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?!

Your DD sounds lovely )) all your family sounds like a decent, kind and open heardlred lot. Great to know there are people like you around ))

Your daughter sounds very kind, and so do you. x

For anyone reading this in future… The holiday rep would actually have details of the family and could report to SWS in their home local authority if needed under their child protection policy (which they should have but might need to be reminded of!). If u r seeing immediate harm though its police in the holiday country. SWS can’t do anything abroad.

Report it to the police and they can easily contact the hotel. Child neglect can easily end in a death.

OP you and your family sound absolutely lovely 💗
Edited to say I hope you enjoy the rest of yojr holiday! 😎

Crying for a little boy I've never met. Well done to your daughter, OP. How lovely. Enjoy the rest of your hol. 😭

I agree. A quiet word with the holiday rep about this, even if starting from the premise that you don't want this repeated for another family, or the company end up with an event leading to a court case (people will sue for money instead of taking responsibility).

I can think of three children left alone when on holiday, one of whom has never been seen again.

Agree that the DDs response was admirable.

Try to direct the child to a family who have children of a similar age. People who might welcome someone to play with their kiddos.

Ah bless your lovely DD - that was a sweet thing. I expect he will really have valued someone singling him out for a gift and showing him a kindness.

He's probably going to play on your mind for a while OP but you did everything right.

I still think about a girl we met on holiday many years ago. My DC were about 6 an 8 and she was also about 8. She clung to us like limpets and was very physical - always wanting to sit on laps/hug/wrap legs around us in the pool/kiss us hello and goodbye etc. Her parents were nowhere to be seen most of the time, but when they were spotted they were usually drinking or arguing. I was far more naive than I am now but looking back, I feel almost certain that her homelife probably needed looking into and I think of her still and wonder how she is, even though this was over fifteen years ago. BUT even if I had had my suspicions at the time - what could I have done? Nothing. You have to hope and pray that the responsible adults around these children are doing the observations that they should: teachers/GP/family members/family friends etc...

Stop engaging with him. Return him to parents and tell them they need to play with their child or use the childminding service/club if there is one. She is a very poor parent and needs push back from you. Don't allow her to ruin your family holiday.

@CarbootJunction @RelaxAndDetox

RTFT

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD, RTFT

Poor kid. You were nice to play with him OP. Now enjoy your holiday

How lovely of you/your DD. He may remember that kindness all his life.

Yes, this. I would reframe this as borderline neglect.

I replied at the start of your thread! Glad they've fucked off now..

I agree it's definitely neglect, and agree with the McCann comparisons, but as you say, there'll be plenty of people at home who can report the parents, if they are always like this.

This has been made into WAY too much of a problem for you than it ever needed to. Reporting would require statements and everything from you. It's a lot of your time and energy when all you wanted to do was have a nice holiday. All because of lazy parents.

And how are the hotel going to identify which family OP is talking about, given that she doesn’t know their names or the first thing about them ?

Have you read all ops messages?

💐@ItsPriya and to your very kind daughter.
The apple doesn’t fall from the tree.

Pretty sure the hotel could identify them. Can't be that many loud mouthed louts who checked out at the same time/day. I'm sure OP was not the only one to have had a run in with them.

You’re a lovely family and the boy will remember you, you’ll have impacted his life in some way despite his arsehole parents. Have a lovely holiday

People are still adamant the hotel give a shit. They really don’t.

This is a level of stupid that really annoys me. You trust your government to declare who can and can't reproduce? Why on earth would you call for anyone to have that power over us? What do you suggest? If they fail to obtain the license then their child in the womb is aborted or would you prefer them to be ripped from their screaming parents at birth?

Alright calm down a little.
Of course in real life there's no way to police or license people on this, but surely you get the poster's sentiment?

You and a few others are just cantankerous for no reason. You could try just being nice!

OP, I'm so glad that they've left now. Hopefully the kiddy will be starting school next month, and the teachers will be able to spot any issues. It was a crap position you/your family were put in, and by some lazy neglectful parents. They were bloody lucky that the little one didn't get hurt or worse (I don't know what the hell goes through someone's head to leave a child so young unattended like they did). It was good (for him!) that he met you guys, and I'm sure he won't forget what lovely kind people you were to him. Now, go enjoy the rest of your lovely holiday :D