Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

How to deal with strangers approaching your children

4 replies

SMLSML · 24/09/2024 15:09

Interested to know how other people would have dealt with this... At lunch today I was in McDonald's with my little girl who is 4 and my 10 week old. I was ordering at the touch screen and my little girl was on the table right next to me. A man (probably late 50s) went up to her and asked her her name and waved, then tried to make her high 5 him all in the space of a few seconds. I was polite and said you don't have to to my little girl and sat between them, making it clear I didn't want a conversation as I was slightly taken aback. He then proceeded to sit at the table opposite us to eat and for the next half hour kept trying to get her attention and waving. Then when he left he tried to get her to fist punch him. Again I said no you don't have to as she didn't want to (a bit less politely this time) and gathered our stuff to leave. It's such a tricky one as technically there wasn't anything he was doing 'wrong' but it definitely made me uncomfortable and you could tell it made people on surrounding tables uncomfortable too... I'm glad I advocated for my daughter so she knows she never has to please other people, especially strangers! However I wish I'd maybe said something more, however if he genuinely trying to be friendly or maybe had special needs that's what held me back I think. Guess I just need advice on if it happens again, any comments welcome x

OP posts:
YaCannyKickYaGrannyInTheShin · 24/09/2024 15:12

You dealt with it just fine.

No need to say anything more.

anyoneforcustard1 · 24/09/2024 15:12

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines - previously banned poster.

LadyKenya · 24/09/2024 15:15

I think the way you dealt with it was sufficient. I am not sure what more there was to say. If it was too much of a problem, I would have just moved, if I felt that the situation warranted me to do so.

Flossyflop · 24/09/2024 15:16

I think you handled it well. You never know how people will react and sometimes even though you’d like to give a true response and tell them to jog on, you have to self preserve and just get through the situation for an easy, safe life.

You actually handled it brilliantly by telling your daughter she didn’t have to and that’s the main thing.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page