Would this make you angry?
By betsyraeduke
@betsyraeduke (2670)
United States
December 21, 2007 3:25am CST
Rently I was in my nearby laundry mat doing my weeks worth of laundry as usual. During the time I was there, a little girl of I'd say about 2yrs. climbed onto one of the tables from a chair. She scooted across the table and then attempted to climb down in the middle. There was no chair in the spot where she attempted to get down. The little girl ended up hanging halfway on the table with her feet and legs dangling aimlessly about 2ft from the floor. She got scared and hung there crying all the while gradually slipping farther and farther off the table. She kept crying, "Mommie, mommie...help me, mommie". There were real tears streaming down her face and she was obviously scared she would fall and hurt herself or something. Now I assume that during this time, the little girl's mom was probably loading laundry into a washer or dryer and did not immediately hear the little girl crying for her. I am making no judgements on the mom in this matter as I am a parent myself and I know that we can occassionally get distracted for a few seconds or a minute, in which time our children occassionally get themselves into a perdictament such as this. Anyway, for whatever reason, this went on for almost a full minute and I did not see anyone come to help the little girl. So I walked over to the girl and helped her down. All I did was gently lift her a little and set her down on the floor, said, "there ya go honey, go find your mommy", and turned and started to walk away from her. I took about 2 steps when whom I assume to be the little girl's mom came charging across the room at me. She snatched the little girl up then shoved me backwards with a warning not to touch her child! Other people were in the laundry mat and witnessed this whole thing and they all told her that all I did was help the little girl off the table. It made no difference however, as this woman was still angry with me. Now I understand about being careful with your children and not wanting them in the hands of strangers and all of that, but in this case, I feel that it should have been obvious that I was merely helping the child and not kidnapping the child or harming them in anyway.
Another example, though not as recent, a few years back I was driving in my car on my way to run some errands. I turned a corner and entered onto another street. As I drove down the street, I was looking ahead and I saw a small child playing right in the street. I don't know how old this child was or why no one was him to make sure he didn't go into the street, but I can tell you that he was still in diapers. Anyway, the child was sitting in the road and playing with some toy. I slowed down and as I got closer, the child moved out of the road, however, remained near the edge, still in a potentially dangerous spot. I pulled over a little ways away from him and got out of my car. Looking around, I saw no adults or anyone else in site that appeared to be watching this child. So I walked up to the child, praying he was old enough to talk at least a little, which turned out he did. I asked him where his mommy or daddy was. He shook his head. So I asked if he could show which house he lived in. He smiled, pointed to a house and said, "there". I said, "ok, then, lets go there!" I picked the child up and carried him to the door of the house that he had pointed to. I rang the doorbell and waited. A couple minutes later, the door swings open. I says to the woman standing there, "Is this your child?" "Yes", the woman replied, "what are you doing with him?" I replied with, "I'm sorry mamm, but your son was playing in the road when I drove down this street. I just wanted to make sure he got back to you safely." The woman then told me that I should mind my own business and proceded to call me every name in the book and even threatened to call the police on me. I didn't know what to say, so I just left the child with her and walked away shaking my head. The woman was still screaming profanities at me as I got into my car and drove away.
Did I do something wrong in either of these situations? Would you get angry with someone who was clearly helping and or looking out for the welfare of your child and clearly NOT harming or abducting them?
8 people like this
19 responses
@prily9 (568)
• Indonesia
21 Dec 07
I think in that both cases. I will do the same like you did. I guess those 2 mom had something wrong in their brain ( sorry to say that, I just got angry for what they did ) I think If I were you I will yelled back at them and said better you watch your own kids then and if you reported me I will reported you back for carelessly harmless their own child ( even they didn't mean too ). I also taught my children to not spoken with strangers. but I remember when my child fell down and a stranger help her. I thanks him for that. so I think you didn't make any mistakes at all.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Thanks. Yeah, I don't know what was wrong with them either. I could understand the mother in the laundry maybe getting distracted with the laundry for a minute and her kid getting into a perdictament on the table like she did during that time, but I don't understand why either mother got mad at me for helping their kid and I have no idea why that other child was in the road. I don't understand that child's parents/mother at all!
1 person likes this
@urbandekay (18278)
•
22 Dec 07
Yes and in the second situation I think I might have said to her, go ahead call the police and I'll explain to them I found your kid playing in the road.
Knee jerk reactions from both these women.
all the best urban
1 person likes this
@dutchess67 (917)
• United States
22 Dec 07
I've seen the same thing happen so many times it makes me sick when I think about it.
Case in point, I was at the Clinic for the Hospital where I was an employee. I was sick with a raging sinus infection and was absolutely miserable with it. I am not prone to interfering in parents with their children, but what I witnessed had me wanting to beat the crap out of this woman and call Child Protective Services on her.
As I sat in the waiting room, sniffling and trying my best to keep from cringing at everything, a woman entered and signed in at the front desk. She had a little girl with her who couldn't have been more than 3 at the most. She was a tiny little blonde thing with chin length curly hair and just looked every bit the little pixie. I smiled indulgently at the child in spite of my splitting headache as she wandered the waiting room when the woman, who I assume was her mother, sat down and picked up a magazine.
The waiting room was divided by a half wall and chairs were lined up on either side of it. This half wall extended about 10 feet out into the waiting room and there was a table at the end of it for little kids with one of those wire toys with wooden beads on it. Anyway, this woman sat there with her her nose buried in a magazine while this child stood on the table, climbed in the chairs and then crawled over the half wall, getting hung up on it to the point that she couldn't get down on the end of it. It was absolutely enraging to me that people like this are ALLOWED to have children and keep them when people who desperately want children and can't have them have to watch in heartbreak knowing that disaster is almost guaranteed to befall that child at some point in her life because her "mother" isn't paying attention.
Some people simply should NOT be allowed to become parents.
1 person likes this
@troopy (168)
• Australia
22 Dec 07
Good on you... I think what you have done in both instances was very commendable and have to say you have more patience than I do. I would have had a go at both mother's of these children myself and then threatened to call child services on them. They are both clearly bad parents to a degree and in this case both of there children could have been hurt or with the young boy on the road even killed.
Dont ever stop trying to help, but maybe you should consider with the small boy situation, calling the police and waiting with the child till they arrive and then let them take him home. Im sure his mother would have a very different attitude then, and you have covered yourself from any slander or accusattions from this lady.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
22 Dec 07
Thanks. Yes, I agree that it would have been better to wait with the boy and call the police to deal with it, but I did not have a cell or car phone at that time.
1 person likes this
@UnselfishShellfish (1306)
• United States
22 Dec 07
I'd be more angry with myself if a stranger got my kid out of a situation that I should have prevented by watching the kid in a public place.
What gets me is the mothers who see their kids flying around places screaming like banshees and they think it's cute or funny and do nothing to stop it. All the while the regular patrons are the ones that suffer because the moooooooo-mies think it's cute when their offspring act like jackasses.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
22 Dec 07
Ah, well, personally I don't allow my children to run around like "screaming banshees" in public nor anywhere else for that matter. But that is a whole other discussion altogether.
1 person likes this
@vera5d (4005)
• United States
22 Dec 07
that is very sad for parents to be neglectful like that and then get mad at someone helping their kids...i know there are times i can't always pay attention to my son, but the couple of times people helped him i was grateful, not all bent out of shape.
i see kids playing in the street all the time, i don't know how parents can do that...that is crazy...but i don't dare help those kids because i know i would get the same reaction you have...it is awful...then you see these people on the news when something bad happens...
i don't think they are even concerned about the kids being abducted, that is the saddest part. it is more like a privacy issue for them.
1 person likes this
@angelface23 (2494)
• United States
21 Dec 07
No way! You didn't do anything wrong. I think that lady at the laundromat was embarassed that someone else had to assist her child since she wasn't paying enough attention to her. She took that out on you. The other lady however, I don't know about that one. Some people are just plain mean. she should have been grateful that you 'saved' her child from being hit by a car. Maybe it will take her child getting hurt or killed to appreciate that there are people like you out there. I would of done the same thing as you in both of those situations. I would have let the lady call the cops and then told them what a bad parent she is. But that's just me.
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
I pray no child gets killed because of their parents' stupidity, but I get what you are saying. I wasn't worried about getting in trouble with the police, just thought that it took a lot of nerve for her to threaten that since she was the one who's child was in the road! Thanks.
1 person likes this
@SViswan (12051)
• India
21 Dec 07
In both the case you were right and I would have done the same thing. Excuse me, but I think the parents were rude and it was obvious that you were concerned about the children's safety. They over reacted without even being aware of what the situation was.
I would definitely have been angry and I'm glad you walked away without saying anything. I'm not sure I would have been able to control my tongue if I were in your position. You make sure that their kids are safe and the ladies have the nerve to yell at you and shove you too! It was obvious that you were trying to be responsible (which they weren't in the first place) and you get yelled at.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
I thought they were rude as well! Thanks.
1 person likes this
@polachicago (18716)
• United States
21 Dec 07
It looks like some parents don't care much for children.
At the same time, they think that all strangers are sico who want to abuse children....
It is so sad, so many kids are into bad injury just because lack of parents supervision...
@vanities (11395)
• Davao, Philippines
22 Dec 07
nope i will not surely get mad if that happens to my child rather i would give thanks for the concerned that was shown by a stranger for my baby..i find it very weird reactions on both situations or maybe they are just paranoid on something??(maybe it happened a long time ago ? or whatever).
@suspenseful (40192)
• Canada
21 Dec 07
I have not had that happen to me, mind you I have a different way of handling him, I would have laid into those 'mothers' like that. I would first look and then make sure that what I was doing was not misconstrued. Oh do you realize that if the children had been harmed, you would have been blamed for not preventing that?
I would have just told the child to go home in as firm a voice as possible and then in as shocked a voice as possible, say, "your little boy was playing on the road and I almost hit him. What kind of mother are you?" and then have a few tears to show how scared you were. These mothers thrive on emotions and have their hearts on their sleeves.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
I like your idea of how to handle such a situation, suspenseful. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@soccermom (3198)
• United States
21 Dec 07
No you did not do anything wrong! Ther are "no climbing" signs in the laundymat for a reason. About a year ago in Beloit, WI (near my hometown) there was a mom doing laundry and had her kids with her. SHe let the kids run rampant, and ignored the "no climbing on the tables" sign. Her 8 year old daughter ended up getting killed because one of the table tipped on her as she was trying to climb it, it fell on her and crushed her airway.
As far as the lady yelling at you for rescuing her kid from the street. I would've told her to go ahead and call the cops. Obviously her lack of parenting skills equal child endangerment.
People are ridicaulous. It's been said that "it takes a village". I don't really see it that way. Parents have become so paranoid of other people. Some of it is justified, but when a child is in danger and needs help a "thank you" is in order. Personally, I wouldn't yell at you. If peope were more involved maybe we wouldn't see so many horror stories on the news.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Oh my goodness! It's terrible that that poor girl lost her life in such a way! I wasn't worried about getting in trouble with the police if that woman had called them, I just thought she had a lot of nerve to threaten to call the cops on me when she was the one who let her child play in the road! Thanks.
1 person likes this
@jillmalitz (5131)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Sometimes you just can't win. As the old saying goes, "no good deed goes unpunished". I hope the reactions of these people were becasue of embarrassment. With so many terrible things going on I can understand the worry about our kids. But, I dont think you did anything wrong. People are a little nutty, I guess you should be glad the parents did not accuse you of molesting the children. What are you supposed to do? Wait and watch the kids get hurt or until a cop happens to drive by?You did the right thing and the only thing you can do at this point is to forgive them. God Bless.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
Yes, true. It is a good thing that they did not accuse me of that. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@foxyfire33 (10005)
• United States
21 Dec 07
I really do think you did the only natural thing in those situations and it's too bad those mothers didn't appreciate you for it. I have to admit though that the way things are going for me right now I'd be likely to rip your head off too. Not because I was actually mad at you just because i already have people interferring with my kids and I'm so stressed and angry about it but can't find a way to tell them off so I'd probably go off on the wrong person instead. I doubt that was the case with the kid that was playing in the road...and I would have let her call the cops and see what they had to say about it, I bet that little one wouldn't have stayed with her much longer after that. But maybe the mom in the laundromat is having a similar situation at home and felt like you were just one more person who thought she was a bad mother. I still think you did the right thing to help the girl off the table and the mom's behavior wasn't right but I can understand being so stressed and taking it out on the wrong people.
1 person likes this
@betsyraeduke (2670)
• United States
21 Dec 07
True, the child probably wouldn't have been with that woman much longer if the cops had been involved. I wasn't worried about getting in trouble with the police myself, just in disbelief that she had the nerve to threaten such a thing when it was her child in the road.....Yes, I can understand being stressed out and taking it out at the wrong person too. Thanks.
1 person likes this
@rosey3223 (1566)
• United States
23 Dec 07
OMFG!!! I don't know how you handled your self in both of those situations, but I know that if it were me and those women were talking to me like that, they would HAVE to call the dam police for their own protection.
I can in a way understand the laundry mat situation. But I never went by myself mainly for the fact that I did have my child/children with me and I knew that I was going to need help watching them. But if you saw that my child was in danger and helped them, I may jumped to conclusions at first but just say thank you for taking care of them. If I had reacted like that one did and the whole place was telling me that you were just trying to help, then I would have walked right back over to you and I would have apologized.
Now about the child in the street. I just HAVE to say, WTF is that mom thinking? I never let my child who is STILL in diapers go outside by themselves...NEVER!! What you went through is my biggest fear. They would be out in the middle of the road, but instead of you stopping to help they get hit by a car. That mother should not only be grateful that you actually stopped and cared about her child's well being, but thankful that you didn't hit it!! She would definitely have had to be the one to call the cops for her own protection because what she did was so awful and STUPID at the same time!!
I cannot believe the stupidity of both of those women!! I really can't!! And I felt bad because my youngest tripped right in front of me and busted his lip really bad. It happened so fast that there was nothing I could do. But these two...MAN!!! All I can think is that one day they will learn their lesson and start watching their kids better.
@wmaharper (2316)
• United States
22 Dec 07
I would have done the same thing, especially with the instance of the child/toddler in the middle of the street. To me, it's much more important that a child is safe, than if I have to hear someone cuss me out, or be rude to me. I couldn't not help in good concience, otherwise i'd be wondering what happened to the child when I drove away. As far as the little girl in the laundry mat, I have been in similar situations, and usually what i do, is speak loudly, I would say something like "sweetie, are you okay? where is your mommmy?" etc. and see if I could draw out the child's parent that way, generally speaking, if a parent hears someone speaking to their child, they'll come out and see whats going on, and usually they'll deal with it themselves. Although, I have helped little kids get in swings, and helped them before they fell off ladders at the playground, having no idea who they were or who their parents were... I just always make sure that there are other adults around if possible, who witness what actually happens. THere have been times, when I was by myself, and Saw no other adults and a child has asked me to help him do something that I refused to do, like help him on a swing or something, only b/c there was no one around to see it, and no witnesses. I think we do have to protect ourselves, especially when it's not real danger, but also not be too quick to chose our own well being over the safety of a child. I think there is a balance that must be maintained. I think you did well though, as the child in the laundry mat, other people were there, and the child in the road, his safety was more important than a potential suit or toungue lashing. Good luck to you!
@lizzyt2007 (1312)
• Craig, Alaska
28 Dec 07
your stories just so how parents just don't pay attention to their children. I think its sad, and if someone helped my son from getting hurt because I didn't hear his cry for help which hasn't happened yet. Anyways I would say thanks or nothing to that person and give my son kisses. but I think that first mother in your story was in the wrong to yell at you for touching her child. Theres's nothing wrong for helping other peoples kids from danger and parents should be thankful. don't worry you did the right thing and don't worry or get mad at other parents anger, because they should be paying attention to their kids, because if they had they could have saved their own kids.
@lucgeta (924)
• France
22 Dec 07
Did nothing wrong, a bit too careful maybe.
The little girl in the laundry seems not to be in great danger, she would fall and maybe learn a precious lesson.
Things could have been avoided when she climbed - wouldn't that be a better moment to prevent something?
The boy on the road, looks like he understood danger and tried to make himself away.
Thing is we cannot keep our children in bubbles for their own good. They will have to live and fall and learn and live.
Maybe this two moms we're just angry at themselves or were defending themselves by changing the subject or avoiding a lecture. The good thing is that you did not yelled back - everyone around knows what is happening.
@peedielyn (1207)
• United States
24 Dec 07
Just being the Bit** that I am I would have found the mother of the child in the laundry mat and told her how to parent her child. I would have been intelligently rude as in "If I were that childs mother, I would have followed good parenting skills and watched my child play safely! Left it at that. As for the second child. I would have taken a pic or video of the child with my cellphone and called 911. Then when they found the mother of the child I would have made a scene like I almost hit your child because of you laying around not paying attention to the tike. I was about 19 years old pregnant with my first child when I watched a 9 month old child learning to walk, get hit by a truck and thrown at least 50 feet. His mother was in the house watching "Days of Our Lives" and thought he was on the couch next to her. The child didn't make it, (sorry to say) he was brutally splattered up against a neighbors tree. When i ran to her house to tell her he was hit and to call 911 she said OMG is he alright. How'd he get out? He was on the couch beside me a second ago. Number one--HEY STUPID! IT ONLY TAKES A SECOND! And Number 2--Go find out how your son is. I yelled at her to go and see and she still had the nerve to ask me how he was and to go see. I snatched her up by her hair, and we ran down to see what had happened. The driver killed himself 2 days later and she got 12 days in jail and 1 year probation for neglect. Let me tell you though she got a beaten when she got out. I attended that childs service, closed casket of course. I will forever be a BIT** on neglegent mothers. You did the right thing, Honey. God gave us angels like you for a reason.!! God Bless