Stranger tightly embraced my child

[randommangoandpear]

In the que for Aldi check out, my 3 year old was next to me and checking out the bread loaves. A few guys were stood behind me, one of them asked what his name was, and when I answered, they proceeded to crouch down and tightly embrace my son!!

Was not expecting it and was prepared to tell him to refrain from touching my child again, but it was over in a flash.

This is really weird behaviour right?

I’d say so. I would never do this!

It’s very odd, but the chances are they didn’t mean any harm.

@Gadooza I feel awkward and slightly worried when I have to rescue random kids at the park when they’re crying, never mind randomly cuddling them!

Train your child to scream fire. That'll sort it.

Yeah it’s a bit overfamiliar!

I don’t think I would touch any kid I didn’t know, unless like in your example it was necessary (like holding their hand).

I’d wave hello but that’s it

I think it’s slightly odd but as it was in front of you and they’d engaged with him it doesn’t sound suspicious

Bloody hell! I hope you told them to FUCK OFF really quickly! How can you teach your kid appropriate boundaries?

Sounds weird to me and I would feel very annoyed if someone did that. This person is a complete stranger and should not be touching your child in front of you or not. How did your child react? Children often feel they have to comply with adults even ones they don't know maybe use this as an opportunity to talk to your child about stranger danger and saying no to things they are uncomfortable with. We never force our child to hug someone like a family member if they don't want to for example.

How old were they? What sort of blokes were they? Were they family together as in father and son? Work colleagues in hi viz or uniform?
Just trying to get a better judgement of the situation.

Recently i was in a hotel with my two dc. A random man asked me if my 5 year old dd was wearing make up ! I just said no and turned away. Next thing he crouched down, touched her cheek with his hand and went to embrace her. I pushed him back by stepping in front of him inbetween him and dd and loudly said "no thank you" he stood up and just stood there and we walkef away. Im so glad I said and did that as im usually not quick and look back with reget.
People are so strange.

Yes. What was your child's reaction? I'd also not give out their name. And try to practice shouting NO!

Yes this is very weird, I'd never touch someone else's child!

That's terrifying

Odd !!! My child would have absolutely pushed them away, also I don’t know any men at all that would hug a random child.

There were 2 of them with a few bits of shopping in normal clothing.

It made me a bit paranoid and I looked back to make sure we weren’t being followed, but they were just paying for their shopping and we didn’t see them again.

@Noella12 He looked taken aback and uncomfortable, it was over so quickly I couldn’t believe what had just happened.

They were probably around my age. Mid 30’s. I’m getting angrier the more I think about it! DP thinks it was harmless but agrees it was bloody weird.

So I just brought up the subject with him, mainly to ask how it made him feel etc. He said he likes hugs but he didn’t like the man’s fingernail hurting his arm!!!

This freaked me out. I’ve checked his arms and can’t see any irritation of broken skin but wtf?

I expect this has shaken you up a bit OP. No it is not OK at all. I work with adults with learning disabilities and I wonder if this is the case here. If it was the case the person's carer should have intervened and offered a bit of explanation "sorry he doesn't understand" would have been enough.

@Winter2020 They didn’t appear that way to me but I appreciate these things aren’t always obvious. It has happened before to me with someone with disabilities and I completely understood. This just feels sinister, but hopefully just being a paranoid mum.

Him now saying he didn’t like the fingernail and it hurt him has sent me spiralling. Who is to say it was his fingernail? Ugh