Old lady keeps approaching my toddler, making me feel uncomfortable

God, I once happpily handed baby DS over to an older couple in a cafe for a cuddle. I even went to get myself a tea (albeit I could see them at all time). I think it's perfectly fine.

For the record, I discovered recently that the older lady who works in the dry cleaner on the corner, who always enjoyed a little wave and chat with DS when he was a toddler and we used to go past, still talks to him today and he's a strapping 14 year old!!! Apparently if he walks past with friends the always wave and say hello. She tells me he's very polite and pleasant. I'm not sure what shocked me more - that they still remember each other or that he is, apparently, quite chatty! :)

Next year: "I don't have a village".

It's seemed @BettyJoanPerske needed it highlighted!

Op think about how fast the last 5 years went by - only 6 x that is 30 years - add that to your age - people feel 25 inside when they are in their 80s - she misses her toddlers thats all

My god, a whole lot of assumptions about the woman concerned.🙄
Similar age, I smile at babies and young kids if they look at me esp. on the bus, but I'm not lonely, happily married 24 + years and def no dementia😀
I love how the d word gets trotted out on here so much, or at least used to. If you are 50 plus and 'behave differently', MNers used to say could it be dementia? it's insulting but funny at the same time. No, we're just old gits who don't sweat trival rubbish like the young 'uns. Most of be like it one day yourselves, shaking your heads at the younger generations beh and smiling to yourselves.

FFS it was alarming and uncomfortable having old ladies and men approach the baby’s pram in Spring 2020 and having to remind them to stay back. Now it is awkward if you have to remind them multiple times not to touch but it’s also healthy for them, you, and your little one to practice appropriate social skills.

my 4yo has learned how to start a conversation from our walks and will happily approach neighbours and ask them their name and age 😂

I agree. She’s older, possibly lonely, wants to engage. Try and empathise with her.

This wouldn't bother me but I come from a touchy feely culture where touching a baby is friendly and not assault.🤨

@TheChaffinch "the lady up the road came over and put a coin in the babies hand."

That happened to me too! When my son was a baby in the late 70's the elderly lady next door put a coin in his hand. I think it was a ten pence piece. We'd just moved into our first home, a little one bed cottage. She was a lovely lady called Miss Winchester. I still think of her. I guess it must've been an old tradition.

Tell her to fuck off then.

I've often sat near really cute toddlers on the bus and I have smiled, waved and said hello if they've been looking at me. I have never touched them because would be completely inappropriate. I wouldn't go running after them either.

Just politely ask her not to try and remove his cap if she does it again. I bet she will listen. You do sound like the highlight of her day.. but yeah, can get annoying quick if can't walk past without her running out to stop you.

Your petty and mean spirited ! She is probably lonely, you could learn some kindness from her and in turn would help you son grow up into a kind human !

Get help for this anxiety, your poor child.

Extremely

Me too, I'm 62 also and feel quite offended to be classed as an 'old lady'.

For the lady involved this may have cheered her whole month...these social connections matter so much when older people may have been bereaved, family travelled away etc...

Thanks for sharing

Yes according to ops parameters I'm 'an old lady' too🙄 frequently entertain toddlers who are getting fractious in supermarket trollies in queues as despite being old i remember what it was like being a mum to little children and i love them, in fact one mum left hers with me whilst she ran off to get something she forgot so I must look trustworthy not 'lonely and with early dementia' and a risk to her child.

@TheChaffinch same thing happened to me with my first, 40+ years ago, an old gentleman (at least 80 not 60🤣) put two pound coins in my newborns hand in the pram. I had to ask someone what it was about (after wet wiping said baby's hand out of sight so as not to offend) it's supposed to bring them luck and riches throughout their life🥰

Exactly, let's not forget that most people in their 60s are working full time jobs still and are not in any way elderly.

@Tourmalines and @youngwhippersnapper, I said jokingly
to my 30 year old niece, while comparing screenshots shots of our vitals from our bathroom scales, all better than hers by the way, “your old aunty” and she said “your not old” and meant it, so there is hope.

I think it’s fine to remind her “oh sorry as we’ve said before, he doesn’t like being touched, would you mind not doing that?”. But other than that YABU. A bit of social interaction is very good for children, much better than being on sodding you tube non stop, and she’s not doing any harm. It doesn’t sound as though your DS is upset by this, he will be out of the young and cute stage before you know it and it probably brightens up her day.

Oh, stop it 🙄
She touched his hat, she didn’t “touch” him inappropriately.
Walk in the other direction if you can’t handle ordinary human interaction.

I can see why the UK is becoming less friendly.... jesus.

Oh no, an old(er) woman is trying to be nice to your toddler, how will you both cope? Smiling and waving through the window sounds especially traumatic.

And this why thousands live in lonely isolation. Why society is crumbling. Why people walk past a sick or injured person in the street.

I actually feel sorry for you if this is your view. You too are going to end up alone and lonely.