WIBU - woman taking dd's hand

[wheresthel1ght]

To start out I don't think I was being unreasonable and if anything I think I should have done more but would appreciate some outside input as I have an anxiety disorder and not sure that I wasn't seeing this situation as more than it was.

Pulled into the car park at our local Home Bargains store and was getting dd out the car. She is massively independent but still only 2.10 so I insist on her holding my hand as she has little road sense as with most kids her age. She was refusing and was holding her hands together saying she was being friends I could bloody murder Justin fletcher. Next thing I know some random woman is saying to dd "come and hold my hand" dd obliged and the woman started to walk dd towards the shop.

I grabbed dd's hand and said something along the lines of "this way darling we need to get a trolley" and pulled her away from the woman. I then tried to tell dd that we don't talk to strangers and we never hold hands with them because not all stranger are nice people. The woman must have heard me and as I walked past her in the shop she told me I was rude and unkind and she was only trying to help.

Wibu? I never said anything to her but I wanted to tell her to get her hands off my dd.

What about a "social experiment" for those who think this is an ok thing to do?

Step 1. Find your mark:

1. A parent and child in a public place.

1. You must not know either parent or child.

1. You should have no idea where the parent or child's intended destination is.

1. Parent and child should not be having an argument, there should be no tantrum and the child should not be trying to run away from their parent.

Step 2. The experiment:

Walk up to the child. Make no attempt at conversation with the parent. Take the child's hand and begin walking away from the parent. To be fair you should say "come and hold my hand".

You may chose to walk towards a shop however you must not disclose your intended destination to the parent. Remember at this point you are not to talk to the parent at all.

If at any time the parent or child becomes alarmed you can always use the phrase "I am being helpful".

For added flourish, if the parent reacts negatively, call them "rude"

From the story the OP has maintained throughout this thread these are the only parameters.

Step 3:

Let us know how that went.

Disclaimer: This experiment is conducted at your own risk. I accept absolutely no responsibility for the outcome of this experiment. I will not be liable for damages to any person's physical self, ego or property.

You were rude and unkind. You should have said something like "I appreciate you being kind to us but I''m more comfortable if my daughter stays close to me "

Whether or not you thought the woman could hear you, your daughter could hear you. If you want to abide by stranger danger then she should hear the message that the lady was being very kind but mummy doesn't know her and she needs to stay near you.

With a few minor tweaks, Furiosa

3. You should have no idea where the parent or child's intended destination is.

Pulled into the car park at our local Home Bargains store........the woman started to walk dd towards the shop.

And for overhelp read 'intervene in a situation without asking the parent first if they needed her help, take a child by the hand and lead it away from the parent'.

Once you've incorporated your minor tweaks and you've fully grasped what overhelp actually means, do let us know how you get on Apple. If you're easily upset though, I'd suggest you don't try this one - you might find that you choose a parent who isn't quite as restrained at the OP.

Eek! Do you mean that everyone on this thread who thinks the OP was being unreasonable is going to be drafted into the experiment?

Apple op says:

She took my daughter and led her away from me. there was at no point a discussion with myself and dd or random woman as to where i was going. there are several shops where Home Bargains was - so random woman had absolutely no idea where i was going.

So point 3 still stands. You may deduce were the parents is going but ultimately you do not know.

She wasn't trying to run off. She was just playing the silly game she does over hand holding. She was in absolutely no danger whatsoever.

This is normal parent child interaction and does not include a tantrum, an argument or danger. Point 4 still stands.

My experiment is an as close to exact replication of OP's situation. Please participate at your earliest convince.

Apple Yes.

Now comply.

OK, Furiosa, I guess I have no choice. I'll report back this evening.

Wish me luck.

Luck.

You were in no way overreacting I would have been really pissed off if anyone tried to do this to my child! I would also never presume to get involved with anyone trying to get their child to do something especially if I didn't know them! Nobody has a right to touch anyone else's child without permission regardless of their intentions.