To think this woman was being a bit ott?

[headfairy]

in the park today, in an enclosed children's play area I heard a woman talking to her dd who was roughly 6 years old. She told her where she was going to be sitting (the dd was halfway up a climbing frame at the time) which is fair enough, she then told her "if an angry man comes and tries to drag you away remember to scream really loudly".

Is that an odd thing to say to your child, esp as the dd was really not listening being halfway up the climbing frame?

I was friends with a mother from nursery once, she firmly believed her DD would be snatched because she was so beautiful - her poor daughter had to be constantly on the look out for bad people.

Her Grandmother wasn't allowed to walk her to nearby shops because she wouldn't be strong enough to beat off any potential abductors.

Her DD would be
6 now - OP you're not in the NW are you?

It wasn't Cherry Tree Woods in N. London was it? A man apparently tried to snatch an 8yo girl there recently.

She was probably messing around and you've taking it out of context. It may have been a private joke. It may have been from a story or TV programme involving an 'angry man'. It's probably no way as sinister as you're making out.

I'm sure if people were listening to some of the stuff me and DD say to each other when out and about people would be because they think we're being literal when we're actually playing a game or messing about.

I remember being about 7 or 8 (in the early 90s), and a friend's mum constantly telling us we couldn't go anywhere/do anything on our own, in case a 'nasty mister' came to snatch us away. People don't change.

I can't bear to tell my kids that a "bad man or woman" could try to take them....I try to let them know in other ways though. I impress that they're not EVER allowed to go with ANYONE but me, Daddy or Nanny....and that anyone who says they are is lying....even if the person shouted at them they are not ever to do as they are told but are to scream as loud as they can.

I figure they'll suss I'm not talking about GOOD people. And also that if ever anyone had a legitimate reason to try to take them such a a police officer in an emergency...well they'd undertand whenthey put up a fight.

MissP and thatsenough... no neither. We're in Surrey.

don't think she was joking, her face wasn't very jokey if she was!

inneed, you just reminded me of a big tatooed guy and his little boy I saw. Little boy walks along the wall without falling off and dad said " wow, you are so strong, just like Rambo" little boy looked at him and said "Daddy, what's Rambo?" Dad's face just fell and we exchanged looks as if to say yes, we are actually old now.

We're in Surrey.

Are you near Richmond, by any chance? Because at the end of last term there were some very disturbing reports of attempted abductions of children under ten. The police were issuing warnings to parents at primary schools and preschools.

'I was just minding my own business in the park when suddenly this 3 month old baby SPRANG at my THROAT'

Why would a child-snatcher be angry? I'd imagine him to be quite pleased at finding a little girl to steal.

I always worried about what he did with the puppies. The 8 year old me decided that if he only had them for bad reasons he probably hurt them as well.

"an angry man"?

Why would he be angry? Were they not supposed to be on the climbing frame? Was it really a soft fruit cage and is he Mr McGregor?

Maybe the girl has been banned from the park for anti-social behaviour?

queenmaeve they would steal my car and leave my demon children sitting on the forecourt.
And probably dump my car round the corner Scabby old Nissan.

Sorry Dcs, love you

Haberdashery further out than that.. Reigate.

I was just wondering, in case the woman had some kind of reason for her words. Having said that, I think she was a bit OTT and while all of us in Richmond have had to have that particular talk with our small children there are def more sensible ways of putting it!

Could be something to do with this story:
www.redhillandreigatelife.co.uk/news/9196014.Police_warning_after_children_approached_by_stranger_in_Reigate_shop/

I heard about it before the holidays... so maybe the mum is a bit worried!

www.redhillandreigatelife.co.uk/news/9196014.Police_warning_after_children_approached_by_stranger_in_Reigate_shop/

I imagine that we all have different ways of defining what a would-be child snatcher would be like, so someone might call it "an angry man". I would say "somebody crazy".

Oh dear, I issue warnings like that to DC (those going freerange, esp), like
"...And if someone tries to steal you you run away or try to kill them!" Though I don't feel the need to say things like that when I'm staying in the same playground area...

You have to talk very simplistic message for DC to have half a chance of remembering what to do in such a scarey moment. I want the message to be confident, upbeat, "you can do this".

DC have never been victims of attempted snatching or molesting...but I was. And no I don't even feel slightly traumatised for it. I want DC to feel confident that they can deal with it, should it occur (hopefully never).

i always say to dd ''mind you not to get abducted'' but in a jokey way as im a helicopter mum usually close by, if there have been abduction attempts in the area maybe the mum was just being a bit ott with good intentions.