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I made myself look awful

109 replies

Octon · 06/02/2023 21:05

I’m new to MN so I hope I’m putting this in the right section. I just wanted to ask what people think I should have done in a situation I found myself in the other day. I was at the airport waiting for a flight and my DD aged 2 was running around a bit, with me following right behind. I have a leg injury at the moment and sometimes find it difficult to keep up with her, but I was only a couple of feet away at all times. I was keeping as close behind her as possible and calling out ‘careful, careful’ when she looked like she was going to trip over or run into other people. I wanted to make sure she didn’t run into the path of other passengers walking by as it’s dangerous for her and probably annoying for them. I had called at her to be careful a couple of times when she was running towards walking people. At one point she was running at a right angle to a man walking along quite quickly. I followed her, saying ‘careful, careful’ as I went (she was ignoring me and running quite fast towards this person). She didn’t collide with the person, but he looked at me and called me a bigot and carried on walking. He was a gentleman of colour and I suddenly realised that he thought I was telling my child to be careful for racist reasons. This was absolutely not the case and I feel absolutely mortified that it looked this way. What should I have done to try and rectify the situation? Is there anything? As it was, I panicked and did nothing. I nearly went after him to try and explain but I bottled it as I’m scared of confrontation. I’ve definitely learnt to be more aware in future.

OP posts:
ReformedWaywardTeen · 07/02/2023 08:06

I agree with reins in this case but come on, you're not responsible for the clear chip this twit has on his shoulder. If he couldn't interpret what you meant that is his issue not yours. Don't worry yourself

diddl · 07/02/2023 08:19

Maybe he misheard Op & did called her a bigot because he thought that she was being one?

To think how easily it could all have been avoided!

Fingeronthebutton · 07/02/2023 08:21

I don’t believe a word of this. Too much information, it’s always a sign.

Stravaig · 07/02/2023 08:23

It's a fine line between momentarily ineffectual parenting, which is irritating but might elicit sympathy too; and performance parenting, where you're trying to show how wonderful you are without actually doing anything sensible or effective. No reins, no holding hands, and in an airport too - you probably came across as the latter, in which case misunderstandings are to be expected. Maybe you misheard, maybe he misunderstood. Other people are allowed to have bad days too.

America12 · 07/02/2023 11:04

BMrs · 07/02/2023 06:30

You did absolutely nothing wrong OP

Letting a two year old run around in an airport?

PollyAmour · 07/02/2023 11:24

I'm with the others, he called you an idiot, not a bigot. You saw his skin tone and assumed he thought you were racist, perhaps because subconsciously you are.

FFS keep you child under control in crowded places, a buggy, reins, wrist strap, or simply holding her by the hand. Let her run free and wild in the park or on the beach, not at a crowded airport. You're lucky she didn't cause someone to trip over her and fall, injuring themselves.

NotAnotherBathBomb · 07/02/2023 23:43

A gentleman of colour 😂

BMrs · 09/02/2023 06:57

Apart from letting her child run round the airport without being properly supervised?
It's not helping OP to tell he what she did is fine.

@redskydelight

I'd hardly suggest walking a few steps behind not 'properly supervised'.

BMrs · 09/02/2023 06:59

Letting a two year old run around in an airport?

@America12 the OP asked if she did something to offend someone else. In answer to her question, she did nothing wrong.

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