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Am I a bad mother for losing site of my son?

32 replies

MooFoo89 · 17/08/2026 17:33

Today I decided to part ways with a long time friend. I found out she'd been talking about me behind my back and she also said to my face that I have my son too soft and that my next son (I'm currently pregnant) won't be soft because she'll "steal him". - this made me uncomfortable.

Behind my back she said stuff like "she doesn't have him in a routine"
I do but this is because we went on holiday together. My son wasn't a fan of the heat and was also on antibiotics so obviously wasn't in his normal routine. She also said that my family didn't get up early and come down for breakfast with her family, but she'd said we can do our own thing we didn't have to be around them all the time. She then said that I went to the water slides with her daughter and left my partner with our son. I did this for maybe an hour one day and asked my partner if it was okay, which it was. He later went on the slides whilst I watched my son.

Today I confronted her and she brought up the last day of our holiday.

Basically the bus wasn't there to take us to the airport so we waited in a room next to the lobby with her family. Another couple of families were next to us. When the bus arrived the other families all stood up and rushed to get their suitcases from the lobby. In the chaos my son was no where to be seen. We found him a minute or so later collecting his suitcase and following the crowd outside the bus. At this point he was 2 and a half btw.

She has made me feel like the world's worst Mam and I'm not sure why she brought it up but I feel like my who friendship with her she's been judging everything I do..

Anyway am I bad Mam for losing site of my son?

OP posts:
DestituteDesperate · 17/08/2026 19:17

The haranguing OP over her spelling is rather odd considering she didn’t know where her 2.5 year old was…

WhatFlavourIsIt · 17/08/2026 19:21

@DasteredlydandelionDo you have kids?
I think the majority.of patents could tell you a time they've had that 'oh shit' moment when they've lost sight of one of the kids for a brief moment. Your former friend sounds like a petty point scorer. I wouldn't give her another thought.

Commendatore · 17/08/2026 19:24

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Give it a rest!

Also OP- I think toddlers momentarily escaping has happened to lots of parents; don't beat yourself up about it.

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IdaGlossop · 17/08/2026 19:31

Find me a parent who has not lost sight of their toddler. Or had a toddler lie rigid on the floor screaming in a public place. Or a toddler share information that should be private to a roomful of strangers. You are better off without this judgemental friend, OP.

Allseeingallknowing · 17/08/2026 19:33

Lexy2345 · 17/08/2026 18:38

My little boy vanished from view when I was in M&S, one minute he was standing beside me, the next minute gone. Fortunately, less than 5 minutes later, a security guard spotted him lying in the window display, looking up the mannequin's dresses to see if they had knickers on. (They didn't)

I know it was worrying, but that’s hilarious!

StrawberryMatchaLatte · 17/08/2026 20:02

MooFoo89 · 17/08/2026 18:02

It's fine. I wrote it in a bit of state and didn't proofread it, didn't think I'd have to on a forum 🤷🏻‍♀️ Also pregnant and exhausted.

Fair enough. But there were 3 other adults there and two older children. I was busy putting his things back in his bag to get to the coach. I bet you're totally perfect though and kept eyes on your children 100%.

You're not a bad mum unless this kind of things happens often. But your child was your responsibility, not other adults and older children, unless the kid's dad was also there. It was your fault in this instance. At that age you need eyes on them all the time, if you're busy doing something else, strap them in a buggy or put them on reins.

MeetMeOnTheCorner · 18/08/2026 17:34

@MooFoo89 I guess it’s a case of being wise next time. Nothing happened but he was not under your control when the coach arrived. She could have gathered up her son and yours but didn’t. Most of us who have momentarily lost a child do keep a closer eye in future.

My DH was supposed to be playing with our 4 year old in a playground while I changed the baby. This was at a very busy animal park. He was sat on a bench when I got back to him but DD wasn’t in the playground. He didn’t push her on the swings or do anything and apparently was just letting her run around unsupervised and that was dangerous. At 2 years old he had told her to help herself to a burger off the bbq - it was hot and clearly dangerous. Yes. I’m married to a negligent XXXX. We did find DD - in the lost child room. Well I did. He said she’d come back! She had been found in the invertebrate house fascinated by a snake. He just did not bother at all. Not worried - no urgency. I was frantic.

OP - you are not my stupid DH. Not anywhere close.

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