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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:
FrozenWillow · 05/09/2021 18:19

YANBU OP

If any parent thinks it is acceptable to let a small child run through a car park, then they are no parent at all and would wonder where the hell social services was.

Wonder how they would feel if SS stuck their nose in - absolute twats.

You did the right thing OP.

Tal45 · 05/09/2021 18:21

God that poor child, can't imagine his childhood is going to be a bed of roses :- (

Overtired201984 · 05/09/2021 18:23

People are such nobs ! You didn’t do a thing wrong . People are so rude and ungrateful these days . Well done if you kept your mouth shut after that as I don’t think I would have been able too ….. people like this are why I dislike humans. …. Ps deffo don’t feel silly , you’re a good human 💕

YoComoManzanas · 05/09/2021 18:32

How did you know they were his actual parents/carers though? Especially since they weren't acting like it.
You did the right thing.
I cannot count how many times grown ups have let my bolting toddler run past them and then block the path for me to chase after him. So well done you.

CurryLover55 · 05/09/2021 18:34

You were absolutely right OP & those women need to wake up & smell the coffee!

JFM27 · 05/09/2021 18:38

You did nothing wrong. What kind of woman puts her child in danger because hes having a tantrum.She sounds the prat,you were doing what most decent humans would do.I feel sorry for the poor kid having such an unpleasant uncaring mother,

OnwardsAndSideways1 · 05/09/2021 18:45

That's very unfortunate they were so horrible.

I stopped a toddler running towards a main road, I just reached out and grabbed him. As I was doing it I actually thought, I hope no-one shouts at me for this but I just have to stop the child. Luckily the man chasing after him, with a pushchair and another child was incredibly grateful and thanked me. Being shouted at by horrible people really shakes you but you absolutely did the right thing.

me4real · 05/09/2021 18:50

They souund like chavs OP. You were did nothing wrong, you were just caring about the little boy (probably more than they were.)

Seahorsemama · 05/09/2021 18:51

You absolutely did the right thing! Don’t feel bad at all.

Clarice99 · 05/09/2021 18:51

YANBU. You absolutely did the right thing.

The two women are morons.

CottonSock · 05/09/2021 18:54

I've chased a toddler out of a playground before. The mum was so grateful. These sound like arseholes.

Lindylou2703 · 05/09/2021 18:57

What nasty shitty women. You did entirely the right thing.

LaurenKelsey · 05/09/2021 19:03

Yep, twats.

lillylemons · 05/09/2021 19:05

@Itllbeaninterestingchristmas

I've got a bolter who is a pro at tantruming and if he had run off I would be very glad another mum had stopped him. You did the right thing
same here.
Chris08 · 05/09/2021 19:07

I will always help a child in distress. Thank you for what you did 🙏
His parents are scum.

AnyOldPrion · 05/09/2021 19:08

Horrible people. I’d have done the same as you.

YukoandHiro · 05/09/2021 19:10

You were absolutely right. I don't know how you didn't respond with disdain to that. I think I would have shook my head and then said to the child "I'm glad you're safe, I just wanted to make sure as it's not safe to be separated from your family in a supermarket" and then walked off.

Bogeyes · 05/09/2021 19:15

What a pair of idiots...that's child abuse

Tigger1895 · 05/09/2021 19:15

Having a tantrum and you gave him the attention he wanted? Seriously, there are some serious Fd up parents about if that’s what they said to you. You did the right thing as if he’d been hurt you’d never forgive yourself for doing nothing.

Abhannmor · 05/09/2021 19:17

You did the right thing. That poor kid . I don't care how annoying he is - you don't do that kind of dangerous stunt to prove a point.

bemusedmoose · 05/09/2021 19:34

They were lazy twats most likely not watching him at all and he did get lost and they are covering up by blaming you.

I would have done the same as you, though would have probably have told the women to jog on with the Karen comment! What would they rather - he dashed out into the car park and got killed? Idiots.

MadeOfStarStuff · 05/09/2021 19:36

Keeping a distressed child safe is never the wrong thing to do.

KarmaViolet · 05/09/2021 19:38

I had a bolter and I am immensely grateful to the people who grabbed her when I couldn't get there fast enough (on one hair raising occasion, as she was dashing gleefully towards a main road). You did the right thing.

Fleshmechanic · 05/09/2021 19:38

Lol wtf. If I was them I'd just say he's having a tantrum, thanks for watching out for him though! They sound like complete idiots tbh. I'm not sure how the term "Karen" even applies here either.

ElliottSmithsfingers · 05/09/2021 19:40

I'd have done the same. They are utter idiots and the "Karen" comment reinforces that. I'd have answered back in the same tone though, as that's the kind of person I am.