To think I am not a "silly girl"

[BravoHopeful]

I was getting ready to cross the road after the school run this morning. Another mum, whom I know slightly, came racing across from the other side of the road, grabbed my arm and (rather forcibly) steered me across, saying "Silly girl, what do you think you're doing?'

I am severely visually impaired and have a guide dog. I also cross roads every day, and have done for most of the 40+ years of my visually impaired life. I'm extremely careful about where and how I do it, and have not yet been run over or had a vehicle come to a screaming halt or swerve around me.

This other mum seems like a nice woman in general, but she has an extremely patronising attitude towards me. Over-bright smile, very loud, slow voice (which she doesn't use to other people) and just a generally rather pitying attitude.

Our reception DSs are friends, and I had her DS over to play one afternoon after school last term. I told her someone else was walking them home (I do this for playdates as other DC are not necessarily as well-behaved around roads/obeying my instructions as I require mine to be!) When she came to pick her DS up, she looked round in absolute horror and said 'You're not on your own with them, are you?' Er, yes, like I am with my 3 DC a fairly large amount of time. I pay for some housekeeping/childcare help, mainly to allow me to work, but also to do some things in the house/with the DC that I find difficult like taking them all swimming together) I got the impression she thinks the person who does this is my carer/jailer and that I am incapable of independent activity.

Anyway, rant over. Just bloody annoying.

[pigsDOfly]

Might be an idea to get some phrases ready in your head Bravo so you're not taken by surprise in case she feels the urge to grab you again in the future.

Perhaps just stop dead and ask her why she's grabbing you, she'll then have to give you some sort of reason for her strange behaviour.

I suspect she's been telling anyone who'll listen what a wonder person she's is helping poor old you across the road.

[DrinkFeckArseGirls]

Maybe go into the school and have chat with the kids about guide dogs so something can trickle through to parents. Maybe a leaflet to take home witj the do's and don'ts - do NOT fucking grab me or dostract my dog?

[scarlets]

I'm so annoyed and horrified on your behalf.

You have to remonstrate with her. If she's a decent woman she'll apologise and alter her behaviour.

[ExitPursuedByBear]

THAT MUST HAVE BEEN AWFUL FOR YOU OP.

HOW VERY RUDE OF THE WOMAN.

can we have a photo of your guide dog

[Clutterbugsmum]

Perhaps you dc school can arrange guide dogs for blind to come in to school and talk to children about there job.

My dc school had them in last week and I have to say the school from nursery to year 6 absolutely loved it and have got so much out of it from understanding what the dogs do and how to behave around them. But also little things like making sure they don't block/drop things that may get in the way for a blind person.

[YouTheCat]

Really make her lose her shit - next time you have your dh and the car with you, get in the driver's side.

[BravoHopeful]

YoutheCat - or maybe sit my dog in the driver's seat

[RobinsAreTerritorialFuckers]

I'd be so tempted to develop a sudden, vocal worry about this poor woman. Perhaps next time at the school gate you could loudly ask if someone can help X with the roads as she's very very nervous around cars - as her dashing across the road the other day shows? Or ask for tips for X during playdates, as she's struggling to cope with supervising several children alone?

After all, it would be only reasonable to believe that her bizarre actions must stem from her own worries, wouldn't it?

Let her see how it feels to have people treating you that way!