Play park incident

[Cleari]

There was a little girl in the park, about 6 I’d say. I was with 6,5,4 year olds and she wanted to play with them.

First she hopped on the big tyre swing at the same time, I smiled and tried to acknowledge mum. Little girl was chatty but mum watched stone faced as I pushed them all. Moved away as slightly awkward but the girl followed so I tried to be pleasant, girls happy to include her.

My 3 then went to a mini roundabout thing, small disc about chest height to the kids. Lifted my three on and she stood there, so I offered to lift her. Tried to look at mum who stayed silently watching expressionless but staring with a friend. Little girl said she wanted to push. I suggested again she get on, she said again she wanted to push and started. Quite a confident child and very sure. All 4 giggling, I stood very close very to stop it if needed. She was strong enough to do it.

Mum suddenly goes mad. Storms over screaming at me and yanks daughter away shouting ‘what the fuck you playing at?’ I was bemused and just stood and said ‘she wanted to push, she seemed happy’ (as I said I was closely watching)’. This made mum really cross- what you fucking doing? She could be hurt! You fucking let a child push! My daughter is not there to fucking push your kids. She not some fucking servant to you

Her and her mate then stood about 15ft away having a loud shout about how I needed a slap, thought I was fucking better than them all etc on repeat

Aibu that this was bizarre?

Only details I can think of, I’m dressed scruffy and no one calls me posh. She was a bit younger maybe. All of us the same race.

It was quite nerve wracking as there were two, and I was alone with kids- two of whom were mine. It’s playing in my mind- was there a way to diffuse this? I didn’t answer beyond that as I was outnumbered and alone with kids, and didn’t want to fire it. I just moved the kids calmly to a different area where other parents were

You didn't do anything wrong, the problem was clearly entirely her. I'm sorry that happened to you because it sounds quite frightening.

She was in the wrong. Should of been watching her kid more closely.

Sounds bizarre and that she was just looking for a fight

She sounds thoroughly unpleasant op. You didn't do anything wrong

Yeah, you did nothing wrong! It sounds as though she was watching the whole thing, right? So if she didn't want her child to push, she could have caller her away rather than having a go at you.
Some people are just on the lookout for a fight and you got on the wrong end of this one! I don't think that you could have handled it any differently. Hope it wasn't too upsetting for you and your kids!

She clearly has issues. I don't know what else you could have done. When you're doing stuff for your own kids it's rude to ignore others. Letting her push was less intrusive than lifting her on even if that's what she wanted, so no idea what else you could have done. I guess she wanted an argument for some reason, what a sad way to live.

Is it your regular playground?

Looking back she was rather stone faced, but I could hardly shoo her child. Smiling and being pleasant but only answering Q seemed best.

Feeling quite shaken, luckily my kids seemed ok as I didn’t react and stayed calm but her daughter was tearful and had a fair shaking.

She was gunning for a fight OP, you did nothing wrong nor could you do anything to diffuse such people (though id be tempted to want to suggest next time she plays with her child). Dont give it another thought...poor child.

Some people! Nothing - literally nothing - you could have done right for her. Had you lifted her child on, she would have had a go at you for touching her child. If you had told her child not to push or sent her away she would have had a go at you for not letting her play with yours.

I suspect she was having an off day and looking for an excuse to have a good yell at someone with no consequences. It happens.

Poor little girl, though, going home to that atmosphere.

It’s my closest park, a bit desolate at times. Houses back on, rather than face it

Oh how I wish I had been there op! What did she want you to do -chase her dc off? I wonder if she had been drinking? Poor kiddie what a life she must have - next time you go there go with a friend (bolshie middle aged or older female is good) this woman is a silly moo with her coven of fellow witches

To he quite blunt, she just sounds like a scumbag. Was she wearing massive gold hoop earrings and decked out in her primark finest?

She sounds bonkers, don’t waste anymore time worrying about this. Just feel sorry for her poor child.

She was showing off in front of her pal.
Don't give it more headspace, she wanted a row.

She sounds as rough as toast. Probably high on something. Poor you and her poor DD. You did nothing wrong, any normal person would have seen that you were in control of the situation not rant abuse at you.

Sounds like one of those people. She was probably high. Just try to find a nicer park.

Ahh some people are just arseholes. Don't give it another thought!

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As others have said you couldn't have done anything right, she was cruising for a bruising with someone and today it was you.

I hope your children weren't too upset at such an end to a fun outing.

I do feel sorry for the little girl who will have that natural friendliness shouted out of her before too long and end up suspicious and aggressive like her mother.

She's a ned. Don't worry about it. Not your fault.

Sounds like a brexit voter. I'd just ignore the stupid cow in future.

She sounds awful. If she doesn't want her kid doing stuff like that, she needs to supervise her. Don't give it a second thought. She seems nasty

I'm surprised they still have roundabouts like that. My dsis cut her head open on one about 40 years ago, when she was pushing and turned round and it wacked her on the back of her head.

Oh how terrible it must have been for her to see a mother being a mother. You belittled her by paying her poor clearly attention starved child some well needed attention. She’s a fucking arsehole OP.