Weird old lady

[Nowayvenus]

Do you think this is weird? Went shopping with my boys, as we went to the till to pay a little old lady went up to my youngest saying that he looked cheeky and grabbed his wrist to pull him towards her, I think she was going to pinch his cheeks. He backed away so I said he was shy and kept between them, so she then started on my eldest. I said he was shy too and moved us all away to another till.
I know she probably didn’t mean any harm but it freaked me out.

Try singing weird old lady, weird old lady I don't have no time for no monkey business next time

Here we go again. Yet another ageist thread.
Let's all get the boot in to " old ladys" shall we?

How dare an elderly person interact with you. How awful!

I can understand why it bothered you OP. Most people wouldn’t grab a stranger’s child, even in a jokey way. Some people have different boundaries. She was probably lonely though and wanted to interact with you. I’m sure she meant no harm. You never know what someone’s life is like and if they have neighbours/family/friends that they can talk and interact with. I’m not sure who wrote this quote but I’ve always liked it: “In a world where you can be anything, be kind”.

I will never hear that line as anything else now!

Oh finally @MassiveOvaryaction I thought nobody was going to get it and just think I was a weird old lady

@TigerSteak do you think it’s acceptable for a 40 year old man to come up and grab your wrist with the aim to touch your cheek?

OP you aren’t wrong, no one should touch another person without consent including children.

I hate when elderly people behave like this. Stop grabbing or touching random children, it's never been ok.

And I really couldn't care less if its ageist, it's the truth. It doesnt matter that they dont mean harm, they can still cause it if they're making children and parents uncomfortable. Age is not an excuse to be completely ignorant of your own behaviour.

Someone…anyone..a stranger grabbed your child’s wrist and pulled them towards them??

not acceptable

children are not objects to be handled and politeness does not stop you from having boundaries

Please define a “weird old lady”? Can’t you just say a woman overstepped your boundaries?

Times were different then

Brilliant 😄

Going to sing this to my Mum the next time she is here.

Love it

I think some people just get carried away in the moment. What did your boys say?

I can’t stand people (of any age!) getting right in my baby or toddler’s face or reaching to touch them. They always seem put out when the child doesn’t respond well to it, it’s so bizarre. I’ve stopped being apologetic and saying “oh she’s a bit shy” now when she moves herself away as I just think it’s a totally normal reaction to a stranger getting in your space.

I’m loving this lately!

But we arent living in "then". We are living in 2024 and if you dont know not to touch children without their consent you shouldnt be out and about.

Age is not an excuse. And there has never been an excuse children are human beings with their own autonomy.

Took my properly old (87, terminally ill and using a wheelchair) mum to the garden centre today. Immediately out of the car, there was a proper toddler (under 2) and her brother (probably between 3 & 4). Admittedly my mother didn’t manhandle any child but her face instantly lit up and she waved and said hello to them, commented on their blankie, said how lovely they both were, engaged with them and probably made all the noises a Weird Old Lady might make.

Fortunately, their mum was a kind, non paranoid and trusting woman (given that she was - like you - standing right next to her kids) and she did nothing but hover and smile.

Seeing children gives my mother such joy. She would be devastated for it to be misconstrued.

You are within your rights to set boundaries for strangers interactions with your kids. I would however suggest not everyone is out to get you, even if you think their boundaries are wonky.

my link might not have worked

Difference was she didn't grab one of their wrists and tried to pull them towards her.

I’m really glad there are still reasonable kind people like you around among the sea of paranoid old lady bashers. I’m far from being an old lady yet, but the lack of tolerance and kindness in some of these responses is very depressing.

Well, yes. As I said.

But she would absolutely ‘shake hands’ or blow a kiss or stroke the head of a child if the situation availed.

This is more than interacting.

She had no right to touch another person's child

It really was a different time!

When DS was about 5 days old I took him to M&S for a mooch. Plenty of people all ages smiled and cooed and said nice things from a distance. Older lady approached, stuck head INSIDE the pram to breathe all over him, kiss his cheek and then start lecturing me fiercely about keeping him away from germs 😂 I was so dazed I think I just nodded!

I would have stepped in and asked her to mind her own business.
Not ok!

Thank you. That means a lot.

Old ladies rock!

Women of 80’ odd years now were the feminists of the 70’s. They created our paths.

ETA: RESPECT!