm so sorry. Mary Beth must feel threatened." Walking toward the jungle gym, he called, "Honey, let's go get that ice cream."
Ice cream seemed to be Geoff's go-to parenting move. And it was all wrong, as the women at the park were quick to point out.
"Ice cream? Hell no." A heavyset mother glared at Geoff. "Don't you set a bad example in front of my kids." The woman shook a thick finger at her daughter, as if her daughter had done something wrong. "You don't get ice cream after that."
The other parents nodded. Delighted to have everyone's attention, Mary Beth took off her other shoe and whipped it at Chloe. Catching it, she considered her options.
Kids needed security. They needed boundaries. Even though Chloe wanted Geoff to like her, letting Mary Beth run wild wasn't helping anyone. Especially not Mary Beth. "Geoff, can I please have your permission to get your daughter under control?"
"Fine." His expression was as petulant as Mary Beth's. "I don't know what to do anymore." [p.169]