Since when are we not allowed to talk to the children?

victory

peachyprice wrote: »

Why not?.........

Fair enough

http://www.child-safety-for-parents.com/female-pedophile.html#.UPfctScgGSM

balletshoes

lilymay1 wrote: »

Honestly? I can understand her reaction. Perhaps her daughter wandered off, mum was frantically searching for her and then found her sat on a bench outside talking to a stranger.

but surely the first thing you'd do in that situation is talk to your child, ask if she's okay? You wouldn't go off into a rant at someone sitting next to her, would you? She's 9, not 2.

karren

We live in an awful world, Ive a 9 year old and my first thought was wheres the mum, not critisising her but, why have a go unless she panicked?

but with evil people like saville in world and police protecting him, who knows where we as parents stand, and yet we want well balanced children.

you werent in wrong no one was we just live in weird world now

warehouse

The woman was a lowlife, it wasn't you and the vast majority of parents would never react like that.

balletshoes

I don't think theres anything wrong in replying to children on the bus, in shopping centres etc when they start up a conversation with me. Some kids just like talking! Most of the time their parents are with them or very nearby, and it wouldn't occur to me to ignore a child who was clearly talking to me, even though I don't know them or their parents.

chrisv24

This woman is everything about society that is going wrong. People cant even video their childrens school plays without permission anymore.

You did nothing wrong!

Amanda65

When my DS was younger (about 5 or 6) he talked to anyone and everyone - in fact a friend once said if he was abducted they would bring him back because he never shut up and would drive them mad .

I absolutely hate the fact that the behaviour of a very small minority of people causes the rest of us and those around us to have to question our behaviour. What a very sad society we live in

Naf

I had a related thought this morning;
Obviously I want to teach my kids that you shouldn't talk to strangers - for their own safety.
But this morning while walking my 4 year old son to school, I made a friendly comment to someone we walked past - a complete stranger. My son asked me if I know the person, and why I spoke to him, and I realised that is a very good point. I like speaking to people, being polite and friendly, even when I don't know them in the slightest. If I'm going to do that, it's very difficult to tell my son that he can't.
It's a difficult world; because it can be so sweet when children get talking to you just sat on the train/bus/park bench etc. and I enjoy entertaining them (on a long train journey I sat and juggled a while for a lady's kids who were being a nightmare). But especially as a male, I find it increasingly difficult to manage how I can be friendly and helpful like that, without having my motives questioned.
Sure, I like kids.... But not in quite the same way I like my wife.

jwsiharris

I don't think you are a weirdo at all. If you react like that anytime someone talks to your child both you and the child will end up being overly careful. However, I think shes got a cheek in so far as she wanted to go off and look at a dress on here own so sent her child to sit outside and obviously wasn't checking to see what was going on or would have come out sooner - it was probably her feeling a bit guilty for leaving her little girl and unfortunately you got the back lash!

I'm not judging the mother as I''ve done similar things myself. For example, on one occassion I was at the checkout in the supermarket and my kids were getting tetchy (about 9/10 at the time) so I told them they could go and look at the display by the entrance to keep them occupied. A few minutes later I noticed them talking to an old lady so rather quicker than usual finished my checkout and zipped over but quite calmy said "You ready to go now" and to the lady said "Hope my children weren't bothering you" and we even chatted a bit more as a group. Once in the car I did say to them you've got to be careful talking to strangers but we all agreed she had seemed fine and very very "safe".

You can't teach your child that everyone is a "Jimmy Saville" otherwise they won't learn to make judgements or weigh things up?

renegade

Guilt! She had probably just realised her daughter was missing and was embarrassed to find her talking to a stranger, although she had probably not discussed 'stranger danger' with her.

She wanted 'time to herself' and then turned on you for keeping her child amused in her absence.
You did nothing wrong, she did reacting the way she did, she took her insecurities out on you and probably the child too, to take the blame from herself.
I am always talking to children on the buses who talk to me but they have their parents with them.
It is a sad state of affairs, but that's life as it is now.