I loved your response. My sister calls it The Wrath. I had it when I chased a man who backed out of a parking lot without checking his review mirror and not only missed my car by an inch but almost ran over a woman and her toddler. When I finally caught up to him at a long light, I jumped out of my car and scared the shit out of him, screaming at the top of my lungs. My teenage daughter was shocked but The Wrath had awakened in me! It makes me laugh every time I recall the expression on his face. More women should react like you. If they did, maybe men would start to behave. It’s time women ruled the world.
Something happens to us when we feel our people threatened. It's primal, it comes seemingly from nowhere.
Many years ago, two men broke into our house, late at night. My husband and our baby daughter were asleep, I was still up on my computer in the living room. I heard a noise, turned around, and there they were. One was holding my handbag. I was between them and my baby's room.
Something just snapped in me. Like you, I lunged, I threw myself at them, screaming, and they began running back out the back door. I reached them as they got to the garden and grabbed one of them. He punched me in the chest and sent me flying into garden furniture. And then they left (with my handbag, but that didn't really seem relevant any longer).
The police came with a tracker dog, but them men had long gone.
Afterwards, I was obviously in shock from the experience, but again like you, I was just staggered by what I'd done. For all I had known, they could have had a knife. That fist could have been a blade sinking into my chest. I was an idiot. Everyone who heard what had happened told me I was an idiot.
But I wasn't an idiot, because what happened wasn't within my control. If I'd chosen to do it, I might have been an idiot. It was pure instinct, pure animal response. I had no idea I was capable of it.
JR Roessl, in these comments, is exactly right. It's The Wrath. And that's the kind of person we are. Women who summon The Wrath.
I once screamed every swear word known to humankind at the top of my voice into the face of a male cyclist who had run down my 10 yr old on a public city bike path. He remained unapologetic, mostly concerned about the damage to his bike. My kid was ok, kid's bike was a write-off, but to this day kid remains proudly embarrassed by my repertoire.
Good for you. I haven’t fought off a dog, but I fought off a man who followed me to my car in the parklands (one of those mini Mike’s that didn’t have a roof) trying to make conversation. It was three in the afternoon, broad daylight, and as I slipped into my seat and started the engine he leaned over and wrapped his arms around me from behind. My enraged reaction was to elbow him in the stomach and drop the clutch. As I accelerated away I heard him screaming at me “what’s wrong with you, bitch? I only wanted to kiss you!” Ugh. I had wrath all the way home.
I was so relieved that the moke actually started. There was a period when I couldn’t afford to buy a new battery (I was a uni student ) and used to start it by pushing it (they’re a super lightweight meccano car ) while running alongside (there aren’t many hills to park on in central Adelaide either) and then leaping in and engaging second gear. I was a bit more athletic then 😉
Ha! In high school I had a Chevette beater I had to park on a hill and put in second and pop the clutch to start. These skills have served us well, indeed.
Love this. Did exactly the same - screamed at a pit bull that attacked me and my dog a few weeks ago. The owner, a young man i only spoke with later, after the deputy sheriff found out where he lived, was similarly blase. Adrenaline is our friend. Good work!
In general, dogs in Amsterdam are chaotic assholes thanks to their irresponsible owners. It’s generally mayhem, but this dog owner was the worst of the worst. xoxo
You are normal. The asshole with the dogs is not. Good job! Don’t second guess yourself. We doubt and question ourselves too much. Your child saw you, too. That’s a good thing!
What a story! I don’t think I blinked for several paragraphs— and my chest still feels sort of tight.
I’m a lifelong dog-lover (we currently have 2 corgis and a rescue terrierist, “Bitey” Bertie), but I don’t take them to every possible place in modern society, unlike all the “dog parent” people out there. I was crazy about the big, beautiful, brand-new dog park in our Twin Cities suburb when it first opened, but when we got Bertie, his damaged psyche made it impossible to take him there (after he chomped a sweet galumphing puppy!), and so the other two ended up losing out on it, too. That was 10 years ago, and in the ensuing time I’ve heard lots of stories of dog park disasters. I wouldn’t go to a dog park now, and that’s what I hear from the vets at our local clinic, too.
I guess people want to believe that dogs have utopian characters, and naturally just get along; but there’s more we don’t get about their psyches than we do, and that includes some reactions which shouldn’t surprise dog owners/guardians, but do…like the dangerous fool you encountered.
I got a charge out of your mention of that diet of violent Viking programming, and I can see how that would’ve added a certain gusto to your natural inclinations! But Boadicea (aka Boudica/Boudicca, or Boudicea) sprang to mind for me— the warrior queen of early Britain. Just visualize your visage in bronze and the rest of you in classical drapery (plus a spear), and you’ll see yourself in this great London statue: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boadicea_and_Her_Daughters
Thank you for reading, and for sharing your dog tales. Boudica is fabulous! Thanks for introducing me to her. I'm also a recent fan of Hekate. I'll have to write about her soon...
How is your dog? How are you? Did you report him to the authorities?
I tried to break up a dog fight in my own home. My Labrador and my daughter’s American Bulldog started fighting. I tried to break it up. I don’t remember most of it, just the very end. My dog got a broken leg and my daughter’s dog had bite marks. Me? I was in the hospital for four months recovering from my injuries.
If you need to break up a dog fight you should yank hard on the aggressor's tail, then grab and hold the collar up firmly in a choking manner. It works. Or just do one or the other depending on the situation.
That works if the dog is facing away from you long enough to grab their tail. As I said, I don’t remember much of the fight, but when it first started they were face to face the entire time I do recall and I was in the middle.
I loved your response. My sister calls it The Wrath. I had it when I chased a man who backed out of a parking lot without checking his review mirror and not only missed my car by an inch but almost ran over a woman and her toddler. When I finally caught up to him at a long light, I jumped out of my car and scared the shit out of him, screaming at the top of my lungs. My teenage daughter was shocked but The Wrath had awakened in me! It makes me laugh every time I recall the expression on his face. More women should react like you. If they did, maybe men would start to behave. It’s time women ruled the world.
The Wrath is so accurate, I love it. And I love your story.
Something happens to us when we feel our people threatened. It's primal, it comes seemingly from nowhere.
Many years ago, two men broke into our house, late at night. My husband and our baby daughter were asleep, I was still up on my computer in the living room. I heard a noise, turned around, and there they were. One was holding my handbag. I was between them and my baby's room.
Something just snapped in me. Like you, I lunged, I threw myself at them, screaming, and they began running back out the back door. I reached them as they got to the garden and grabbed one of them. He punched me in the chest and sent me flying into garden furniture. And then they left (with my handbag, but that didn't really seem relevant any longer).
The police came with a tracker dog, but them men had long gone.
Afterwards, I was obviously in shock from the experience, but again like you, I was just staggered by what I'd done. For all I had known, they could have had a knife. That fist could have been a blade sinking into my chest. I was an idiot. Everyone who heard what had happened told me I was an idiot.
But I wasn't an idiot, because what happened wasn't within my control. If I'd chosen to do it, I might have been an idiot. It was pure instinct, pure animal response. I had no idea I was capable of it.
JR Roessl, in these comments, is exactly right. It's The Wrath. And that's the kind of person we are. Women who summon The Wrath.
It really is a primal response, thanks for noting that. Your story is so scary! I’m glad we’re both okay. xoxo
I am glad we are too. Both stories could have had very different endings.
But it's good to know what kind of people we are!
Them men?? The men. Sheesh.
ha, I never notice little things like this. Not even in my own work, (much to my dismay). My eye sees what I think is there.
I only notice them when I make them in a text I can't edit. And then they taunt me.
I kind of loved it as 'them men'. Sounds more like folklore.
You did exactly what anyone, father or mother with any courage and love for their children, in this case your son and your dog, would do.
Questioning it afterwards is a moot point. You did what had to be done. You channeled your inner power.
Don't ever regret it. Revel in it.
You're a Bad Ass.
You are a HERO.
JB
thank you
My pleasure.
Queenly behaviour. Endorse and respect
Thank you
Well done!
I once screamed every swear word known to humankind at the top of my voice into the face of a male cyclist who had run down my 10 yr old on a public city bike path. He remained unapologetic, mostly concerned about the damage to his bike. My kid was ok, kid's bike was a write-off, but to this day kid remains proudly embarrassed by my repertoire.
Aggressive cyclists are as bad as unleashed dog owners. Ugh. xo
We never know what kind of person we are till we're put to the test. Your reaction seems totally normal to me in the circumstances.
Thank you
Good for you. I haven’t fought off a dog, but I fought off a man who followed me to my car in the parklands (one of those mini Mike’s that didn’t have a roof) trying to make conversation. It was three in the afternoon, broad daylight, and as I slipped into my seat and started the engine he leaned over and wrapped his arms around me from behind. My enraged reaction was to elbow him in the stomach and drop the clutch. As I accelerated away I heard him screaming at me “what’s wrong with you, bitch? I only wanted to kiss you!” Ugh. I had wrath all the way home.
Whoa that’s crazy. That guy was dangerous and I’m glad you hit the gas.
I was so relieved that the moke actually started. There was a period when I couldn’t afford to buy a new battery (I was a uni student ) and used to start it by pushing it (they’re a super lightweight meccano car ) while running alongside (there aren’t many hills to park on in central Adelaide either) and then leaping in and engaging second gear. I was a bit more athletic then 😉
Ha! In high school I had a Chevette beater I had to park on a hill and put in second and pop the clutch to start. These skills have served us well, indeed.
You sound awesome to me.
Love this. Did exactly the same - screamed at a pit bull that attacked me and my dog a few weeks ago. The owner, a young man i only spoke with later, after the deputy sheriff found out where he lived, was similarly blase. Adrenaline is our friend. Good work!
What's with these blase dog owners? Ridiculous
Irresponsible dog owners make my blood boil! That man got off easy.
In general, dogs in Amsterdam are chaotic assholes thanks to their irresponsible owners. It’s generally mayhem, but this dog owner was the worst of the worst. xoxo
You weren't attacking, it was just normal behavior.
Ha! Yes. That guy was so arrogant and entitled.
You are normal. The asshole with the dogs is not. Good job! Don’t second guess yourself. We doubt and question ourselves too much. Your child saw you, too. That’s a good thing!
Way to unlock your inner shield maiden.
I didn’t know she was in there but she came out fighting.
Your inner Mama Bear came out. You are a badass.
It was very bear-like. Animal instincts for sure. Thanks for reading.
What a story! I don’t think I blinked for several paragraphs— and my chest still feels sort of tight.
I’m a lifelong dog-lover (we currently have 2 corgis and a rescue terrierist, “Bitey” Bertie), but I don’t take them to every possible place in modern society, unlike all the “dog parent” people out there. I was crazy about the big, beautiful, brand-new dog park in our Twin Cities suburb when it first opened, but when we got Bertie, his damaged psyche made it impossible to take him there (after he chomped a sweet galumphing puppy!), and so the other two ended up losing out on it, too. That was 10 years ago, and in the ensuing time I’ve heard lots of stories of dog park disasters. I wouldn’t go to a dog park now, and that’s what I hear from the vets at our local clinic, too.
I guess people want to believe that dogs have utopian characters, and naturally just get along; but there’s more we don’t get about their psyches than we do, and that includes some reactions which shouldn’t surprise dog owners/guardians, but do…like the dangerous fool you encountered.
I got a charge out of your mention of that diet of violent Viking programming, and I can see how that would’ve added a certain gusto to your natural inclinations! But Boadicea (aka Boudica/Boudicca, or Boudicea) sprang to mind for me— the warrior queen of early Britain. Just visualize your visage in bronze and the rest of you in classical drapery (plus a spear), and you’ll see yourself in this great London statue: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boadicea_and_Her_Daughters
Thank you for reading, and for sharing your dog tales. Boudica is fabulous! Thanks for introducing me to her. I'm also a recent fan of Hekate. I'll have to write about her soon...
How is your dog? How are you? Did you report him to the authorities?
I tried to break up a dog fight in my own home. My Labrador and my daughter’s American Bulldog started fighting. I tried to break it up. I don’t remember most of it, just the very end. My dog got a broken leg and my daughter’s dog had bite marks. Me? I was in the hospital for four months recovering from my injuries.
oh wow, that's awful, I'm so sorry.
🤯
Congratulations on surviving…but YIKES.
If you need to break up a dog fight you should yank hard on the aggressor's tail, then grab and hold the collar up firmly in a choking manner. It works. Or just do one or the other depending on the situation.
That works if the dog is facing away from you long enough to grab their tail. As I said, I don’t remember much of the fight, but when it first started they were face to face the entire time I do recall and I was in the middle.