Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Was I in the wrong? Feel stupid now.

198 replies

MiaAnnabell3 · 04/09/2021 15:29

In town today, very busy shopping centre.

Whilst paying for parking a little boy came running past me - very distressed, you know that "blind panic" when they've lost their parents. Shouting mummy repeatedly.

As he was heading through the doors to the multi story car park I left my own kids with my husband and was thankfully able to get myself in front of him before he made it out - I never touched him, just blocked his way.

I asked him if he knew where to find mummy but he was so distressed it was hard to understand, was just shouting for his Mum.

A couple came through the doors and I said "Is this boy with you?"

To which two women appeared and said "No he's with us. We were watching him from over there. He was having a tantrum and you gave him the attention he wanted. You want to keep your nose out!" Then sort of snatched him up and walked off. One of them also shouted "Karen!" over her shoulder.

Feel really stupid now. Sad

OP posts:
NotJuryDutyAgain · 04/09/2021 15:57

They're human trash, to be brutally honest. Try not to give them another thought. You were doing the right thing, stepping in to help a child that appeared lost and distraught. They didn't like that your act of caring showed them up, so they went on the attack.

Unfortunately, this is likely how they are every day and to everyone. They're the kind of people who drag the world down, whereas you're the type who lifts it back up.

Cam2020 · 04/09/2021 15:57

They sound nasty! You did nothing wrong.

shinynewapple21 · 04/09/2021 16:00

Agreeing with others, you did the right thing . Imagine if you had stood back and the little boy has been hit by a car . Perhaps their rudeness was out of embarrassment. Some people are unable to acknowledge when they are in the wrong or say thank you .

Jumpingintosummer · 04/09/2021 16:04

I hope one of them are on here. Absolutely disgraceful behaviour, the poor boy.

toolazytothinkofausername · 04/09/2021 16:10

Having a tantrum asking for his mum?!? WTAF?!? Those women sound horrible!

OP, you did nothing wrong.

MumUndone · 04/09/2021 16:11

Poor kid

JudgeJ · 04/09/2021 16:11

@bamboocat

Anyone who calls you the 'K' word for preventing their small child from running through and out of a car park is a brainless fuckwit, if you ask me (and I'd have told them so).

You did absolutely the right thing.

Anyone using the word Karen to anyone other than those of that name ia an attention-seeking idiot, in any context.
anon12345678901 · 04/09/2021 16:12

You were not wrong at all, those women sound awful!

Thewholeshackshimmy · 04/09/2021 16:12

You 100% did the right thing. That is complete and utter shit parenting and the fact they called you a Karen shows their immaturity. My sister in laws 2 year old was tragically hit and killed by a car because he had run off and ran out in front of it. These people are so thick they don’t think.

RealBecca · 04/09/2021 16:12

Better in the wrong in that situation than turning a blind eye.

And what kind of mother isnt close enough to her child tp have immediately intervened rather than coming along after another couple?! And eho shouts at someone like you when they have kids with them???

Plumtree391 · 04/09/2021 16:13

What horrible women. Of course you did the right thing, the outcome could have been so different.

I am appalled on your behalf.

RealBecca · 04/09/2021 16:13

And if ypu cpuld reach the kod before their own parents then thats a tragedy waiting to happen.

LanaDelBoy · 04/09/2021 16:14

@Mayorquimby2

I know this isn't the point but even if you're ok with the term Karen they're still using it in the completely wrong context.

Fucking people not understanding internet culture and trying to use it in the real world

Yanbu btw

Ha, exactly - it would get a loud slow handclap from me
Wheresmybiscuit3 · 04/09/2021 16:15

It’s definitely not you. It’s them. I’d have acted just the same as you.

Mrsmadevans · 04/09/2021 16:16

Horrible horrible people , they have showed themselves up for what they are , everyone who saw this would have thought the same. You did the right thing OP , well done to you Flowers don't even give another thought to these awful ppl.

Original poster
MiaAnnabell3 · 04/09/2021 16:17

I knew I'd find sanity on MN. Luckily I was too taken aback to respond as they looked quite terrifying and it may have ended badly for me Grin

OP posts:
MrsPumpkinSeed · 04/09/2021 16:19

You are a good person and they sound neglectful and lacking intelligence

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/09/2021 16:22

YANBU

They were classless idiots and I’m sorry you had a scare. You potentially prevented a child from being run over. It is cruel to scare a tantrumming child into thinking they’ve been left. He must have been beyond distraught. Poor wee mite.

And no one should be calling anyone Karen people ffs! Some women just love misogyny.

lannistunut · 04/09/2021 16:22

No, you reacted in a caring way - they were being unkind. Of course you didn;t know what to do.

It was them in the wrong, not you.

But you did right not to respond - what would be gained by it?

SquirryTheSquirrel · 04/09/2021 16:22

It sounds as though the child didn't know where his mum was and was terrified. I'm not a parent but surely you don't just leave a child unattended in/near a car park because he's having a tantrum? All very well them saying they were watching him - fat lot of good that would have been if he'd run in front of a moving car.

cheesemarmitepanini · 04/09/2021 16:23

Cunts

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 04/09/2021 16:23

You should've called back "Yeah , let him get run over , that'll help his tantrum" with a look of disgust at them .

viques · 04/09/2021 16:28

Of course you weren’t unreasonable. If he had had a huge sign around his neck saying “ Please ignore me, I am having a tantrum and my mum and my aunty are standing over by the wall watching me to make sure I am safe” then you would have been unreasonable. But he didn’t, what you saw was a vulnerable child in distress and in a dangerous environment so you behaved like a human being and intervened.

FatLarrysBand · 04/09/2021 16:29

@NotJuryDutyAgain

They're human trash, to be brutally honest. Try not to give them another thought. You were doing the right thing, stepping in to help a child that appeared lost and distraught. They didn't like that your act of caring showed them up, so they went on the attack.

Unfortunately, this is likely how they are every day and to everyone. They're the kind of people who drag the world down, whereas you're the type who lifts it back up.

Yep.
5zeds · 04/09/2021 16:29

You did the right thing. Do it again if it ever happens. People like you save children’s lives.