AIBU to find this dad's behaviour ridiculous?

[Anotherday21]

I was on a walk with my 15 month old earlier today, my son (in his stroller) was playing with his favourite stuffed animal 'till he accidentally dropped it onto the pavement. A father and his (I'm guessing) son were walking closely behind us, I turned around to pick it up and noticed that it had fallen right in front of this child's feet. He was just stood there and was looking at my son's toy. I genuinely thought at this point "Oh, how nice of him! He's going to pick it up" but he smirked at me and kicked it onto the main road?! With running commentary from his dad saying great shot??? What made it even worse is when I said smth along the lines of there's no need for that, you know. His dad started having a go at me saying how the lad was only having a laugh, get a grip etc etc etc. I was genuinely baffled by this. I know kids get up to all sorts but this kid looked like he was easily 9/10 years old? Surely that's a bit old for shenanigans like that. But what annoyed me even more was the dad completely condoning his behaviour.

What I want to know is, was I being really precious here? I wasn't even expecting an apology but it would have been nice if he had at least told off his son for doing that. I know I would have done so if the roles had been reversed.

YANBU - they're a couple of thugs!! Most people would never behave like this

Well you met the scum of the earth, be glad you don't live with them.

Disgusting.

@WorraLiberty

I can't believe you're asking this!

Why not? ... she's upset by it.

Even my 4 yr old would know to pick it up & hand it over to you. I despair at society sometimes. What a horrid man 😡

Shitty dad in the process of creating the next generation of shitty kid.

The cycle never stops.

LuaDipa I sort of feel sorry for the kid growing up with that as a role model. Yanbu.

I feel sorry for that boy too. I wonder if his dad would approve of him if he was considerate, respectful and well mannered. Probably not, I’m afraid. Poor kid, he probably just wants his dad to think well of him

A bully raising another bully. Sorry you've had this experience OP.

What a twat. But it does remind me of an article I read a few years back.

Lad stole a car from outside a corner shop where a customer had left the keys in it. Then he doesn’t pull over for police, so they “chase” him (basically keep following him with the lights on, not even high speed, until he just crashes it versus pulling over or stopping). And in the article HIS MOTHER says it was the fault of the police that he crashed because they shouldn’t have been “after” him and he probably only took the car because he didn’t feel like walking.

When you read things like that, or see what you saw, OP, you know some children are just raised by parents who are determined to weaponise them into first-class little shites.

What a total prat teaching his child to be disrespectful and nasty. The dad won't think his sons thuggish behaviour so funny in years to come when the son deems it acceptable to kick him across a room!

Yanbu op.
Had first hand knowledge of some horribly entitled children yesterday helping out at a charity stall.most of the children were lovely but there were two,from separate families,who dismissively rifled through(delicate,brand new)items grabbed the ones they wanted which were adults,not suitable for them,and demanded the parent bought it immediately whilst simultaneously searching through and grabbing other things,tipping over displays.when parents said no,the shrill,angry,replies of the parent was stupid,the wrenching open of parents bag to pull a purse out ,left us open mouthed in shock.
One parent was apologetic,the other was quite happy with,her daughters behaviour,no apology for the mess of the stock thrown in the stall in dismissal as they ran over,thankfully,to the next stall.
These were both aged about 7/9 years old.
Hope your little boy got his teddy back safely op.🌈

They’re both shits.
I wonder what the mother is like.

I'm imagining that this man isnt one of life's achievers, to say the least #dregs

Unintelligent Father creates unintelligent son and so the cycle continues.

My face went exactly like this on reading your post.
What shitty, shitty behaviour from those people and you are not being precious or unreasonable at all

Some people really are pointless arent they

This poor kid does not stand a chance in life with such a "role model". Sad.

Takes an arsehole to raise an arsehole

That's outrageous, what an absolute prick.

@Laiste

Depressing isn't it?

I despair sometimes.
YANBU

Exactly this

Sad isn't it
Why would any adult think it OK to do that

The vile little bastard will end up in prison, which is probably where his dad spends most of his time.

@RightYesButNo

What a twat. But it does remind me of an article I read a few years back.

Lad stole a car from outside a corner shop where a customer had left the keys in it. Then he doesn’t pull over for police, so they “chase” him (basically keep following him with the lights on, not even high speed, until he just crashes it versus pulling over or stopping). And in the article HIS MOTHER says it was the fault of the police that he crashed because they shouldn’t have been “after” him and he probably only took the car because he didn’t feel like walking.

When you read things like that, or see what you saw, OP, you know some children are just raised by parents who are determined to weaponise them into first-class little shites.

We had this happen near us about twenty years ago. Well known family of criminals, kids joyriding and wrapped the car around a tree, all killed (about 8 of them in one car). Obviously tragic, but also obviously entirely down to the kids themselves.

Not according to the parents, who started a campaign for compensation from the police, spent months doing sad faces on the local news, organised vigils outside the police station etc. Just could not see that their little darlings bore any responsibility for stealing the car and racing around the town whatsoever.