Holiday mum keeps sending her son over to us repeatedly

[ItsPriya]

Currently on holiday - 2 week AI with husband and teenage daughter. Had a really busy year and was really looking forward to downtime and just recharging with the 3 of us.
On the second day was relaxing by the pool when a little boy about 4yo dropped his goggles near my lounger. Threw them into the pool for him, he threw them back and we had a little game of catch with them. Really sweet kid, thought no more of it.
Went to the buffet that night and the boy appeared at my feet as I was getting my food, started pulling at my arm, hanging off me whining "play with me" and asking me to go outside with him to play?!
My daughter came up to me and said she'd been passing his parents table and heard the mum say "he's whinging because hes tired, I told him to go play with that woman from earlier." Laughing and drinking while I'm trying to get my food and stop her kid from getting lost or hurt.
Went to sit down, said "I'm eating now, so go back to Mummy." Watched him go back over, his mum looked really annoyed, said something to him and he came back!
He said "my mum said I can sit with you until you're done then we can play."
Tried to eat but he was non stop, picking things up, touching things, whinging - not my child, why am I dealing with this?!
In the end DH walked him back over and firmly said we were trying to eat. Mum had the nerve to ask if our daughter had ever been a toddler.
Anyway, he harassed me at the entertainment that night to the point we left as I couldn't see his Mum so dropped him with the entertainment team. Makes DH very uncomfortable as he's very full on, climbing on our knees, wrapping his legs around us.
Breakfast this morning - he's actually waiting at the double doors and it was a repeat of the previous night. I actually suspect Mum is hiding from us.

What do I do?!

This is how we end up with news articles grieving mum tells how her baby drowned on holiday here's her gofundme link.

Poor bloody kid. His little face as you described would have got me the same way, op. I bet part of you wanted to just scoop him up.

So tomorrow. You’re by the pool and googles appear. You say no I’m not playing today. Kid is disappointed but ignore him long enough and he’ll leave you. If he won’t leave you and no parents then take him to reception and say you’ve often seen this child on their own by the pool. Just stop being a doormat and get these people in trouble before harm comes to their child.

This is a very good point, if he cracks his head open playing with you then they will 100% hold you responsible.

But frankly, you are now causing this. Stop playing with him, stop making your husband go and have a confrontation with them because he's "breaking your heart". Or stop complaining about it

She is absolutely disgusting, one of them people who palms her kid off with anyone,while she's drinking probably.

Please stop. You aren’t helping the boy you are helping his crap parents if anything. They have told him to come over to you, he does, you interact, job done they know he’s being watched over. You help him by putting a stop to your behaviour. You are the only person in this scenario who is going to change things.

I can really imagine this and I think I would have done the same. You obviously really feel for him and his total lack of parental attention. Poor chap. Having said this, I’d be the same as you and wanting to avoid any more interactions with him. Telling the lifeguard didn’t work and likely you were in swim wear and keeping an eye on your own children so what else could you do?! Sounds like they are leaving and hopefully tomorrow you can stick with your husband so there is always one of you who can walk him back to his family / hotel reception.

He's a small child, he's not being manipulative to "get what he wants." He's sad and lonely, if you could have ignored him alone in the pool and closed your eyes then good for you.
As for being a weird game, like I said he's a small child and not my child. He seems to like playing catch and hasn't been provided with a pool toy like a ball.

Feel free to stop reading and commenting.

You really are in a horrible spot. I am not the best lover of other peoples kids - not the best lover of my own at times ha but I couldnt ignore a poor lonely lad like that either.

A teenage niece works in Build-A-Bear on weekends and in the school holidays. Every time she's working there's a child left in the shop while the parent who has brought them looks round Primark or Boots.

Seriously, I feel absolutely awful for this child because his family clearly never play with him and don’t even seem to want him around. Having said this, it’s really not your problem and you haven’t gone on holiday to play with another child. Stop throwing the goggles back 😂

Well aren't you pleasant.

Hide him. For a long time. Doesnt sound like this mum wd notice tho ....

Obviously done it before, I can't imagine any parent thinking its acceptable to palm their child off with strangers. Is there any security in the place let them know the parent is leaving him to wander unattended!

Got to get a bargain 🙄

Poor kid. But @ItsPriya you are not doing yourself any favours as you are constantly worrying.
Report them when the kid is alone

Poor kid, some people dont deserve children. Must be annoying and heart breaking at the same time. You sound very kind OP

Sometimes you wonder whether it's worth being kind to other people. I can't imagine how uncomfortable you must feel, and that's unacceptable! It's so sad that he wants to latch on to another family, as he probably doesn't get any attention. All you can do is speak to them and explain it's your holiday, and unfortunately, entertaining toddlers is not what you signed up for!

I would have melted too seeing his face. He sounds a cutie. And the catch game is surely as old as time? I have a 10 and 14 year old and we all play catch 🤷🏻‍♀️

@ItsPriya- that hotel entertainment person they were pally with, if you see them again, pop over and have a word. Say that they have left their son unattended in the pool and you tried to explain to the lifeguard but you’re not sure if he understood and you felt a little uncomfortable no one was watching such a young child in the water.

if he comes over again, send him back to his parents.

You are a mother and other people can take that how they want, mothers will mother other people's children regardless your heart is pure and you can't see and not do and I get it! I hope you manage to get some rest and have a peaceful holiday eventually 💗

We are going to a water park tomorrow so will be out most of the day. Then on Wednesdays I'm so hoping to see them wheeling their suitcases to reception. Although I will still feel sad for the little boy. He's so clearly unwanted by his family and it makes me feel terrible because he's unwanted by me too.
DH pointed them out to the bar man after their confrontation and he (the bar man) asked for their room number so he could report them....well we don't have their room number, but they're sat right there? To be honest he was a young lad and probably intimidated also.
One of the men in the group asked my DH why he was so interested in a little boy. So that's their mentality.

Not your issue but poor kid.

Report to hotel staff as that is neglect in the mothers part.

You sound like a lovely person. FWIW, I'd feel guilty if I didn't do the same. Unfortunately, there are kids in this sorry situation the world over. Well done for giving him a bit of much-needed attention, but you deserve a break. You've done the hard slog of parenting little ones, and giving up your limited free time won't change this bunch of freeloading CFs. I can't believe the cheek.