Playground incident - WIBU?

[HardonCollider]

Just been at a local busy playground with my LO. Small child (3ish) near us fell down and was sat crying. Parents were both at the other end of the play area. I spoke to the child and asked her if she was ok, she pointed at her foot and was still crying. I could see her mum coming towards us at this point so told the child that mummy was coming.

Mum proceeded to pick up the child then launched a verbal assault on me saying that I shouldn’t have left her to cry when she was obviously hurt. I can’t remember what else she said as I was quite shocked by her aggression towards me.

So, what would you have done in this situation please? Was I being unreasonable to speak to the child rather than helping her up or soothing her?

I would have asked if she was ok and unless in some sort of dangerous place looked for mum and reassured child.
Panicking mum that's all

YANBU. No doubt if you had helped the child up she would have screamed at you for touching her child 🙄

She was looking for a target for her bile, unfortunately it was you today.

You did the right thing. She was just in shock that's all.

No, that’s not all. She has no right to verbally assault the OP and should have kept an eye on her own child.

And OP did reassure the child.

You can guarantee if you had tried to sooth the child she would have "launched a verbal assault" on you for daring to touch her child.

I would have done the same as you, asked if she was ok but not touched, soothed or picked up the child.

No, she wasn’t in shock 🙄

I would have done the same as you.

I agree. You can't win.

I think she was projecting her guilt - she should have been the one watching her child and she wasn't so she lashed out at you. It doesn't excuse her behaviour. I'm sure if you had have picked her up she would have had a go at you too.

You did the right thing. She’s a dick - why is the 3 year old running round unsupervised anyway?

So she cba to keep an eye on her child and that’s your fault? Fucking idiot 😂

Firstly, her parents should not have been that far away from their child. If you had have picked her up, they probably would have a go at your for that too. Well done for keeping your cool, especially around little ones.

I remember I was at the park with my children. A two(ish) year old on her scooter fell infront of me and grazed her knee. I asked where Mum was and she shrugged, crying her eyes out. In the end, I said I’d take her to find Mummy, so off me and my kids trotted to locate her. Mum was sat having a picnic with friends the other side of the playground. The look of disgust she gave when she saw me approaching with her child. It may have been have face, but she didn’t say two words to me. I think sometimes the parents are embarrassed perhaps?

Sometimes you simply cannot win, but it’s certainly not your issue.

I expect she would have told you off for touching her child if you had consoled her, so you probably couldn’t win. The reality is that her anger was probably at herself for leaving her child in a situation where she was injured and she was projecting; not that it makes it acceptable behaviour.

Panicking mum, in shock. No just a rude bitch.

I’d have done exactly what you did. It wasn’t a life threatening injury.

@HardonCollider

Dont give it another thought, what you did was the best thing. It's just you can't do right for wrong these days.

shes deflecting her guilt on to you. She might have been ok if you'd picked her up & put her on your knee & looked at her foot etc.

but another parent would have lost their shit.

for various reasons I've been closely involved with other peoples children all my life.(now 55) and I'll just do what I think is best for the child in any situation and if anyone kicks off they'll get told to look after their kids better so a stranger doesn't need to get involved when their kid needs help/gets hurt. 💁🏻‍♀️💁🏻‍♀️

Thanks, you’ve made me feel like a normal person. I was beginning to doubt my actions 😬

One of mine would have freaked out if a stranger had tried to help her up under those circumstances. So I think you did the right thing. I had to keep explaining to strangers that my child would be fine when they backed away.

As long as you didn't leave the child under unsafe circumstances
You did whats right
And thats just a rude mother

Ignore it
Craycray ppl are everywhere nowadays

You did the right thing. Definitely better than picking up a random child. She was just embarrassed as she wasn’t watching her child, but was really rude about it. I hope she feels guilty about her reaction now.

Exactly, can’t do right for doing wrong.

The stupid fool should have been watching her tiny child. YANBU.

Her Mum should have been closer to her.
I'd never help a child as you don't know what you might be accused of.
If you'd have helped you could have been shouted at for that. You did no wrong. And shouldn't have been shouted at regardless

Also she was obviously feeling guilty for not have noticed.

You didn’t do anything wrong, you asked the child if they were ok. I wouldn’t touch a strangers child. She should have been closer her child is too young to be playing alone far away.