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Help! A Stranger Picked Up My Kid!

by christine on October 07, 2009 — Comments (5)

I'll set the scene. I was with my parents and my adorable 2 1/2-year-old nephew at the paint store. And if there's one thing more boring than watching paint dry, it's purchasing said paint. So, of course, a toddler isn't going to sit quietly while waiting for a can of taupe to mix. At least, not my nephew. So, he was doing the cute things he is wont to do, running down the aisles, using paint brushes as drumsticks. One gentleman found him particulary cute and was talking to him. But then it happened.

He. Picked. Up. My Nephew.

Say WHAT?!

I mean, I get it to a point. The man thought my nephew was cute, we were all right there, but there's something super-creepy about a stranger touching your child, let alone hoisting him in there. So, my mother and I stood there, sort of with our mouths agape. It was but for a few seconds, and my mother protested as soon as my nephew showed distress, but we were both shaken. Not because we were scared, but because we were bewildered. I mean, what does one do? Yell? Let the stranger play with your kid like a dog? Where's the line between overreacting and not giving a fig about overreacting?

It's an incredibly bold and presumptuous move, picking up a stranger's child. I certainly would never dream of doing so, yet I see people do it a fair amount, such as on plane rides. And it takes a villages, yadda, yadda, but it just seems... wrong. A child isn't public property.

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5 Comments

TOchickadee

I have actually picked up a lot of children/objects over the years, such as:

-helping a parent pushing a grocery cart through a parking lot with four kids running around into traffic

-helping people up long flights of stairs with strollers, children, bags

-grabbing runaway children as they shoot out the automatic door of Wal-mart into a busy parking lot while parents aren't looking

-picking up a small child that was following random families in a theme park and taking her to a security office

-guiding a four year old through a busy mall repeatedly in search of family or security

-holding screaming infants at work while parents get organized

These are situations that differ greatly from the scenario described in the paint store. Children approach me often and I interact with them on a playful level, but it doesn't occur to me to pick them up....it's easier to get down to their level to interact anyhow.

I personally would have disciplined the man in front of my child.

I have actually told people, "Excuse me, please don't touch my child without my permission." This educates the adult that he has stepped into somebody else's personal space and it begins to educate the child that there is a personal boundary.

Fri, 2009-10-16 12:45

Rebel With a Diaper Bag

I only let it slide ONE time (okay maybe twice).

I was moving to Europe and flying with my two year old while I was 6 monthes pregnant. My husband was deployed so I was ALL ALONE. I was struggling to get the baby and his seat and his bag and my bag and my big ole belly when a strange man swooped in and grabbed my son in the ailse on the plane and said: "Where are you sitting?" I was reluctant for a second but decided it was okay, like where was he going to go in a crowded plane that we were in the middle of? Anyways another man grabbed the car seat, and his wife took my bag. I was so relieved I cried.

On a connecting flight a simmilar scene occured when another passenger scouped up my son and offered a hand. I accepted and was surprised that NONE of the flight crew even batted an eye or lifted a finger to help.

I was not on vacation, I was being TOLD to move (we are military) I did not want to, or plan on bringing all this crap, but I had to feed and entertain a toddler on the 12 hour flight so he would not disturbe other passengers...but I got dirt looks all over the place!

Anyways, some people swooped in and helped. Thanks people. Good on ya!

HOWEVER in public once at the mall I almost stabbed a coworker with my keys when they just walked up and picked up my son out if the stroller. I had not recognized them out of uniform and appoligized. I was so stunned that someone was picking him up right of the stroller right before my eyes, I was just incapable of moving until something clicked DANGER, and I leapt into action. Oops.

Rebel

Tue, 2009-10-13 02:38

Claire

I would freak out and grab my kid from them but that is me. I get told constantly from strangers that the second I turn my back they are going to steal my daughter because she is so damn cute... thanks for the complement on my child but we will be running away from you now!

Wed, 2009-10-07 10:31

IAmTasiaD

Yikes! I'm not entirely sure what I would have done in this situation.. I've had people come up to my kids before and tussle their hair or get them to shake hands (there's that dog treatment again) etc and that annoys me as it is, I don't know where their hands have been!, but I've never had anyone simply pick up my child.. To be honest I probably would have just stood there staring at them and did the "time to go!" thing trying to act all nonchalant and what have you, and then I would have FREAKED out at home haha

Wed, 2009-10-07 09:58