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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To have told a woman to take her shivering child home to bed in Primark

742 replies

BigRedBall · 05/11/2014 17:55

I went out today to get a few bits and bobs and ended up in a Primark. Got to the lifts and saw a woman waiting with a pushchair and on it was hanging a school bag. Looked to her side and she had a school aged child with her who was visibly ill, shivering, moaning. I assumed she'd picked him up from school and was dropping by on way home, but then realised school bag was from a school other side of town.

We went up together and the boy was whimpering now and looked really bad. The mother didn't seem to notice/care.

So I was walking around and the tanoy went off asking for a store cleaner to go to "area bla bla bla" for a clean up. Didn't really take any notice until I walked to the other side of the shop and the same woman was standing there with a now crying baby in pushchair and crying/ shivering child who had been sick all over the shop floor. There were splatters of pink sick on clothes, the mirrors, it was disgusting and she was stood there on the phone to someone and was telling the boy off.

I don't know about anyone else, but when my children get ill and shiver like that with fever, the last thing I'd do is traipse them across town. I'd give them a hug and put them in bed and hold their head if they were being sick. Goodness knows vomiting is draining even for an adult.

I felt so angry for the poor boy. So I walked up to her and said "instead of bringing him to the shops from school, you should've taken him home to bed. I'd take him straight home and give the poor thing a hug".

I think she was more shocked than anything.

DH thinks I wbu and is shocked I'd say that to someone. I don't think I am. Also, I now feel sick and think I have his germs.

OP posts:
sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/11/2014 22:44

Bollocks does it do any good. Shouting at kids is usually a sign of a stressed out parent. The fact she shouted at her child after he vomited then her being told off by a complete random helps how exactly?

FreudiansSlipper · 05/11/2014 22:44

well done op

big pat on the back that you so obviously want and need to validate your wonderfulness

Mrsstarlord · 05/11/2014 22:44

I don't think she needs to calm down OP, she's not the one taking potshots at randoms in shops.

Grin I'm beginning to wonder if OP is a reliable witness if she thinks that people on here are being hysterical perhaps this throws the whole story into doubt Wink
BigRedBall · 05/11/2014 22:44

The child was shivering. He needed to be consoled and hugged. I told her to do it. I wasn't barking orders at Her or taking potshots. Hmm

OP posts:
sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/11/2014 22:45

FFS even when dealing with children at risk of harm professions,s don't 'tell' parents what to do with their child! Talk about OTT and pompous!

LovleyRitaMeterMaid · 05/11/2014 22:47

"instead of bringing him to the shops from school, you should've taken him home to bed. I'd take him straight home and give the poor thing a hug".

Orders... potshots... everywhere!

pissinmy2shoes · 05/11/2014 22:47

Aibu
yes

no I am not

fail

Waltermittythesequel · 05/11/2014 22:47

Are you going to answer the questions, OP?

BigRedBall · 05/11/2014 22:48

Well it's a shame some high profile child abusers weren't "told" what to do with their child.

OP posts:
WD41 · 05/11/2014 22:49

OP have you told your DH that most of MN agree with him?

FrauHelga · 05/11/2014 22:49

Yeah some high profile child abuser is going to listen to some random woman off the street ticking him off.

Seriously up your own importance there!

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/11/2014 22:49

Well I'm sure if you were around to point out their failings to them and 'tell' them how to parent there would be no such cases....

Mrsstarlord · 05/11/2014 22:50

Because a child throwing up in Primark is the same thing as child abuse?

Thats a bit of a leap in order to justify your actions.

Pollyteacakes · 05/11/2014 22:50

Ywnbu.......well done for saying what most of us would love to say in that kind of situation but would be afraid to. Poor child being dragged round shops when so poorly. He's probably felt awful all day at school and just wanted to get home and be looked after. I hate to think of vulnerable children like this.

BigRedBall · 05/11/2014 22:50

Walter read my OP. You'll get all the answers you're looking for there. Look at the last paragraph in particular.

OP posts:
ThursdayLast · 05/11/2014 22:50

I wonder what difference 'being told' would have done?
If you were that concerned perhaps you should have called 111?

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/11/2014 22:51

Yep all the high profile child abuse cases started with a pink vomit. In primarni didn't you know?

Waltermittythesequel · 05/11/2014 22:52

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LovleyRitaMeterMaid · 05/11/2014 22:52

Oh big red puhleese...

Caped crusader, defender of the young, child protection ambassador you aren't.

Self important, sanctimonious busy body on the other hand?

Well, who am I to say.

Waltermittythesequel · 05/11/2014 22:53

I don't think I am so why post?

And why correct someone's grammar when your own is shit?

HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 22:53

Surely you CANNOT be serious?

LovleyRitaMeterMaid · 05/11/2014 22:53

You cannot label him a vulnerable child on a second hand description of ten minutes of his life.

sharonthewaspandthewineywall · 05/11/2014 22:54

Many serious case reviews outline the importance of bollocking a mother of a vomiting child in primark and how not doing so failed to safeguard children

FrauHelga · 05/11/2014 22:54

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FrauHelga · 05/11/2014 22:56

Here's a thought, OP.

Did you think how an abuser would interpret your "take him straight home and give the poor thing a hug."

Coz, you know, you are so right and all. Hmm

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