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AIBU?

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Original poster

Old lady keeps approaching my toddler, making me feel uncomfortable

665 replies

housinghun · 14/07/2026 11:04

I have a 2 year old and and when we go out sometimes we will see an older lady (about 60s early 70s) and she will always approach my son.

It started off as "Can I say hello?".
I agreed.

Next time she attempted to remove his cap "to see his face".
This made me feel extremely uncomfortable, touching my son.

OH took our son out last week and he told me that an old lady had smiled through the window at them as they walked past.
She had come running out the house and shouted "hello" but by that time they were gone down the road.
It was her.
I had never really mentioned this to him and this was the first time he has seen her.

I know it's innocent but it makes me feel really uncomfortable now going past as I don't want a stranger touching my son.

I did tell her "please don't touch him" as I don't want him getting used to strangers touching him.

I am over protective of my son but just wanted others views.
AIBU to feel this way?

AIBU

OP posts:
Lizzbear · 15/07/2026 16:38

youngwhippersnapper · 14/07/2026 11:28

I can’t get past apparently being in OP’s Old Lady parameter ( I’m 62 and this has made me laugh).

Same. I’m 60 and definitely don’t see myself as a little old lady. Mid eighties maybe, but very ageist language here.

IdaGlossop · 15/07/2026 16:38

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smallglassbottle · 15/07/2026 16:35

Flamingojune · 15/07/2026 16:21

50 years ago old women were harmless but now theyre a danger?

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Too much social media consumption has addled women's minds 😂 we're as bad as men now 🙈

smallglassbottle · 15/07/2026 16:33

suburberphobe · 15/07/2026 16:10

It’s a natural human instinct for people to want to touch babies or small children.

No, it's not and I never see it out and about.

I mean, it literally is. We're related to great apes and it's a natural instinct and facilitates group bonding and oxytocin production.

BlakeCarrington · 15/07/2026 16:32

lol @Flamingojune

Flamingojune · 15/07/2026 16:27

housinghun · 15/07/2026 16:25

@suburberphobe I have never experienced it until I come across this woman.

Sure it's nice when people say hello to him and wave as he loves waving. But never had anyone touch him like that.

If this was an older gent I am sure the comments would be calling him all sorts but because it's "a harmless older lady" it's fine.

Well if he was offering a werthers original, he'd be fine

Original poster
housinghun · 15/07/2026 16:25

@suburberphobe I have never experienced it until I come across this woman.

Sure it's nice when people say hello to him and wave as he loves waving. But never had anyone touch him like that.

If this was an older gent I am sure the comments would be calling him all sorts but because it's "a harmless older lady" it's fine.

OP posts:
Flamingojune · 15/07/2026 16:25

Reminds me of the old man in home alone who turned out to be lovely

letmebetheone · 15/07/2026 16:24

Thread title says 'Old Lady' now she is about 60

'PCSO can get her some help' more likely they will just laugh. Its very sad though that it seems to be a ganging up of mums against a lady who probably only means well.

Stands by for next drip feed saying the lady is brandishing a weapon when she comes out if the house and several young babies have disappeared lately in the area!😮

Flamingojune · 15/07/2026 16:21

housinghun · 14/07/2026 17:54

The lady behaves quite strange, like running out the house to see my son when he was walking with OH.

She does the same to other neighbours kids too and they don't like it.

Maybe about 50 years ago it was harmless but times have changed now.

We go out every day and see loads of people who always wave back at my son when he says hello/ waves, nobody stops to touch him.

50 years ago old women were harmless but now theyre a danger?

BlakeCarrington · 15/07/2026 16:17

Burn the witch! 🧙

Anyahyacinth · 15/07/2026 16:12

smallglassbottle · 15/07/2026 15:58

Ah, she sounds like one of those predators we keep hearing about. Hopefully a long prison sentence will sort her out. The people going into and out of her house will be in on it as well. You just never know who's living in your community do you?

The house will then fall into ruinous disrepair and strange lights will be seen..a legend of a grey lady will frighten local children…the strange and ghostly sound of her rushing to get in the street to touch babies will be heard …but there’s no one there …..
👻

suburberphobe · 15/07/2026 16:10

It’s a natural human instinct for people to want to touch babies or small children.

No, it's not and I never see it out and about.

Anyahyacinth · 15/07/2026 16:04

Sunseaandtea · 15/07/2026 13:33

Another ageist post insinuating a relatively young 60 plus woman needs to be educated by those who know better. 😂

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Very ironically intended I don’t think in the same terms as the thread…I was just trying to prevent a Boo Radley situation

Original poster
housinghun · 15/07/2026 16:03

It's like it's not registering on here with certain folk.

Consent.

I have told this woman to not touch my child.
It dosent matter if you disgree, or she disagrees with that choice.

She has continued to try and hold his hand and hug him. That's not okay.

I am unsure what part of that posters do not seem to understand or grasp.

Maybe the PCSO can get her some help instead of bothering/touching random peoples kids.

OP posts:
smallglassbottle · 15/07/2026 15:58

Ah, she sounds like one of those predators we keep hearing about. Hopefully a long prison sentence will sort her out. The people going into and out of her house will be in on it as well. You just never know who's living in your community do you?

KilkennyCats · 15/07/2026 15:47

housinghun · 15/07/2026 15:33

God sake the women is in her 60s not 90.

Ask for help for her in the community?
She dosent live in her house alone as I have seen people go in/ cars parked.

She makes other parents feel very uncomfortable with her unwanted physical contact and one mother is even considering contacting the local PCSO as she dosent appear to take no for an answer or respect boundaries.

Ah, right, the whole village
agrees with you, to the point of them considering calling the cops…
Most people would have led with that, not chucked it in when the thread wasn’t going their way 🤔

BlakeCarrington · 15/07/2026 15:43

I think we should just skip to the end of all this drip feeding - by that time OP will have informed us that they had in fact reported the woman to police, she’s been convicted of being a wrong ‘un and banged up so we can all sleep safe in our beds. It would save a lot of time.

friedaklein · 15/07/2026 15:39

Ha! This is such a windup.
Drip drip drip feed until finally people are reporting her to the police.

Original poster
housinghun · 15/07/2026 15:33

God sake the women is in her 60s not 90.

Ask for help for her in the community?
She dosent live in her house alone as I have seen people go in/ cars parked.

She makes other parents feel very uncomfortable with her unwanted physical contact and one mother is even considering contacting the local PCSO as she dosent appear to take no for an answer or respect boundaries.

OP posts:
LostThestral · 15/07/2026 15:23

OP - why did you create a thread asking AIBU if you had already made up your mind & didn't want to hear other people's opinions?

BlakeCarrington · 15/07/2026 15:22

Anyahyacinth · 15/07/2026 11:07

OP clearly states she has been discussing this woman in her community with other parents and pursuing her "weirdness" agenda

Anonymous??

Show quote history

I agree with you again. OP’s been having lots of discussions with her husband, fellow parents etc about her concerns about this poor woman. I wonder if anyone has thought to do anything at all to help her or provide some community support, or have they just all been gossiping. The latter from the information that the OP has been drip feeding. Depressing stuff, death of community and all that.

BlakeCarrington · 15/07/2026 15:18

Anyahyacinth · 15/07/2026 10:49

Just to say vulnerability and safeguarding isn't just for the young in our society

Well said

housinghun · 15/07/2026 15:16

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Cinemaandtheatre · 15/07/2026 15:12

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