For calling out to another mum about her child?

[GraceandFrankie]

I have a 7 month old, my first, so very conscious I have PFB syndrome. I don’t even deny that I’m precious with him, which is why I want some to perspective on this and advice on how to deal with similar situations in future, as I have no idea what is an appropriate response.

I was pushing DS in his pram yesterday when a child of around 5-6 years old with his mum walked past and whacked DS in the face. It wasn’t hard enough for DS to cry but it made him jump. So I went mama bear and called out to his mum to tell her to not let her child hit my baby in the face.

She came back and was very apologetic, so it was very civil between us. Turned out she’s pregnant and the little boy is trying to get used to the idea of babies.

Did I do the right thing or should I have let it go? I genuinely don’t know what the right thing to do is in these situations.

How strange. I can't quite visualise the scene where a 5/6yo walked close beside the pram and hit a baby sitting in a pram with the baby's mum right there. But stranger things have happened, so ok.

YANBU to let mum know that her child hit another child. How could you stay silent.
Glad she was nice about it and baby unharmed.

Kids can be spontaneously vicious I guess. My DD bit a baby when she was 2. It came out of nowhere and I was dreadfully embarrassed and upset.

Only you know the tone you used and whether it was ok. Perfectly fine to flag it to the Mum though if it’s not done aggressively- sounds like she handled it very well and hadn’t seen it happen. Kids can do some odd things at that age!

I wouldn't have got aggressive with the mum, maybe just said, unfortunately your ds just hit mine.

I've witnessed a ds being atrocitous to a mums whose child he had hit.. She was incredibly rude and defensive over her son but most normal people would be extremely aplogetric and I'm sure she spoke to him again back home and no, your not going to get a wholesome apology out of a 5 year old!

YABU to use the ridiculous "mama bear" expression.
Apart from that - nothing to report.

What is the AIBU?

You sound very restrained! I think I’d have been fuming! A child of that age knows better, usually.

Also don’t understand how this happened or the unreasonable.

If you worded it ‘don’t let your child hit my son’ you’re being unreasonable in my opinion. She obviously didn’t see him do it or she would have reacted therefore she didn’t ‘let him’ do anything. Bit shit of the kid but I’m sure your child will do something similar to another child at some point🤷🏼‍♀️

I would of been passed off tbh. My 7 month baby been hit by a child of 5 or 6?

I know he's a child but boundaries still apply it doesn't make a difference weather your baby cried or not.

You did well to have a word with the mum OP.

Yes, you did the right thing. It doesn’t sound like she was intentionally ignoring what happened and just didn’t see, so you were right to point it out.

You’d be amazed how incredibly shit many parents are at taking responsibility for their children in situations like this. I was standing in the queue for a coffee once and there was a couple with a child who looked about 6/7. He just spun around and punched me in the side. The parents literally just stood there and stared. I suspect they also have a dog that jumps all over other dogs and children while they pretend not to notice from like 20 metres away.

I think you worded it poorly- she clearly had no idea so you could have simply let her know what had happened instead of the more aggressive 'don't let your child do that' that was rude and she clearly didn't let him in the first place. Glad it was all resolved though

The way we communicate is so important on how these situations pan out. I think the mum was very mature and responded in a civilised manner. With the tone you have written, I know you would have pissed off some parents though which is why its always good to confront in a diplomatic way.

Omg this sounds so strange but YANBU at all! It sounds like you dealt with it fine