I think we were all saddened and shocked last week when disturbing video appeared from New York: Mr. Met delivering a rude gesture to fans as he walked down the tunnel of Citi Field.

Within 24 hours, Mr. Met was relieved of duties, replaced by another mascot of the same name.

It’s a sad tale, but yet an avoidable one.

You have to be more responsible.

Mr. Met is not only a representative of New York, but he also has personal responsibilities. There is Mrs. Met to consider and the entire Met family. Photos from the ballpark have shown three Met-lings, including Baby Met.

This behavior is something I would expect from younger, more immature mascots.

The Stanford Tree has been in frequent trouble, but the tree is a juvenile redwood. It’s going to shed its leaves every now and then. Or get soused during a Stanford-Cal basketball game.

Mr. Met is a professional mascot. He is seasoned, having been called to the Majors in 1963. If anyone should know better, it is Mr. Met.

It must have shocked the children for them to know the baseball head that they call “Daddy” was not only out of work, but out of work for indecency.

I bet the Met children cried.

Mr. Met should cross the four fingers on each hand and hope that his kids won’t take the behavior that he modeled with them.

No teacher or principal will accept the excuse, “Daddy did it.” Punishment for child mascots is easy now — riding the bench — but could lead to worse habits.

Mr. Met is upstanding compared to Bernie Brewer, who spent years sliding into a vat of beer for fans’ entertainment. Bernie is currently sober, as Milwaukee removed the vat, but who knows for how long.

I hope there is a backup plan for Mr. Met, that he can find other work to support his clan. Mrs. Met continues to work at Citi Field, but based on her official Twitter account, her appearances seem to be irregular.

Hopefully, Mrs. Met earns enough to keep their lives afloat while Mr. Met ponders his future.

As a Major Leaguer, Mr. Met has a major feather in his cap for employment, but as a giant baseball head, his skills might be a tad limited.

I will keep the belief that Mr. Met is indeed contrite and will not point the finger at him.

May he learn a lesson for his rash behavior and may the Met family be able to recover.