Polite way to say pi** off

[Lizzie910]

Yesterday I was in the play area of a park with my ds. A 'man' stranger came and sat next to us and started talking to me. He then stroked ds cheek and did the finger gripping thing - which I didn't like - how can I say piss off I don't like it?

[compo]

whose finger did he grip?

[Lizzie910]

ds gripped creepy man stranger finger

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Eeeek, thats quite scary.

I would have just smiled and walked off.

[Lizzie910]

Yes it was, will stop worrying about being polite and walk off next time

[Lizzie910]

Well I hope there isn't a next time

[WestCountryLass]

I think you have to bite the bullet and say 'please don't touch my baby', either that or pack up and move on yourself. I was once in the chemist and a man who had boils on his hands was touching my DS and I had to tell him not to and he got all offended. Don't apologise, he is your baby and no one has a right to touch him if you don't want them to.

[fastasleep]

This happens to me on the bus all the time, smelly old men and smokey old women.... they just look... dirty! And I never know how to handle it

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I'd be scared of saying something that would make him angry or upset and then him following me or something.

I think it depends on what sort of person you are. I know people that would just say P* off and others that would do like WCL.
I'm not that brave so like I said I would have just smiled and walked off.

[Gobbledigook]

Hmm, yes, I'm a bit of weed in these situations and I'd have made an excuse to leave

[Fio2]

LOL fatsasleep

It happens to me alot on the bus too. Once my son kssed a woman goodbye!!!! There was once when my daughter was tiny too when a young homeless woman on the bus asked to hold her (she had big issue mag thats how I knew) and I let her as I didnt know what to say but she seemed a nice girl and we cant judge people just because of the way they look

[DillyDally]

Put on a very fake eastern european accent (my fave is appalling russian) and say I no understan, engllleesh verryy bad, smile and walk away?

NB This wont work if you have previously told your child to do something loudly in the queens english when he was near

[littlemissbossy]

a similar thing happened to me with my ds when he was a baby... an elderly couple on the next table (in cafe) kept on talking to him, which was quite sweet, but when they left, the old man leaned over and kissed him as soon as they were gone, the baby wipes were out

[WestCountryLass]

I hope they were antibacterial ones, otherwise you jsut spread those germs all over him

[littlemissbossy]

[tarantula]

Sorry but I have to say that it sounds to me like he was jsut being friendly and was possibly a little bit lonely. Probably made his day being able to coo over a little baby. Poor fella Its not like he was doing any harm. Its human nature to coo over a cute baby and elderly people do thsi all the time. Id be horrified if I saw someone being rude to any elderly relations who cooed over a baby in public I have to say

[fastasleep]

I didn't mean to say that the old men/women aren't lovely! It's just... it makes me nervy! I get the wipes out too... but I do let them stroke him and hold his hand and stuff when they seem really kindly..

[Newbarnsleygirl]

Elderly people is one thing but someone younger I would find slightly worrying.

What was a grown man doing in a childrens play area on his own?

[littlemissbossy]

tarantula, if you're referring to my comment about elderly people - I can assure you I was not at all rude to them! But there is a difference to being friendly and overly friendly isn't there? How would you feel if you had a conversation with a couple of complete strangers in a cafe and then they came up and gave you a kiss? wouldn't you think that was a little strange?

[Gobbledigook]

For me it's not necessarily about whether they are clean or dirty, but I feel uncomfortable with the invasion of personal space.

It's like when you are pregnant and people suddenly think your 'personal space perimeter' is gone and they can come up and rub your tummy - bleurgh! Used to hate that!

[flashingnose]

How do you know he was on his own?

[dyzzidi]

Oh you see i am the crazy person who will stop in shops to mak a bored looking baby smile! I am a complete baby person. I always talk to them and their parent seem to be Ok about it but I never touch their hands or anything as I feel thats overstepping the mark.

I also pull tongues at bored looking kids when stuck in traffic! god when i write this down i seem like a complete Loon

You should say something if you are unhappy or just walk away but try to remember most people (like me) just like babies and kids.

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I guess from the post he sounded as though he was on his own.

If he had children with him it wouldn't really bother me as much but a stranger touching my child.
No way!

[flashingnose]

This makes me feel quite sad. I had my three children abroad in a country where they adore children and are very hands on (people would take the baby out of the trolley for a cuddle or scoop them up in the doctors waiting room and carry them off) so it continually shocks me how cautious people are here. I'm not saying that's wrong btw, just wishing things were different .

[Newbarnsleygirl]

I agree FN but there are far too many weird people out there to take the risk IMO.

I remember when I was younger, you would see people with their babys in pushchairs and prams outside the house. I don't think theres alot of people that do that now.

It is sad.