Made to feel uncomfortable

I would grab a child if it was in a public place - you do occasionally see escaped toddlers heading off down the pavement - try to herd them into a doorway first strategy. Grabbing would be second. Lost kids in supermarkets - encourage them to shout MUMMY at the top of their voices.

It's awful we probably all think twice before we smile at children nowadays. I always remember the case of the small child who walked out of their nursery and was later found to have drowned in a nearby pond. Lots of drivers had seen the child but they had been too worried to be seen stopping their cars to speak to them.

I often have a chat with toddlers sitting in a trolley in a checkout queue. No parent has ever objected. If it's a non-talking baby, we communicate in smiles and waves! Other customers probably think, 'silly old bat', but I'm sure the bored child appreciates it.

I am afraid I too often make a nuisance of myself have no qualms about talking to mums and small children (usually saying how lovely the child is and how I miss seeing my DGC!) and occasionally I get a cool reception but am I bovvered? I also smile at children and say Hello, particularly if they have made eye contact - and I am so sorry this silly Mum made you feel uncomfortable. We must guard against being over sensitive - like feeling gulty when you walk through the green channel at Customs without anything dodgy, but they give you funny looks? I am not saying you were over sensitive, BTW but it is often in our nature as older women to feel something is our fault when it da*n well isn't.

She was probably overreacting to the fact that she hadn't, herself been keeping an eye on the child. The other day I had a child in front of me who kept standing facing backwards on an escalator. As we got towards the end I kept saying to her 'you must now face forwards' [didn't dare touch her, heaven forbid]. She just about turned round in time and her mother who was way in front of her rushed over telling her that was 'very dangerous'. I said to the mother 'I have been telling her, y'know'. Maybe we should start a gransnet campaign to go up to every woman with a small child, either walking ot in a pushchair that aren't speaking or interacting with the child, but have their ears/faces glued to a phone instead. It annoys me almost as much as people who do it when they're driving. Grrr

Hopefully the little girl will remember the nice lady who smiled and said hello.

Silly woman! We often take DGC to a cafe and they wander about a bit and charm everyone they meet by saying hello - we just keep a watchful eye from a distance.

I always thought that "Stranger Danger" was a dreadful slogan - what message dos this send out to the children about the world? I know there are dangers and we need to prepare them to behave sensibly, but the idea that every stranger is a danger is pernicious and unhealthy.

It equates with the idea that all men are rapists until proven otherwise - what an insult to them!

Nothing for you to feel guilty about, just a rather silly mother. I feel sorry for the child.

And small children wandering around in an environment where there are lots of hot drinks spooks me out.

Rude! What's the betting the mother was sitting there engrossed in her mobile phone...

I'm not surprised you felt uncomfortable. While I can understand parents being careful these days, that mother was completely out of order.
It's a sad world if we can't just respond if a child says hello. There is an
awful lot of over-reaction these days and it is a pity.

Silly woman! My grandchildren are welcome to say 'hello' to people when they're with adults and are distracted elsewhere if they choose someone who doesn't want to respond, or they get a bit too familiar with them. It's not you!

It's sensible for a parent to take some precautions but this is absolutely ridiculous and her behaviour quite uncalled for. As everyone should now know, children are more at risk from those within their own families and friendship groups than anyone else.

Some parents are just OTT. If the mother didn't want the child talking to people she should have told her not to talk to strangers.