To be absolutely amazed and fuming at this behaviour?

[Kitsilano]

This afternoon I was sitting with DD2 (22 months) in the very small baby pool. A 4/5 year old boy came into the pool and started throwing a long heavy plastic Zogg diving stick high, high up into the air and letting it fall into the water around us. These toys are heavy (I also have them) as they are thick plastic and rubber and fill up with water so I was concerned it would conk DD2 on the haed but said nothing as he did it 5-6 times while his mum watched.

Then his mum said "Stop that now, we're going" and moved away to gather towels etc.

He ignored her and kept doing it closer and closer to us say 4 more times. At which point I said (VERY politely) "Would you mind not doing that please? It might hit someone on the head by mistake and that would hurt". The boy replied "I wasn't throwing it at anyone" and I replied "Oh, I'm sure you wouldn't mean to but accidents happen".

At this point his mum stormed back over said in a very nasty tone "I've already asked him to stop, thank you". Then she screamed at him to get out of the pool and as they left turned to me and hissed "Dont EVER do that again!".

I think I am still in shock. All I could think of to say in response was "I didn't want my daughter to get hit!"

I know people can take offence at other adults seeming to "discipline" their children but can I really have been out of order to ask him politely to stop doing something that could have hurt me or my child?

What on earth should I have said or done?

Lol benjysmum alot of lifts have mirrors you could of turned to it a gave yourself your best death stare!

Sorry OP forgot to answer. Woman was silly, you did the right thing.

YANBU that womans psycho, no wonder some children (without SN) have bad behaviour if mum treats them as precious, my goodness.

Oh dear She is now replaying the incident over and over in her head and getting more embarrassed and defensive about it. Just like you But unlike you she has some reason to be.

DS#2 is hard work and there are times when he has been spoken to by other people and the urge to snap at them through sheer frustration and embarassment is very strong. But I refrain - instead I apologise and then tell him off roundly.

You did nothing wrong.

It's her problem. You did nothing wrong.

You'd have felt worse if you hadn't said anything and he'd succeeded in hurting your DC. So you spoke up when you should have and you weren't rude.
Judging by her reaction he porbably did get it in the neck later! Some people are just like this. It also comes with the territory so stick your hard hat on and start growing that thick skin.

My guess is she'd hasd a bellyful of that senseof trying to make a great memory with your 4 year old and findinge verything so stressful- as it often is IMEat that age when they are neither toddler /preschooler nor older child. I find that stage hardest of all.

I expect she'ssat at home with a cuppa thinking goodness what a twat I was today, I hope I don't see themagain,I'd be so embarassed

Write it off as someone with aclearly non cooperative child and that you came out of it the better.

Are you sure she wasn't hissing it at her DS? Seems bizarre to aim that at you seeing as you're not likely to see her on a regular basis!

You should have thrown the dive weight at her. JOKE!

HowlingAtTheMoon - actually both those things occurred to me later. However the fact that she had already given me a dirty look and said "I've already told him to stop, thank you" makes me feel pretty sure it was directed at me.

Throwing the dive weight up in the air and it "accidentally" hitting her on the head would have been extremely satisfying. But I'm an adult. Sigh.

YANBU but I doubt the "Dont EVER do that again!" was aimed at you.

Horrid as it is when someone is harsh and rude, don't dwell on it