I would like to share my experience during a recent picnic event hosted by my workplace in collaboration with PNW Iconic Events, where I volunteered to assist for an hour. I was assigned to a station with tote bag decorating activities. Upon arriving, I met a staff member named Blanca, who greeted me politely. I had my 1-year-old son with me, and I allowed him to sit at the table and color while I kept him entertained. Due to the heat, we eventually stepped away for a break, as it was too hot for my baby to remain outdoors for long periods. Later, I returned to the same station with a friend and her 2-year-old daughter. We sat at the table, engaged in the craft activity, and allowed the children to explore the sensory boxes placed nearby. My toddler was especially interested in the kinetic sand, which naturally led to some mess as he played. I was fully prepared to take responsibility for cleaning up after him once we were done. Unfortunately, the situation took an unexpected turn. Blanca became visibly stressed over the mess and began vacuuming the sand while murmuring concerns such as, "we're going to get in trouble" and "the field can't get dirty." While I understood her stress, what followed deeply upset me as a first-time mother. While I was just a few steps away, I witnessed Blanca take my son by the arms and physically move him a few steps toward the sand bin, then shake both of his hands to make him drop the sand. This interaction upset him, and he began to cry. I was extremely disturbed by the way she handled my child. I immediately asked my partner to take our son for a walk so I could compose myself. I chose not to confront her in the moment, as I was trying to maintain professionalism and avoid escalating the situation at a family-friendly event that I was helping to host. Later that day, I learned that a similar incident occurred with my friend's 2-year-old daughter, which made me even more emotional. I left the event with a heavy heart and tears in my eyes. While I understand the importance of keeping the venue clean and respecting event guidelines, I strongly believe there are more appropriate and respectful ways to handle these situations especially when it involves very young children. No adult should ever physically intervene with someone else's child without the parent's consent. A simple conversation with the attending adult would have been the proper course of action. This experience has left me feeling unsettled and has significantly increased my hesitation and fear about leaving my child under the supervision of strangers. I believe this situation reflects the need for proper staff training on how to handle young children and communicate effectively with parents during family-oriented events. Thank you for taking the time to read my feedback. I hope it serves as a constructive opportunity to improve future experiences for families attending your events. read more