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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:
HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 21:22

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DomiKatetrix · 05/11/2014 21:24

Fuckinell Big you're a proper stalker, that poor woman Sad

I can fully believe this, some parents are just shitty. There are plenty of possibilities as to why they were in Primark but do they trump the needs of an ill child who would be better off at home?

HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 21:24

Exactly Jolliegh. Having a go at an adult just makes YOU feel better, probably made the child feel even worse.

BathshebaDarkstone · 05/11/2014 21:25

YANBU, but I'd never have had the guts to say that to a stranger. Well done! Flowers

bearleftmonkeyright · 05/11/2014 21:26

My dd had diarrhea in the middle of Woolworths once. I knew she had a bad tummy but I took her anyway. I didn't expect quite thw poofest that happened all over the floor in the ladybird clothes section. I shall be forever grateful to the one shop assistant who helped me. Whether you were right or wrong, your actions were all about making yourself feel better. They haven'thelped that puky child at all.

TyrannosaurusBex · 05/11/2014 21:29

YANBU.

MollyHooper · 05/11/2014 21:30

Putting the child first would have been offering a tissue, some water if you have it or his mum some help.

Having a strange woman come up and tell his mum off probably made him feel worse to be honest.

AgentDiNozzo · 05/11/2014 21:32

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DomiKatetrix · 05/11/2014 21:37

And don't get me started on the parents who have no idea when a child last ate, vomited, peed, pooed or had calpol as 'I was on a night out last night so my mother had them'.

Confused
fourwoodenchairs · 05/11/2014 21:38

If you really are a GP, I'm surprised you would write something like that.

HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 21:39

Erm, what? A night out? THE BASTARDS.

Jolleigh · 05/11/2014 21:40

Agent are parents not allowed nights out then?

OP, do you have some spare Primani judgy pants for Agent?

bearleftmonkeyright · 05/11/2014 21:40

I am confused by that comment to Domi.

AgentDiNozzo · 05/11/2014 21:41

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DomiKatetrix · 05/11/2014 21:41

Can't fucking stand GPs that belittle patients.

HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 21:41

Oh come on Dr Grumpy.

CrashDiveOnMingoCity · 05/11/2014 21:41

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LittleBairn · 05/11/2014 21:42

How flipping dare a mother have a night out. Angry She should be shackled to her kids 24/7 you never know when they might get ill!
Imagine leaving a child with granny what qualifications does she have....other than a living function adult child?

HaroldLloyd · 05/11/2014 21:42

My GPs are lovely. Lucky me!

fourwoodenchairs · 05/11/2014 21:42

Ditto Domi, very unprofessional.

AgentDiNozzo · 05/11/2014 21:42

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fourwoodenchairs · 05/11/2014 21:42

Dr grumpy Grin

Just choked on my melon!

MrsDeVere · 05/11/2014 21:42

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MollyHooper · 05/11/2014 21:43

1 yo DS is sleeping in my mums right now, shall I phone for a poo count?

Just incasey.

FrauHelga · 05/11/2014 21:43

Agent- not if the parents went out and the child got poorly after they had left