rant alert. no-one payed attention to distressed child.

[LaurenBlue]

Was at the beach today with a friend and our DCs. While leaving, his DD threw a monster temper tantrum (I'm talking kicking, arms all over the place, face bright red, screaming for the nation). While I strapped my little ones into my car, he was wrestling to get her into his. By this point, she was screaming at passers-by "Help me" Help me! He's not my daddy!" Extreme I know but this has become quite a thing for her - she even told her nursery teacher that her mum had stolen her from an orphanage once!

Right anyway, so the beach is busy but pretty quiet. Tons of people just strolling past. And there's him wrestling with this kid and her screaming he's not her dad and no-one took any notice!

I mean, obviously it was his child but no-one else could have been sure of that. And they all just ignored it and carried on walking. Like, what if it wasn't his daughter? What if he had just picked her up?

• I realise this is more of a rant than a AIBU! Woops :)

Wasn't he with you and your children as well?
Was he handling all her other stuff and putting it into the car?
Did he have a car seat for her?
I think you had intelligent and rational passers-by who read the situation for what it was.

That is a bit worrying - maybe he was saying "Oh do be quiet Jessica not the old I'm an orphan line again" in such a way that it was obvious what she was up to. But if it was just as you say - oh dear, oh dear.

I think it is obvious when the child is just doing it for attention from the way the adult reacts. If he was really stealing her would he do it in such a busy place? No Would he be trying desperately to shut her up? Yes. I think the general public are a lot ore switched on than you would think and can see a situation for what it is.

I used to do this as a child for attention

Nobody ever paid any attention to me either..

So what would you like people to have done, phoned the police to report an abduction? You say "obviously she was his child" followed by "but no-one else could have been sure of that". Maybe people don't get involved because you are damned if you do and damned if you don't!

People would think that someone wouldn't be stupid enough to abduct a child in broad daylight, in a very busy area and wrestle to get 'abducted' child in a car with many witnesses. There are probably many children who do this sort of thing and people at the beach probably realised that.

I remember play fighting in the garden once with my grandad when I was younger and started shouting out that he was abusing me.

I actually had no idea what it meant and I still don't know where I got it from.

I have 13yr old DS2 who is very small (wears age 10 clothes) so not an intimidating teenager type.

He went off on a bike ride with a friend the other day. I went out to run a few errands and as I pulled up in front of Post Office in next village saw DS' friend standing on the pavement looking very bemused. I was then horrified to realise DS was lying on the floor and had been violently sick. He was clearly still feeling very poorly. There were various people (mostly pensioners) millling around going to the post office, shop etc and all just totally ignored him, walking round him.

I was really upset - thanks goodness I coincidentally turned up when I did to get him sorted out and home.

OP

as above most people would have been able to see the situation for what it was, obviously.

if she was young enough to need strapping in a car seat and also screaming at full pelt,then maybe nobody understood the words coming out of her mouth anyway??

Slightly worrying that this young child knows what to say to cause doubt IYKWIM? How old is the child? Where are you at 6.34 this morning to be on a beach

TBH you were standing there doing nothing when you'd obviosly been there while he was as you'd put your dc's in the car so if YOU weren't doing anything why should people who've just turned up read anything into the situation?

mysteryfairy that's awful! Your poor DS, those people should be ashamed.