Woman just had a go at me for my child

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

I've got a 1 year old DD. She's short so when holding her hand she really reaches up. She's steady on her feet and has been walking for months. Also with the weather being hot her little hands get a bit clammy so if she bolted her hands can easily slip from my grip.

Was browsing in boots this morning and noticed a woman making comments under her breath.

Got round to a different aisle and she muttered something under her breath again. It was only us and her In the aisle so I said 'are you talking to me? I can't quite hear you'

She snapped 'why have you put your poor child on a dog lead, is your child a dog?!'

I didn't know what to say, no one's ever said a bad thing about reins to me and I've never thought they were an issue! Didn't say anything then but was pissed off.

Then we met again on the toothpaste aisle. Final interaction. She was browsing the section of toothpaste / mouthwash and I just mentioned to her she ought to probably pick something up as her breath was humming & my 'dog' didn't want to be around an offensive stench.

I've never heard of Reins being a bad thing??? Why would they be classed as a bad thing? Do people tend to have different views on reins and if so, why?

I probably shouldn't have said anything to wind her up looking back but what's wrong with reins!?

[pigeonofpeace]

'why have you put your poor child on a dog lead, is your child a dog?!'

'No, but my dog has a spare muzzle if you're interested. Seems like you've lost yours'

[johnd2]

@didsomebodaysayyyjusteat

I have issues?

With not being okay with strangers unprovoked basically calling my child a dog??

Mate if you're okay with that I would probably think you have self esteem issues letting strange women speak to you like a piece of crap. It's okay to stick up for yourself, you know.

Yes her issue is she has issues with people parenting their own children how they see fit.
And your issue is that you were triggered by something that is purely her issue.
The world is full of people with issues and if you take on all their issues you'll spend a lot of time being stressed out
Just enjoy living your best life and let people enjoy being themselves.
I don't see why letting people show themselves up is somehow reflecting badly on you.

[SoupDragon]

I really don't understand why people can't grasp how reins are a great safety item. They allow your child some freedom whilst keeping them safe by preventing them from running off/allowing them to be caught when falling.

[pigeonofpeace]

I should say, I'm all talk and would never had said that.

But I would have said something to point out her stupidity around child safety.

[SoupDragon]

I do think your comment in the toothpaste aisle was uncalled for though. It bore no relevance to her rudeness.

[LuckySantangelo35]

You can sooooo spot the posters who think a woman’s place is to be passive and lady like and not retaliate no matter how provocative someone is towards you, it’s really sad

[gogohmm]

Some people are just stupid. Reins are the sign of a responsible parent. If like me you have early walkers, they don't have any common sense and are too short to really hold hands

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@that1970shouse

Wow, that's the opposite of what I would say. When severely provoked, I once said "If your child isn't trained to walk to heel, then you should keep it on a leash."

If only all parents were as responsible as you.

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@LuckySantangelo35

You can sooooo spot the posters who think a woman’s place is to be passive and lady like and not retaliate no matter how provocative someone is towards you, it’s really sad

Exactly! And that's absolutely NOT the image I want to paint for my daughter.

It's as if I've hung this woman out to dry.

I just made a comment about her breath!

[johnd2]

@BlueReindeer

Oh absolutely you’re allowed to react! @johnd2 is probably in the camp that women have to smile and accept any abuse from anyone older or male and have to accept social niceties whilst in discomfort themselves.

Agree you're allowed to react but honestly why ruin your trip out by stressing about it and show yourself up by doing that.
Maybe if someone pushed in front of you and made you late because you're a woman, or refused to serve you because you're a woman, that would be worth fighting back, but random judgey comments you'd have to specifically make that your problem.

[johnd2]

@didsomebodaysayyyjusteat

Exactly! And that's absolutely NOT the image I want to paint for my daughter.

It's as if I've hung this woman out to dry.

I just made a comment about her breath!

Teaching your daughter to always escalate things might not be a great idea, unless her middle name is Trump or Putin!

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@DancingBeanstalk

You didn’t stick up for yourself.

Sticking up for yourself would have been related and along the lines of “yes, we use reins to keep her safe”.

Instead you were nasty and gave an unrelated rude comment.

Don’t confuse asserting yourself with just being vile to strangers.

I was nasty and rude for pointing out her breath was hanging


Okkkkkaaayyyy

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

She didn't "have a go" at you though , she was muttering under her breath and you provoked her into saying it louder .

[Raindancer411]

I have used reins on both of mine and no one has said a thing. I would ignore her.

Mine never held my hand really, so the reins were great to save them face planting the floor or scraping knees!

[ShahRukhKhan]

I loved my reins as a child! They were fun and made me feel safe, plus I could pretend I was a dog or a horse.

[Backtobacknow]

@pigeonofpeace

'why have you put your poor child on a dog lead, is your child a dog?!'

'No, but my dog has a spare muzzle if you're interested. Seems like you've lost yours'

@pigeonofpeace top response!

👏

[70isaLimitNotaTarget]

I was nasty and rude for pointing out her breath was hanging

Okkkkkaaayyyy

Yes , you were , very rude and nasrt .

Maybe she didn't want to speak loud (hence the muttering) Maybe she had some issues where she talked to herself ( though we all do it)

I mutter FFS under my breath (very nice breath it is too) if I see something that doth offend mine eyes . If I was challenged , I;d deny all knowledge though .

[Backtobacknow]

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

She didn't "have a go" at you though , she was muttering under her breath and you provoked her into saying it louder .

Provoked her?

Challenged and corrected actually!

[10HailMarys]

OP, if people are really fucking rude to you, it is perfectly OK to be really fucking rude back to them. People are insane to suggest that somehow you are the villain here.

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@70isaLimitNotaTarget

She didn't "have a go" at you though , she was muttering under her breath and you provoked her into saying it louder .

No... I didn't.

I asked if she was talking to me.

[Rafferty10]

There is nothing wrong with reins, far better than your child running into the road as so often happens....ignore the ignorant woman.

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@10HailMarys

OP, if people are really fucking rude to you, it is perfectly OK to be really fucking rude back to them. People are insane to suggest that somehow you are the villain here.

Exactly that! I haven't exactly hung the poor woman out to dry. Just advised her to get some toothpaste on her hanging breath..

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

The only whiff going about was the woman's breath.

It did, aye!

[didsomebodaysayyyjusteat]

@10HailMarys

OP, if people are really fucking rude to you, it is perfectly OK to be really fucking rude back to them. People are insane to suggest that somehow you are the villain here.

Thank you!

No wonder why so many women are silenced and never stick up for themselves.