Instinctively grabbed him and berated.

[yesterdayschild]

I live on in a house on a B road. More quiet at the moment but still traffic passing at speed.
My double gates are always open.
Working in the garden today when I heard a woman shouting "come back here". I looked out of the gates to see a child about 4 running ahead of his mum by quite a way. When he got in front of my gates he made to run across the road just as a van was coming along. I instinctively grabbed him to stop him running into the road.

The woman went ape shit with me!
I assured her I have not been out of the house for 4 weeks as my husband is in high risk group and had had no contact with another sole all of this time.

I understand how she must feel but what else could I do?

She was scared. It is normal to shout and scold when scared and you were just there to be shouted at. She probably regrets that now and recognises what you did. I'm sure she is grateful that you stopped her child going in the road.

You did the right thing, if his mum had been thinking clearly then she would have recognised that the risk of him getting run over outweighed the risk of you infecting him with Coronavirus.

I’m sure anyone else would have reacted like you did.

You did absolutely the right thing. Her emotions will have been running high, but the bottom line is that you made a split-second decision that might very well have saved his life. Imagine her reaction if you'd just stood there and let him run out and be hit by the van!

Wow! I would have gone mental at her back and shamed her for being rude to you when you stopped her child running into the road - whilst also risking the vulnerable person you live with by being close to her son.

Wow, if my child was about to run in the road and someone grabbed him, this bloody virus not social distancing wouldn’t even enter my head!!!!! You did the right thing, and frankly, I really hope she remembers where you live and does something by way of thanks or an apology, I know I would!!

Thanks everyone. I am one of those people who feel guilty for a long time.

She took her frustrations out on you and that was wrong, she will have been scared when she saw the van but it's no excuse.
You did the right thing, I would love to think of my child did a runner from me that someone would grab them if I couldn't get to them in time.
She owes you an apology. X

You did the right thing. Please don't feel 'guilty' - feel cross if anything. SHE put you at risk! SHE was rude. SHE was the one not looking after her child properly.

It's a small risk, but it would have been sensible to go inside, out your clothes in the washing machine & have a shower. Try not to stress though if you didn't.

You did a GOOD thing🌷

You did the right thing.
Either that woman ws scared and she dindt think straiht
OR
She genuiney thinks her cild is now at risk and is a bit bonkers. Said child was much more at risk from the car coming!!

You saved her child’s life, she reacted out of fear. You did nothing wrong OP

Yes I did have a shower and change my clothes. Thank you. AmelieTaylor

There was nothing else you could've done, if you'd done nothing the outcome could've been far, far worse for everyone. You did exactly what most of us would have done, well done .

You did the right thing!

What was the alternative let him get hit by a van, the mother wouldn’t of liked that either

You grabbing him was the best choice even in current circumstances. I mean let’s say you did have Covid19 the child was still very unlikely to pick it up from you grabbing him for 2 minutes. Especially if mum changed his clothes, washed his hand once home

You so did the right thing. When my dd was little she ran off and headed towards traffic lights. There was a lady who saw her and saw me chasing after her, but she did nothing. Luckily, my dd (was about 3) stopped in time, but whenever I see the lady around, I always think to myself that you’re not very nice!
That Mum reacted in a panic, but I bet while she’s sat at home tonight she’s glad that she has her child with her and not a child in hospital.

You did the right thing op and I'm very glad you were there at the right time

Far better a grabbed child than one run over by a van.

Between raising toddler tantrum champion, and Usain Bolt, on the couple of occasions someone intervened, I was very grateful for their support. I hope it was just a fear reaction at a scary near miss, rather than just being an obnoxious don't-talk-to-my-child type.

You did the right thing! Would she rather you just let him run in front of the van? She was in the wrong.