Was I in the wrong? Feel stupid now.

[MiaAnnabell3]

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.

You are definitely not in the wrong nor should you feel stupid.

They were rude and don’t sound very nice.

Hope you’re ok!

Some people - those 2 - should not have children - they are abusive arses, you were right but that's probably no comfort to you - I'm sorry they were so vile to you - and calling a woman "Karen" like that is utterly vile and unacceptable

Those women were truly awful, extremely poor parenting and from my perspective very worrying.

They sound nutters

You were nice and helpful. They were dickheads.

WTF, he's a little boy! Aren't we supposed to look out for the children?

I think you did the right thing. Those two people were very rude and very stupid. With people like that in his life, no wonder the little boy was having "a tantrum".

You absolutely are not in the wrong,I. Fact quite the opposite. Imagine if no one had stopped him and something awful happened. You did a very kind and very smart thing. They are absolute idiots and I’m sorry you had to deal with them. Totally ridiculous and dangerous on their part!!

I've had similar when saw a boy aged around 5 hiding under a table looking a bit scared/upset while I was drying my 2 sons' hair at the leisure centre. I kept an eye on him and could see there was no-one nearby although people were walking past as we were near the doors. We took at least 5 minutes and then I asked if he was OK and he nodded but still looked a bit scared. I walked round the corner and there was a women standing by an open cubicle and I asked her if he was hers and she said, with a very shitty attitude, that yes he was and she knew exactly where he was the whole time. I was a bit flummoxed by her attitude and said "well good, I was worried about him" and walked off. I still think about him and what was going on in that family.

I really don't understand people showing resentment when someone steps in to look after their children. I would be extremely thankful. With every other lost child I have seen or been involved with in the UK, people always are helpful and caring and the 'lost' parents relieved and thankful.

Unfortunately there is a tiny minority of stupid prats.

Think James Bulger - crying, distressed, calling for his mummy - if only someone had interfered. You’re damned if you do and dammed if you don’t.

James Bulgar is precisely why I vowed not to MMOB if I'm worried about a child when out and about - all those people who had concerns but didnt intervene. I dont blame them, they made snap decisions at the time and who would have thought what happened could happen? But I dont want to be them, either, wishing I'd said or done something.

Bulger

If you had read later that that little one was missing or had been snatched you would be beating yourself up if you had done nothing. You did absolutely the right thing!

Aw you sound lovely. You did a kind thing and these people are ridiculous. My 2 year old once bolted out the automatic doors of hobbycraft, i was shouting "stop (name)" then i started running. It went straight into a car park, luckily she ran to a wall and not into traffic but not one person stopped her. They could see me and hear me, i would have loved it if there was someone like you around that day....i was panicked! Shes 3.5 yrs now and hasnt done it again thankfully!

shame you were not present at this diabolical event, this poor little boy
Surrey Police
t2mSspgonsor1haed ·
Witness appeal following child protection incident in Cranleigh
We are appealing for witnesses following a child protection incident in Cranleigh on Thursday, 2 September.
At about 4pm on Thursday, 2 September, police received several reports of a woman being verbally and physically abusive towards a boy in the car park near the Cranleigh Medical Practice.
A 56 year-old woman has since been arrested for assault causing actual bodily harm, but enquiries are ongoing and we are still looking for witnesses to this incident to help us identify the other parties involved.
The boy is described as white, aged between five and seven, with cropped, dark brown hair. He was wearing a two-piece or onesie with Marvel character The Hulk on the front and long blue sleeves. He was also wearing Timberland-style boots.
The second woman is described as white, wearing black trousers and a yellow short-sleeved top with ruffles over the shoulders.
Were you in Cranleigh close to the medical practice or the high street on Thursday, 2 September at around 4pm? Did you see or hear anything that might assist our investigation? If so, we want to hear from you. Please contact us, quoting PR/45210093597 via:

• Webchat on our website police.uk/
• Online www.surrey.police.uk/.../af/how-to-report-a-crime/
• Calling us on 101

If you do not wish to leave your name, please call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

No, you absolutely did what any sane, reasonable person would do.

I once caught hold of a toddler bombing down a steep hill, maybe 7 or 8 steps from the CANAL at the bottom of the bank!! I'd only grabbed his hood, but god, based on the nasty look I got from his mother when she caught up, you'd think I'd battered him!
Fine, next time I'll just let a 3 year old face-plant into a canal in NOVEMBER. Daft cow.

You absolutely did the right thing. All I can say is ‘ Jamie Bulger’. I would think his mum would have loved someone like you stopping him being taken away. No wonder he’s having tantrums with idiots like this for guardians.

Oh dear me, brain cells are in such short supply these days.

If they had one between then they would stop and think what might happen if every distressed line child was ignored.

How do such nasty thick people manage? It’s a mystery.

You did absolutely the right and responsible thing and I’d hope, despite this experience with these two twats, that you’d still do the same thing every time. Good for you and don’t feel stupid, feel indignant xxx

They were VERY rude as well as stupid allowing him to run around having a tantrum in a car park!

Pity you had no way to contact social services - those moronic women were guilty of both psychological abuse, letting the poor kid get so terrified, and child endangerment by not preventing him from getting into a dangerous situation.
You did absolutely the right thing. I'm glad there are people like you in the world.

@Margerine78

What! OP YWNBU AT ALL! You were looking after a seemingly scared child, I'd have done the same, how were you meant to know? God, those women sound bloody awful and they've misunderstand 'Karen', their vile antisocial behaviour towards you was very Karen of them. (Apologies to any nice Karens on here!). I'd have explained and thanked you and apologised my son worried you, it could have been a pleasant exchange

Instead of apologising to the “nice Karens on here”, you can just make your comment without the need to use a woman’s name as a derogatory insult. Then you won’t need to apologise to anyone, and you won’t be contributing to misogyny. Win win!