Stranger giving your child money

Make-it-3

Perhaps he was a Glasweigan lost in London Koalamummy! Can't say I have ever heard of the practice, never remember it happening to me when I was a kid.

I was just shocked to see a hand reach into her pushchair first of all, its quite intrusive. Once I realised what it was I thought the polite thing to do would be to decline it.

Gigglepig, when I say "shouted" he had already disappeared up the aisle by the time I realised what had happened I wasn't shouting in anger just to get his attention.

I do remember that a young girl had been given a poisoned drink in a Macdonalds around the same time so you do need to be careful - there is good and bad everywhere.

However, I like the fact that most of you see it as a random act of kindness. I really was in two minds as to what to do with the money for the rest of the afternoon.

Spendless

I've heard of a variation on what koalamummy talks about. To give a child a silver coin to hold for good luck. When my DD was born, my husband's friends parents came to visit us and that's what the woman did. I thanked her for her gift whislt watching dd like a hawk to make sure she didn't put it in her mouth and removed it as soon as I could. On bumping into one of my Grandmother's in town, when I was with my DD a few years back, she gave her money to spend, so I agree it's a generation and possibly geographical 'thing' to do.

bagpuss38

Oh i wish someone would give my kids money, i sure could do with it lol.:p

Just kidding, a random act of kindness with no strings attached, as others have said if it bothers you put it in a charity box.

dizziblonde

motherofstudents wrote: »

I haven't heard of that custom that koalamummy talks about but years ago it was very common to give children money. When I was very young I would look forward to getting money from people I didn't know, but I have to say my parents knew. For example if we went for a walk and bumped into a distant aquaintance of my parents, they would give me and my brother money.

It seems to have died out now but maybe older people still remember it and like to do it. There doesn't sound anything sinister in it to me.

It's quite common in the North East still although more an older generation thing - my little girl successfully mugged half of the local councillors when we were up there visiting my parents shortly after she'd been born!

Round where I live I think they'd flip out completely if someone did it though! Think it's even quite regionalised in the NE - my husband from a different part of that area had never heard of it!

Moomum

It's doesn't dodgy to me, with both my Lo's I was given money by a random elderly person (not the same one) when out shopping.

I think it is an old tradition and not sinister in any way (for the most part) , its crossing the babies palm with silver , with inflation :-)

Molly41

My DD is often given sweets at work from her elderly customers x

zaxdog

Perhaps it is a Glaswegian thing. I was born and brought up in Glasgow and I do this with folk I know who have had babies. Doesn't seem as common in Oban but that may be due to the high proportion of English people who have settled here.

I remember wedding "scrambles" as well :j

pawsies

I hope they don't do it too often though!

Babies will be richer than them!

Sally_A

Not the norm around here, but please see it as a RAOK.

I'm annoyed that the minority of pervs have turned us all into cynics.

Hopefully you bought your child a special treat with the money.

As an aside - a couple of days ago, I was stuck behind a bus, a little girl, aged about 2 - 3yrs was waving out the back window, I waved back, pulled a few funny faces, which she found hilarious.............was I subconsciously grooming her? NO!!!

I also recently stopped a child from running across a supermarket car park exit, the mother was a good 30ft behind (paying more attention to her phone than the kid). I stopped him getting possibly hit by a car, but was glared at as if I was a child snatcher, when reality had hit, I got a brief grunty thank you.

FBaby

My son who started to take the bus home when he was 9 was once offered some very nice chocolate by an older lady sitting next to him. It really shook him and wasn't sure what to say, but I was pleased that he didn't actually eat them until I came home (and gave them to my partner to try and taste!). I did say to him that it was most likely a very nice gesture on her part because she enjoyed his company on the bus but that he did the right thing not to eat them before telling me.

I think it is lovely that this happens (older people appreciating the younger generation when they deserve it), but it is also important to remind our children of potential dangers.