If a stranger gave your child chocolate, what would you do?

[marthamoo]

Happened today. I met my Mum in town - ds2 was in the buggy. My Mum was pushing the buggy. We were standing outside a shop and an old man just stopped by ds2 and peered down at him. I was trying to nudge Mum to get her to move the buggy but she was looking at plants outside Woolies and was oblivious. Next thing - the man gave ds2 a big bar of Dairy Milk (still wrapped), and shuffled off. He didn't say a word - not to me, not to ds2. Very strange. It made me very uncomfortable, tbh. It was bizarre that he didn't say anything at all - not "is it OK?" or "would he like?"

Told dh and he said I was overreacting and that it was just very sad - and just a harmless old man. Which is probably true but I didn't like it - and I took the chocolate away from ds2 and threw it away.

Any thoughts? I know it's late!

moo - and all those old people waiting for taxis with fags dripping out of their mouths and the like, yeah i have just resorted to ramming my buggy in the end - specially when pmt strikes!

We're making Macclesfiled sound so attractive!

I have got to go to bed...

I'm so tired I can't even spell it. Night night.

Night night marthamoo - nice speaking to you. Going shortly myself just waiting for dh to come back!

Trefusis - just wondering what on earth she thought your DS's gums would feel like?!! What a strange thing to do! Would've been very cross if someone had done that to DS (but in a frightfully English very polite way!).

i wouldn't let ds1/2 eat it, i am far too danger aware. but it would make me feel happy that old man was so generous.
I give sweets and stuff out at work but always ask parents first. i have had such a horrid experience when i was a young girl i gave a little boy a biscuit and he was diabetic the mum quickly batted it out of his hand before he bit it. i was so upset and this has stuck with me.
i also have given kiddies crisps/biscuits on the bus if ds(s) are eating it and a child is looking at the snack.

forgot to add that ask parent first

Pity there weren't a few new teeth in there, you know the really really sharp type, that is just beyond the pale.

Chocolate situation, can be stage managed, but the gums...........shudder

eat it myself, but as i am fat i would make sure no-one saw me do that of course as fat people shouldnt eat in public

bizarre that he didn't 'get it', ie you just don't give sweets to kids any more.

Still it would piss me off actually, how does he know whether you want your child to eat chocolate or not - not his place IMO.

Harcore Enid

hmmm...its a bit like the behaviour of someone we know and affectionately call "mad jack" around here. he appears to be very strange on first glance, wanders around town talking to everyone..the kind of old man you would cross the street to avoid. but actually i dont, because i knew him when i worked in a shop and he was actually completely sane and harmless when you got to know him. a very nice old man. he always talks to my ds now who is wary of him but i take no notice! admit though, if i didnt know him i would be very wary too! its a pity really that we think like this..but you just never know do you?

I'd do what you did Moo.

It is a generational thing, but OTOH, I'm pretty sure most generations have been taught not to take things from strangers haven't they? I guess he just doesn't consider himself a stranger though.

He should have asked but I guess he was an old man who just didn't think.