This mum just blocked my toddler from approaching hers

These posts get added to Facebook and invariably the comments on there are much kinder. Correct me if I'm wrong but the question was - should I have blocked my child from approaching another? The vibe on this thread seems to be that you should indeed make sure your child never approaches another in the street? So I guess that's OPs answer. Seems sad but there we are.

@WandaWonder 100%!! I often wonder how people who agonise about the world like this actually get through their day!

There are the same proportion of weirdos in the parent population as there are in the rest of the population? I wouldn't have given it a second thought tbh - you don't need the internet to validate your views.

Why are you making this about you and your child? You know nothing of this woman or her child or their circumstances. She might just be an absolute bitch who enjoys hurting the feelings of unknown children (in which case, narrow escape!) but it's much more likely she had reasons which made sense to her for stopping this interaction. Either way it's a total non event.

use it as a learning opportunity for DC and yourself. Not everyone is friendly or even polite. . That's their issue not yours. Accept it and move on.

This, rather than all the dramatic SHE HATES KIDS!

My toddler has ADHD & ASD. I often have to step in between interactions because they can turn violent in a second and go from smiling to strangling. I’m their parent and I know their signs whereas a stranger looking on would not.

Is this in M&S or out on the street afterwards?

Maybe she was worried he would walk onto the road and so blocked him off?

As the mum of an immunocompromised micro preemie, I can absolutely see this being me. In fact, at the hospital once, a toddler tried peering into my very young baby’s pram and her mum thought she was being super cute. I had to turn the pram around to “block” this toddler. Don’t think the other mum was impressed but the difference is I explained that my son is immunocompromised. Other parents can take it or leave it. Sorry to say, I see children people, as walking petri dishes. What I’m trying to say is, sometimes there is more going on than what meets the eye.

‘It?’

Goodness of course you are being unreasonable, and your responses to anyone who thinks you are shows exactly the issue.

The mother felt the need to stop your child approaching hers. It does not
matter why she felt the need that is not your business.

You need to keep your child with you, not 2ms away, but with you if you can't hold hands teach it to hold your pram.

It’s really weird. However it isn’t personal, she doesn’t knew you or your kid so don’t over think it. The reason would have been unrelated to you -
maybe her son isn’t that well and she didn’t want to compromise your son for example but she wouldn’t say that out loud as her own son shouldn’t be outdoors say.

Loads of reasons but agree it’s weird behaviour.

I think it's very sad and I would feel the same way as you. As others have said though, could be a genuine reason, so just forget about it.

I presume whatever she was thinking was probably all over in abut 3 seconds and she probably moved on in quicker than it took you to hit 'send' on your OP

If you over think reactions like this with your child you are going to be in for a VERY LONG RIDE

She was rude imo, but wasn't actually nasty/unacceptable – didn't say anything mean to your son, or physically push him.

If for some reason (eg my own son's potential jealousy regarding toys, my own immunocompromised son) I wanted to stop your son, I'm not sure how I'd do it either. A sweet talk with your son would probably be counterproductive. Maybe polite blocking off and "excuse me" might be the swiftest and most effective way?

I'd write this incident off due to any number of possible reasons on her end (both valid and invalid).

Imo dwelling on it is being a mumzilla about a fleeting interaction, as if one's child is some sort of sacred divine being whose physical sphere cannot be trespassed upon. To her, her child / the space around her child is just as precious as yours, even if she didn't express it in the most polite way.

Perhaps hers has a long term illness and she is being overprotective about him catching something! I used to inwardly cringe when other children would come over to mine (CHD ) with there runny noses and grubby hands ( I had other children of my own soon after and realised how unrealistic keeping germs away was and the benefit of him having a strong immune system)

Exactly. I mean, there was the time I had to bury my husband and I couldn't find an item of clothing I needed to bury him in. I went to a store to get the item (just a big chain store). That was so hard to do. I went to the self checkout so I didn't have to talk to anyone and left the store. The woman at the entry was going to do a bag check but I think she got a vibe and backed off (thank you woman, I was trying to keep it together and wouldn't have if I'd had to stop and interact). Then I went to my car to go to the airport to pick up incoming family.

Safe to say I didn't want to deal with anyone and no three year old would have been an exception. There have been many times since when I've gone about my business and kept my eyes away from others to avoid interaction. I've always got a smile for kids, they may learn later on that life is harsh, so might as well let them enjoy it now.

I'm sure people had opinions but I don't care. Teach your kids you don't know what is going on for people when they don't react as expected.

Have you really never had to make a decision that looked strange to those who didn't understand, or that other people might have judged you for? Lucky you, if not, but I think we all have to eventually.

I'd take it as a lesson to my child that not everyone is approachable and explain to them (ok, maybe when older) that sometimes people have reasons for things we don't understand, so don't take it personally. I didn't usually have to discuss that till teens though.

Kids need to learn that sometimes a no isn't personal so they can be resilient when things happen.

and at some point, children also need to know that sometimes people are busy and can't or don't want to stop and look at a new toy.

Goes both ways really.

A lot of the responses on here make me very sad and I’m worried for the future of our society. For those of you that are saying, ‘it’s not all about you.’ I think that’s more true for the woman who was unpleasant … she clearly thought that whatever was going on in her life or just generally being unfriendly is more important than a lovely, sociable 3 year old. Everyone has their own shit going on but being kind and pleasant to others costs nothing - I feel we’ve sadly morphed into unsociable, rude and unkind people since covid. What sort of an example are we setting our children if we model this kind of negative interaction in front of them. No wonder the majority of children in primary school have no respect or manners and struggle to be kind to each other. These are the generation who will look after us when we’re old … we’ve created a monster and we’re f**d.

Lol pestered!!it was a child trying to chat to another child.
Surely in life at some point children need to know just because another child has something doesn't mean they can or will too.
If it was even about about.
If its crossing boundaries as a child trying to initiate chat with another child the world has serious problems.

I think you need to just accept that there is a reason she reacted the way she did that you don't understand. No doubt a good reason that would make perfect sense if you did know.

and maybe that would have caused her child to have a massive tantrum because they wanted the toy when the other mum just wanted to get in and out of M&S with as little drama as possible.

There's also nothing wrong with teaching about boundaries and personal space. It's absolutely fine to have the boundary that you don't want to be pestered in a shop, not rude at all.

DS would have snatched that toy and then bitten the other DC if they tried to get it back. There would have been screaming for hours.

Also, I would not have been in M&S with my two year old for shits and giggles. I would have been in there on a mission and then out like a shot.

Sorry whatever issues we have going on there's no need to be rude.
And it was rude to a child who just wanted to share his excitement and enthusiasm.
She could have said a couple of words or acknowledged your child.you are not out of order.
If someone done that to my child I would not be happy.you are not out of order at all.
Great social skills being taught to the lady's child and a grand show of teaching how to be polite.

So children are only supposed to interact in "designated spaces". What a strange world we live in now.

I think it was rude.