It was you being overly sensitive that made you feel like a paedo, not what she said.
No-one on here is saying you’re stupid. Again you’re being overly sensitive by taking it like that.
Outside public spaces have no controls and no-one to police them, so there aren’t specific enforceable rules. Lots of parents would be very aware though, not to ever take pictures of another child, or to not give any suggestion that they are. It’s a sad world, but these rules and norms have developed for a reason - to protect children. This doesn’t mean anyone is suggesting you are up to anything dodgy….but the clear point is that no-one knows who is and who isn’t. Even people who are out with their own little kid who calls them mummy, have been known to do despicable and terrible things. And no-one can tell whether you are one of those people or not..no-one knows, so everyone needs to support the rules, and also understand the reason they are there.
You can be sniffy and offended and see it as a personal affront and questioning of your character. That’s being hyper sensitive and struggling to understand the bigger picture, whilst only thinking about your own scenario. Perhaps you’ve been very sheltered or not had much to do with kids and aren’t aware of some of the horrible things that happen, or steps that have developed to protect kids. It’s good to become aware of those things though and when you do find out, you can just say
‘Thanks for telling me. I genuinely didn’t know that’
That would be a good response both spoken out loud but also in your heart.
As others say, they’re glad this staff member took it seriously and spoke to you…not to make you feel bad or offended….it was you who responded like that..but because it helps safeguard ALL the children, including your own too. That’s a good thing. Most people have a strong sense of that.
You’ll find lots of things like this, that you are and aren’t allowed to do, regarding photos, using names of children, stuff to do with social media. When your child is at school, the school will speak to you about all kinds of things. Some of them, your first thought might be that they are being rude or whatever it is is unnecessary. But just step back first before instantly reacting in a defensive way. Because she you’re defensive about stuff like this, your kids see it too…and they can become like it too….the kind of kids who can never bear to be spoken to about something, or who decide no-one has a right to speak to them or tell them off, or who are overly touchy. You want your child to be robust and to be able to move on from little things….and you have to model it yourself.