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SINGAPORE: Despite netizens\u2019 assertions that a parent was at fault after she exposed an elderly bakery worker online for offending her, Four Leaves has apologised over the incident.<\/p>\n
The parent had shared the incident on the Complaint Singapore<\/em> Facebook page and said she had visited Four Leaves\u2019 Yamazaki Bakery at Vivocity with her two young children and helper.<\/p>\n She explained that, \u201cLike many children with ADHD, everything happened in a split second.\u201d Before she could react, both of her children \u201cexcitedly picked up a doughnut each from the display and took a bite.\u201d<\/p>\n The mother stressed that she \u201cimmediately apologised to the staff and assured them that I would pay for both doughnuts without hesitation,\u201d but she claimed an elderly woman standing behind the packing counter then said loudly in Chinese: \u201cWe cannot blame the children. We can only blame the parents for their poor upbringing.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThose words hit me harder than she could ever have imagined,\u201d the mother wrote.<\/p>\n She said she approached the woman calmly and explained that both of her children have ADHD and that what had happened \u201cwas a result of their condition, not poor parenting.\u201d<\/p>\n Describing the daily realities of raising children with ADHD, the mother wrote that every outing requires \u201cpatience, constant vigilance, and understanding\u201d because her children can \u201cact impulsively before they fully process the consequences of their actions.\u201d<\/p>\n She added that parents like herself fight \u201csilent battles that the public never sees\u2014therapy appointments, emotional meltdowns, endless teaching, and the constant effort to help our children fit into a world that often misunderstands them.\u201d<\/p>\n The mother concluded by appealing for greater empathy. \u201cI don\u2019t expect everyone to understand ADHD, but I do hope people can choose kindness over judgement,\u201d she wrote, adding: \u201cCompassion costs nothing, but it can mean everything to a family trying their very best.\u201d<\/p>\n The post ended up backfiring on the mother after she included a photo of the elderly worker. The image appeared to have been taken without the worker\u2019s knowledge and initially showed her face clearly. After attracting criticism, the mother reposted the image with the woman\u2019s face hastily censored.<\/p>\n Many commenters argued that the decision to post the worker\u2019s photograph contradicted the mother\u2019s own call for compassion. Others questioned how the elderly worker could have known the circumstances behind the children\u2019s behaviour.<\/p>\n Some commenters said the parent should have just said sorry and dropped the issue.\u00a0The strongest backlash, however, centred on the decision to post the elderly worker\u2019s photograph online.<\/p>\n Quite a number of commenters urged the mother to extend the same understanding to the elderly woman that she had asked others to show her family. Some also worried that the post could have consequences beyond online criticism, such as job loss.<\/p>\n While some commenters accepted that the worker\u2019s remark was insensitive and could have been hurtful, the overwhelming sentiment in the discussion was that publicly photographing and exposing an elderly employee was a disproportionate response, with many arguing that the compassion the mother asked for should have been extended to the bakery worker as well.<\/p>\n Despite the online support for the bakery worker, Four Leaves has apologised to the mother over the incident.<\/p>\n In a statement, the company said it had contacted her and \u201csincerely apologised\u201d for its employee\u2019s remarks. It added that the employee had been unaware of the family\u2019s circumstances and should not have made such comments.<\/p>\n \u201cWe will not tolerate such behaviour and will ensure that similar incidents do not happen again,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n Four Leaves also confirmed that it has launched an internal investigation into the matter.<\/p>\n Following the incident, the company said it will arrange for employees to undergo relevant training to help them better understand and serve customers with special needs.<\/p>\n The company added that it is also arranging to meet the mother in person to apologise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n