This mum just blocked my toddler from approaching hers

[Skysky1]

was in town today walking through M&S , with my 3 yr old.
We had just bought toys in the previous shop so he was out of pram and walking with his new toys in his hands and was excited about them.
Walking parallel to us was also a mum with toddler (around two)
My son approached him from the side and started walking directly next to him showing him his toys whilst they were both walking , the child smiled in response and didn't appear to seem at unease, however the mum swiftly stopped and put her arm out in front of my son blocked him between her arm and a Column so that he couldn't go any further and then she said ' excuse me ' as if for him to back away.
He turned to face me and I swooped him up and said ' he's only a toddler'
To which she didn't respond, she carried on walking and I changed direction.
I was left feeling quite sad for my son
I just wanted other mum's opinions on this . Was I in the wrong for letting my child approach hers , I guess everyone is entitled to their personal space. However I never anticipated that reaction it just seemed like a mean thing to do , and I'm always very welcoming to other kids that approach us

@Skysky1 She could had have easily accidentally struck him with how quick she was to do it to. As he was still moving , her arm was close to his face.

You are being ridiculous

@CatamaranViper

I'd love to hear the other ladies'version of events.

I doubt OP and her child were as sweet as she is making out

Totally. I bet op was calling her all sorts of names behind her back and her child was intentionally taunting this child with his new shiny toy. Probably they were destitute and had wondered into M&S by mistaken from being so malnourished 🤣

You want to teach a 3 year old to respect a strangers peace and quiet in a shop? Do you hear you? He was just wanting. to show his wee toy to a fellow child! Ffs! Sometimes I honestly wonder about at least 70% of the folk on here what what’s going on. This isn’t normal advice! Who are you all coming out with this craziness! I honestly don’t trust this place anymore.

The 3yo shouldn't have been approaching and getting in the way in the first place.

If you're going to allow your child to approach random people in public, you need to be prepared for them to be rebuffed and ignored. It's rude to allow them to just go up to strangers and interact.

Both kids, plus the other mum, will have probably forgotten about this non event completely, blissfully unaware that strangers are arguing about it on the internet.

is it possible that the child had a cold or vomiting bug or something? Maybe she didn’t want your kid catching it

Of course that's what they should be taught

Do you go up to people in the street and show them your stuff uninvited?

And if other toddler had snatched your child 's toy and slobbered on it or broken it what would you have done ? Do not ancourage your child to show off his toys on street they will get snatched/dirty/broken ...

huh? Of course you teach your 3 year old acceptable behaviour IN A SHOP. You also teach him not to grab food, not to help himself to pack of snacks, not to run around.

Good grief HOW did you parent your children if the concept of teaching them to behave is so shocking for you?

I'v done similar in the past but hurried my child forwards rather than putting my arm out to the other child. It was because the other child was taunting mine with the toys and I didn't want my child getting upset.

It's almost certainly nothing personal.

I now have a vision of some posters actually showing their "stuff" to start a conversation at the bus stop 😂😂😂

But it wasn’t even about the other toddler’s personal space, but their mum’s.

It is a learning curve. One I also learnt from my first born. Not all mothers are nice to all children. It is hard to accept but sadly very true. You will experience more of this!

This I had a biter. Sometimes just easier not to allow interaction if I knew DS was tired/ hungry/ grumpy.

No, just a smallish town 🤷‍♀️

Stop overthinking it.

The mum was likely busy and didn't want the hassle of an interaction with her own child. She nipped it at the bud. Your over reaction of 'swooping him up' has programmed him for drama. I doubt he was 'sad'. Most likely a bit disappointed but he had a new toy to look forward too. I'd imagine you let this ruin his day.
The mum wasn't nasty and she didn't touch your child. Would you have preferred her to say Shooo, or Go Away or maybe waited till your child and hers were in conversation and yanked him away.
You think your kid's adorable. He's just another random person to others most of the time. I hope you don't have dog too and tell passers by He won't hurt you. It's just the same.

Agree with this.

So many reasons she could have done this and they've all been mentioned.

Why are you so bothered, OP? Was it offensive to you that a stranger didn't fawn over your DC? Not everyone finds strangers' children cute.

When I'm out on a very rare shopping trip with my GD I have neither time nor inclination to strike up a conversation with other adults. Nor do I want to have the hassle of trying to pry another child's toy from her hands.

I'm also dealing with a disease that could see me affected badly by everyday illnesses (hence the rare trips).

My point is you have no idea why. Let it go and as Morechocmorechoc says, consider a safety aspect, too. You only need to get distracted for a moment to see a child get lost. It's extremely unlikely that a stranger could work in a team to distract a parent and then abduct but not unknown.

It depends on the reason why though.

I'm sure OP would also be on here complaining if the other child bit/hit/pushed her child.

No one knows why she stopped OP's DC.

She did not remove him at all. She didn't touch him. She enforced hers and hers child's personal space to deter your child. It worked

Yes, it’s odd how some people go on about their personal space because a small child approached another one in a shop 😵‍💫
I might feel that way if an adult followed me around the shop trying to strike up a conversation, but a small child?

A department store is not a playground. She didn’t owe your son any engagement.

I think YABU OP. As others have said, you don't know what prompted her to do that, and also you don't know what she had going on today! There's a whole range of possibilities and I wouldn't really be giving it a second thought tbh! "oh sorry, come on Johnny" and move on!

It’s usually men in raincoats that do that!

It's no less annoying just because it's a 3yo and not a middle aged man.