To be disgusted at a woman regarding child's weight at a play area. And wish I'd said something

[CrispSandwiches19]

At a country park today I was waiting for dh to use the toilet. Outside the toilets is a seating area where I was stood. Adjacent was a small play park..
Playing happily in the park was a young girl, I didn't notice, at first, as why would I? until a woman at the table near where I was stood was very vocal about a child in the park.
Saying to her husband, look at the state of 'it', her parents clearly let her get her own way. How's she ever going to learn food control etc.she obviously eats junk daily etc

I admit I turned around to see what she was on about.
I could then hear her saying to her dd of about 7/8 see that's what you'll look like if you eat macdonalds you'll be grossly obese and no one will be your friend you'll be a slob!
Continued with She needs a bra or are they just fat pads. Bet chubby will want an ice cream after playing for 5 mins.

I noticed then who she was talking about. It was a girl of about 10 happily playing with her mates, who yes of I'm honest was very over weight, but that has nothing to do with anyone. but bloody hell I couldn't believe the woman and how vocal she was.
The poor girl may be the type to have no self control or her parents, she may also have an underlying issue but either way it doesn't matter to anyone other than those close to her

Dh had come out of the toilet and I told him that I was going to tell her I thought she was disgusting but he said to leave it as people like that are narrow minded and would only wind myself up.

How can an adult be like that towards a child. OK they may think it but to be so vocal amazes me. I hope her daughter doesn't grow up to be like her

I feel sorry for her kid and the kid’s relationship with food.

I remember once as a fat child going out on the dance floor at a family wedding with my friend and the DJ saying “ Oh look it’s Laurel and Hardy”. I was only 10 and so upset that nobody stood up for me.Its still upsets me now!

Op, the world is full of arseholes. That woman was one of them. I'd likely have said something, as I am that way inclined, but more along the lines of you should be ashamed she's a child. , I have two friends who absolutely would have said something, as I've seen them do it before, and it would have been just as personal and Without hesitation. Is it right to do so, who knows.

Everyone rolls differently, your husband is likely right, it's not worth it. When people are that ignorant there is little you can say that will impact. However in my experience ignorant folks like this go quiet and are quite shocked when called out by someone who is clearly willing to take them on and not for backing down.

@dangerrabbit yep poor thing

OP, your DH was right. She'd have only turned on you with her vitriol, embarrassed to be challenged. Her DD will hear her poisonous views day in and day out. You were right to walk on by.

(Although totally understand your temptation! And if the other child had been within earshot then 😠 )

If my DC had overheard, I'd have wanted to walk past her PA saying to mine, "everyone can hear that unpleasant woman, we don't ever want you to think being nasty about other children's weight is a normal thing done by decent people" (then I'd want to skeddadle quickly incase she stabbed me with her stilletto!)
You can't fix the world, there are some nasty people other there, some happen to be parents as well.

I would've said something. If one of my children would;ve spoken about another human being like that, I'd have said to her exactly what I would've said to them. Nasty piece of work.

“ Oh look it’s Laurel and Hardy”. I was only 10 and so upset that nobody stood up for me.Its still upsets me now!

No one stood up for me either when I was a kid and got called ugly and laughed at. It's taken me a number of decades to grow a thick skin, but back then it was just one of many, many things that made me hate adults.