To want to give this woman a Look and a Word?

[DisgraceToTheYChromosome]

Yesterday, DW, DD and DGS (22mo) were in the supermarket when DGS wandered off. They began searching in a mad panic, and DD asked another shopper if she'd seen a little boy dressed in xxxx. This woman looked her up and down, sniffed and said "Young mothers! Huh!" DD, frightened and on the verge of tears told her to fuck off if she wasn't going to help. Now, judging DD is not the question. The question is: would I have been justified in asking this...person what her problem was, and would she like a bigger one?

He was found a minute later. Luckily someone who wasn't up their own arse had realised he'd bolted, and was chatting to him.

Thoughts?

I would've said something, so many judgemental people out there but they shit themselves when someone stands up to them

I think both were rude. I wouldn't dream of telling someone to fuck off like that, because in my opinion if you resort to swearing at someone like that then you've already lost the argument.

No doubt your DD has just reinforced whatever negative stereotypes this woman already had.

I think DD handled it brilliantly herself

You all sound so very delightful....

@SpoilsburyToastGirl: ever mislaid a child? Ever felt that concrete weight in the stomach, the sweat dripping off you, your pulse rising to a shriek? Perhaps you have. I congratulate you on your restraint.

I have no problems with telling people to fuck off.

Woman was a dumb cunt.

Ignore these clowns.

YANBU.

I’d have done the same as your DD and you!

I was classed I a geriatric mother. I would also have told this woman to fuck off.

I cant see that you were there. So you want to go find her and give her a look?

Bitch. One of my DC was/is a bolter. I have never known fear like it.

And what bigger problem were you promising?

I was a fairly young mother myself-I would have looked her up and down and sniffed ‘judgmental crones!’

I’m generally a nice person I swear-I just don’t like people who put others down to make themselves feel better and I also have a right temper (not sure if you can tell?)

Usually I think people who think they can threaten others with “a Look and a Word” have rather high opinions of themselves, and maybe that’s true, but the woman sounds like a bitch of the highest order. Who says or even thinks that when someone says there’s a missing toddler?!

That’s horrendous! I remember my sister losing her son once when we were out as a family at a large public house type place, it was the most awful feeling ever! We had all the staff looking and one of us went to every exit to check, I’ve never known fear like it.

This also reminds me of when I was 22 and pregnant shopping in a big mothercare on a retail park, as my partner and I shopped a little boy about 2 walked in and started playing on a toy trike, I kept an eye on him as hadn’t seen a parent but assumed a rather more relaxed parent than me was just around the corner or something. Before we left as I still hadn’t seen a parent I mentioned to one of the store assistants he was there, and had been for about 5 mins with no sign of a parent.
As we walked out the shop there was the mum stood outside the shop next door smoking a cigarette shouting to one of her older kids who was looking around if he’d found him yet. It was a busy carpark and right next to a huge main road, I would have been running about like a headless chicken looking if it had been my child!

Age doesn’t define how good a parent someone is.

You all sound pretty damn awful tbh

The woman was very rude and a nasty cow to boot. Yes maybe telling her to fuck off wasn't the best response but considering she was panicking about her son, it's understandable!

I remember my own then 3 year old DD disappearing in the supermarket once, for about 60 seconds. I still remember that awful feeling now, and she's nearly 18.

in my opinion if you resort to swearing at someone like that then you've already lost the argument.

But there was no argument. It was a distressed young mother looking for her toddler. Don't try and act like that woman had the moral high ground either before or after she was told to fuck off.

There are various devices for attaching children to a parent, reins, wrist straps. Use one perhaps?

She would have got a "fuck off" from me too.

I agree with a PP, your DD was so rude but even worse was the woman who made the comment.

I think the fuck off made the point without you needing to weigh in with a threat as well (as PP said, what exactly was that going to be?)

Fuck off is the correct response. Horrible woman to be mean rather than help.

To ask what her problem was - reasonable.

Do you want a bigger one- threatening and not reasonable.

I agree with a PP, your DD was so rude but even worse was the woman who made the comment
Sadly swearing at this woman will just have reinforced her prejudices.
I'm glad gs was soon found it is a horrible feeling.