Recently, Hillary Duff posted a video of a confrontation she had with a man who was taking photos of children at a kids' football game. She posted the video to her Instagram and she's received praise from some people on how she handled the situation. Now, dealing with the paparazzi may be a situation unique to celebrities, but you, as a parent, will find yourself in situations where you'll stand up for your child.
Before you confront anyone, see if you can solve the problem without having a confrontation. Perhaps, you can move away from the person. In Hillary's case, someone was taking photos of children so she needed to talk to stop the man from taking photos.
Your approach is critical to the outcome of the talk. When someone feels attacked or disrespected then the automatic reaction is to get angry, which can lead to arguing. Although you might feel like you'll be calm and tactfully when you talk, watch your body language when you're approaching the person. If you look angry as you approach then it starts the conversation on edge.
To minimize the likelihood of a confrontation, ask questions first to understand the situation from their point of view. Explain your position and use "I" statements such as "I feel XXX because of XXX." Offer an alternative that would be suitable for both of you. Realize that your talk might not make a difference as the person might not change their actions. Be prepared to walk away having to continue to deal with the annoyance.
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