Strangers telling off your kid/s?!

[fyimate]

I'm seriously losing my patience with the amount of people who have tutted or told off my DD when we're out and about.
I promise you my DD (who is 4) is not boisterous or loud or out of control, she is a very sweet, dances about whilst I'm in the shop and plays little games as I buy the groceries.
But today I was pretty angry at an old woman who walked past, my DD tapped a paper sign dangling down in Tescos and the old woman tutted very obviously at my DD and gave her "the look" of dissapointment. My DD froze at this and looked quite stunned. She didnt even know what she'd done!
Now tell me, WWYD in this situation, because it seems strangers take it upon themselves to tell MY DD off even when I'm just out of earshot, when she's simply skipping and playing! Or they think, if I'm in a queue and DD asks for something and I say no, that it's ok to turn to my DD and override me and say "Of course it's ok!"
I really think I will lose my temper if this happens again.

The fact that you didn't apologise to the man your daughter bumped into says it all.

I have 2 fairly spirited but generally well behaved boys...about 2 weeks ago they were in the park playing with scooters. DS1 (5)has one with sparks. A mad old bat went up to him (I was about 100m away) and had words with him. He ran up to me and said, "That lady said this is bloody dangerous and she is going to report me."

I did have a few issues with that. But the mad old bat had disappeared. I said to DS1 that if it ever happened again he should tell mad old bat dear old lady to talk to Mummy.

In Waitrose I too actively seek out people to keep boys in check. "Mr Waitrose won't like that...we won't be able to buy our shopping" etc. Usual reponse is that they are no trouble at all. [Smug emotion!]

Thanks cakechick.
People are just taking what I've said and making up their own stories now. She did not dance into the man...

You really should have apologised to the man your dd bumped into, or asked her to apologise. The fact that you didnt and dismiss this as irrelevant tells me you have your priorities wrong.

We cant all be wrong and your dd right.

Oh FFS, why are people so intolerant? Is it just fashionable or especially British to be so damn miserable?

About half the time when DC are being lively they get benign smiles from other people, especially older/retired age folk. Who are obviously thinking it's lovely how full of life they are.

About 5% of the time they get the "This is not a playground!" response (looks or muttering) from grumpy old gits.

I really really hope I can be in the positive-mindset bunch when I'm older. Tap-dancing child in the aisles amuses me to watch, and I hope it always will.