It happens.
You’re out and about, at the park or in line for the shops, and someone comments on the weather or how behaved your child is.
But do you find it weird? Would you answer or just pass on? This mum took to an online forum to complain about strangers striking up conversation with her and her child.
She said:
“Just home from a rare visit to town and I couldn’t believe how many strangers (mainly older people 50+) spoke to dn!
“In McDonald’s an old man started talking to us both, in queues in shops people tried to start a conversation with her and even paying for the car park ticket!
“At one point I said ‘sorry she won’t speak to somebody she doesn’t know, at least the stranger danger talk worked’ to which the reply I received was ‘It’s hard to know where to draw the line isn’t it!’
“I agree that not everyone is ‘bad’ and I feel awful that some of these older people maybe just crave conversation as they don’t have anyone to talk to, I am more than happy to chat to anyone but AIBU to wish they didn’t talk to the children if they don’t know them?”
Many mums replied to the post saying that she is being unreasonable.
One said:
“Yeah they are just being polite… If they tried to take her hands and walk off with her, then you may have a point, but talking to her whilst you are there? YABU.”
While another wrote:
“Oh, honestly. There is a massive difference between making polite chit chat with a passing stranger to teaching your child never to go off with anyone they don’t know. Why can’t people talk to your child when you are right there.
“They’re hardly going to tuck your child under their arm and sprint away with her. Don’t you also want your child to be curious and kind, open to the world and interested in others? Not to mention polite?”
What do you think? Do you find it odd when strangers strike up conversation?
