I've seen a little of that kind of behaviour, a parent verbally abusing a child in public, maybe while on a bus, and the kid is obviously quite embarassed, but I can't say I've given it a lot of thought, except to remark to the guy next to me that the poor kid is probably going to have a bad day.

One thing that does bother me is when I see a parent holding a baby in one arm and smoking a cigarette with her other hand. Now I ain't a self righteous non-smoker or anything, but that sort of behaviour borders on child abuse, imo.