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Rude kid dramas

7 replies

Reddingsing · 21/02/2026 22:02

At a play centre, my daughter was clearly playing with playdough set when suddenly another boy grabbed it from in front of her and took it to his table. He had been grabbing other stuff without asking already and had lots of stuff in front of his space (all from our table). DD burst into tears a few seconds later when she realised. We went to asked the mum for the toy back as my DD was in the middle of playing with it and the other boy had gone off elsewhere (we did mention to her that he had taken it off DD and were polite about it)

The mum went on the defensive and ranted that I should have said something to her son and started lecturing me about my parenting style (ie asking for the toy back and standing up to my DD) ! The incident happened fast and we didn’t have time to react. Shouldn’t it be her that should have said something to her son and then apologised for snatching??

I didn’t want to engage conversation but she went on and on so I told her directly that she should have been watching her son and not let him snatch off others, he was being rude and that he was snatching off others already before this incident. She left in a puff

Both kids are around 3/4 so sure maybe they can’t help the behaviour but the parents need to be aware and monitor behaviour? I don’t think it’s my job to tell the other kid off as she will prob go off at me for telling her kid off!!! And I don’t think it’s her place to tell me how I teach my DD also!

Has anyone else have had dramas like this?

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sprigatito · 21/02/2026 22:08

I tended to swerve dramas like that tbh. I would have redirected my own child to another activity, and taught her generally that some people don’t know how to share, or have any manners. You’re being very bombastic about “standing up for your DD”, but if you are going to fight every little battle with this level of zeal for the next 15 years, you are going to be thoroughly burnt out and miserable.

Reddingsing · 21/02/2026 22:20

Yes you are right - we usually redirect but this time as the kid wasn’t even playing with the toy he snatched and was somewhere else so we asked for it back nicely as she was still playing her game with it. The mum just went ballistic and went on and on (which we tried to ignore).

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Reddingsing · 21/02/2026 22:21

I think she thinks she is standing up for her son rather!

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StrongLikeMamma · 21/02/2026 22:32

Jesus.

Cherrysherbet · 21/02/2026 22:42

I would have done the same as you OP.

Sod redirecting! Kids need to learn to share and not snatch.

Very bad parenting from the other Mum. No wonder her Son thinks he can take things from other children.
You’re obviously teaching your child the right way.

FeistyFrankie · 22/02/2026 18:48

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, does it?

Sounds like she was projecting. I doubt you're the first person to point out how awful her spoilt little angel's behaviour is.

Reddingsing · 23/02/2026 00:53

Seriously I agree - she couldn’t handle any criticism about her kid being rude! No apologies or anything but we got yelled at by the mum when DD did nothing wrong.

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