To think what this shop assistant said to my DD was weird.

[Lumeevme]

My DD is 4 and we nipped into a local one stop last night and as we’re leaving a male shop assistant said to her ‘don’t you want to stay here for the night’ she said ‘NO’ firmly and got upset and he said ‘why not? There’s lots of sweets here and things to eat’ is this weird or am I over thinking?

Very strange thing to say

so she was desperate to go home and he joked don’t you want to stay the night then and now you’re all what, thinking he was serious ?

I wouldn’t even see it as he was attempting a joke, if she was fussy and messing around it’s the sort of thing that I would potentially say to help you get her out the shop easily, she obviously wouldn't want to stay in the shop with a stranger, so by saying it he knew she would choose the only other option to stop messing and just leave with you instead without fuss, if he’s got kids and recognised the behaviour maybe it was purely to try and avert a tantrum and make life a little easier for you?

its the sort of thing I would do if I thought it might help, sometimes a stranger addressing the child in a non threatening/question way is all it takes to distract them enough that they forget what they were about to go batshit about.

Trying to joke to cheer up a tired child was okay - asking why not when it clearly hadn't helped, that would sit wrong for me. I think most people would back off fast and say only kidding to the child, if anything else then maybe aside to mum about aw bless she looks tired kind of thing.

Just being friendly making conversation. He wouldn't have ment it literally.

She was being fussy,I’m imagining taking ages to decide what she wanted.
Shop worker says do you want to stay here all night, presumably meaning she will be here all night if she doesn’t hurry up.
Maybe it came out a bit clumsily.
l’d hate to have my every utterance dissected my a mumsnetter, wouldn’t stand a chance.

I actually do think it was a silly thing to say. Most people know not to wind a tired 4 year old up. I'm sure he was only joking though 😁.

I actually do think it was a silly thing to say. Most people know not to wind a tired 4 year old up. I'm sure he was only joking though 😁.

I literally make this kind of joke every time a parent is a bit late doing pick up, don't think it's weird it's just being silly.

She started crying as you were leaving the shop? Sounds to me like he meant "Are you crying because you don't want to leave?" and it was a mildly jokey way to encourage her to go without crying.

You need to lighten up then if you want to keep her that way.

Having a sense of humour is underrated but it can do wonders for mental health.

Weird indeed.

aah i understand the context now. Not weird then

Yeah, that's a really weird thing to say to a 4 year old.

😅🤣 jazz hands!! I agree!

OMG how utterly creepy! 100% red flag. I'd have reported him! Good on your daughter for firmly saying NO!

Who to?! 🤣

It's not weird, he was just trying to make light of the situation, if anything to distract her and help you.

MEN - don't talk to kids
You'll end up on Mumsnet.. or Facebook.. or other Social Media.

Yes I know it'll be hard for you male teachers, you'll have to rig up a microphone and a speaker and talk to the microphone... whilst in a separate class room.. or better yet, a seperate building.. state or country.

I once had a woman say something similar to my DD when she was upset in Tesco..

So women - Don't Talk To Kids..

In fact, every one, just ignore the kids, it's for the best.. we'll let the kids roam free and pretend they're invisible until they reach 18years old. 👍

Is this him OP? 🤔

Either you're being heavily sarcastic or hysterical. Can't tell which

You both sound a bit snowflakey

“Firmly said NO” 🤣🤣 OP why do you seem strangely proud of this?
YAB unreasonable and silly. He was joking. Lighten up.

But weird with the sweets and stuff I guess.

When I worked in retail and there was fussy kids refusing to move on with their parents, I'd say something like, 'ohh are you going to stay here with me then? I've got lots of cleaning jobs you can help me with ' which helped to get them shifting!

Yes, it's like op's Supertot bravely fought off her own abductor. I think op is prone to serious over exaggeration.