To tell someone else’s child?

[Snoopdoggydo]

Context, I’m a nanny and do school runs, our primary school is entered through the church grounds/graveyard.

On the school run as I was walking through the church path and a saw a boy pull one of the metal drain grids out of the floor and push it with his foot several metres which coincided with the church entrance. As I crossed paths I politely said ‘could you go and put that back where it belongs please’ which the child did without an protest.

But his mum questioned me on what I said so I did just say ‘oh he was kicking the grid, wouldn’t want him to hurt his toes anyway as it’s metal and heavy’ but she just gave me the dirtiest look so I just carried on my way.

WIBU to say something? I live close by so I know this church has very early morning services and my first thought was that some poor unsuspecting elderly person would trip over it as it’s almost pitch black in the church grounds early mornings. I usually don’t pay attention to school run politics as I’m just doing my job so unsure if I’ve made a big faux pas by saying something.

You were not unreasonable , someone could have tripped over the grid , or indeed over the hole / channel whatever it was covering. I think I would have explained to mum he had taken the drain lid off and you were asking him to replace it. But I think you did nothing wrong and a helpful thing

You were right. Mother was wrong and should have told her child to replace the grate anyway

Nothing wrong in what you said. It's good for kids to know adults will pull them up if they're doing something dangerous or unacceptable.

Oh good I’m glad then. The child didn’t roll their eyes or huff which was nice to see, it was just his mother that made me question myself!

You were absolutely not being unreasonable. You were right to say something for all the reasons you mention.

My guess is that the mother reacted defensively because she was embarrassed that she hadn't noticed her child doing something he shouldn't have been doing. You're definitely the one in the right here.

I would have done the same as you.

I pulled up a group of high school kids for littering a few days back.

You did the right thing
Somebody could get hurt.
His mother should be monitoring his behaviour

I told another child off the other day. They hit my child four times at soft play and I only said something on the fourth! The mother did not like it.
You only hope that once these kids are exposed to wider society, they get some general messaging about their behaviour beyond what is being communicated by their parents.

You absolutely did the right thing.