for old times sake
"Once my dd, who was about 5 at the time, was kicking off in Waitrose. Dh had taken her and her then 4 year old brother and they were misbehaving badly - grabbing stuff from the shelves, running away etc. Supermarket rebellion. DH then bought macaroons at the bakery and made it clear that those who misbehaved in the shop would NOT be allowed a macaroon in the car. DD carried on pushing bottles of wine, laughing maniacally (most unlike her).
So, when dh was packing the car, he followed through and refused to give her a macaroon but gave one to her brother. She went absolutely ballistic screaming at him. He had to put her in her car seat kicking and screaming. A well meaning onlooker called the police and said a man was kidnapping a 9 year old girl. She said the girl was shouting 'Help! Kidnap' ffs. My 5 year old dd had never even hear the word.
Anyway, the first I know of all this was the police at my door saying 'Are you the owner of a vehicle registration blah blah...? Is your husband or partner currently in possession of said vehicles with the children?' To my rising alarm. Obviously I thought there'd been an accident.
Then he got me to 'phone dh to check he really was with the kids. I did ... they were all in the swing park by now enjoying the sun. I was in my dressing gown with three police in my house including a detective. They were on walky talkies literally standing down the helicopers and saying, 'Yes.. I'm with the mother now .... we've established it seems to be a macaroon incident. Over ...'
The police apologised and said they had to take all these reports very seriously, which is understandable. DH was called home with the kids and the police were very nice to us.
That passer by was obviously not used to seeing a stroppy child kicking off. Kidnap fgs! I mean"