Overprotective Mom or Just Stupid Mom?

[AnaKhouri]

Mods, I wasn't sure where to put this so move if necessary. Thanks!

I was at the library with my 2-year-old, in the kids' section. We sitting on the floor together doing a puzzle. On the other side of the room two older boys (3-4) were playing with the library's collection of plush creatures. Roughly in the middle was a baby lying on a blanket on the floor, whose mom was sitting in a kiddie chair beside her, texting.

Suddenly a large (like 2 feet high) Elmo plush came flying from the direction of the other boys and landed next to the baby (she was on her stomach, so young enough to still do tummy time, maybe 3 or 4 months old?). The mother flipped her shit. She shrieked, "OH MY GOD!", kicked poor Elmo away and scooped up the baby, saying, "I'm SO SORRY baby, I'm SO SORRY that happened to you. OH MY GOD." The baby looked totally confused, as she had no idea anything had occured. The older boys continued playing, Khan ignored it all as he was focused on his puzzle.

The mother starts GLARING at me. Like really nasty looks. I assume one of two things: either she thought Khan had thrown the toy (despite the fact that it came from the opposite direction of where we sat, and he was obviously not playing roughly while the other boys were being a little rowdy; she was texting so probably not paying attention), or she was angry that I was not sharing her outrage over, you know, KIDS PLAYING in the KIDS SECTION of the library. I ignored her and she didn't say anything, just glowered nastily until we left.

Really, she should have said, "I'm SO SORRY I'm a moron who put my baby down for tummy time in a public place frequented by larger, older children." And honestly, even if Elmo had hit the kid, she would have faceplanted, cried a bit and been OK. Because he was a stuffed toy. It's not like they chucked a wooden block at her face.

[Moosenogger]

Don't you love people who blame everyone else for their own stupid choices? If she's so afraid of her baby getting hurt, why put the baby in the middle of the room? Put her in a corner where she's less likely to get hit by rogue Elmo toys.

[Teskeria]

You should have said to her since she made it clear she wanted you to say something "I think it's really great that you apologized to your baby for being silly enough to put her in the middle of the floor where kids play. A lot of Moms would just quietly move the baby into a safer corner area and not even apologize to the poor little critter."

[fireheart]

I'd say just stupid as well....unless it's a vital emergency, your text can wait.

[MoonCat]

It does sound as though she over-reacted a little, especially as the baby didn't even notice the toy.

[raudf]

Sounds like she overreacted a lot. Good grief, it's a stuffed animal! I used to toss them at my kid whenever he started getting the "I'm bored" fussy. It entertained him and as he got older, he began to learn to duck, dodge and catch. The only time I've ever seen a stuffie hurt a kiddle was when it was like the Tickle-Me Elmo, where there's a hard battery/noise/movement box in it.

As for if it had actually hit the kiddle? Well, the little one is going to do a lot of faceplanting in the process of learning to walk. Just check for major injury, give 'em a kiss and let them at the world. Or does she think she's gonna wrap the little one in bubble wrap during that period?

[PepperElf]

granted... she SHOULD be angry - but only at her own kids if they were the ones throwing stuff.


glaring at you is just stupid since you were minding your own business.

[AnaKhouri]

I mean, if my son had thrown a toy, whether or not he hit someone, I would have corrected him. But these kids' parents were MIA (as it is 90% of the time). If she wanted me to discipline someone else's kids for her, tough luck. I do it all the time when other kids are mean to Khan; she can learn too. And if someone has something to say to me, they can use their words like a big boy/girl. I don't respond to huffing, puffing, glaring, or sniffing, not even if it is a customer.

And I used to laugh when Khan faceplanted during tummy time. It was just so funny...he never cried or anything though, it just seemed to make him mad so he tried harder.

[bainsidhe]

But these kids' parents were MIA

I actually figured as much from your original post. She probably thought the kids were yours, which is why you received the death glare.

I'm not aggressive or confrontational in public with strangers, so while I absolutely agree she should've said something to the offenders (or even asked if you were the parent), I can see myself behaving similarly. I'll give someone a death glare and stab at them with my thoughts, but I won't confront the person I'm pissed at. Well, kids are the exception. I most definitely would've snapped at them to watch it.

As to the overreaction? If she was texting, she may not have realized baby wasn't touched. A 2ft tall stuffed animal is larger than most infants, so I'd freak out too. Disclaimer: I'm not a parent, so I tend to react as if children will break at the smallest breeze.

[Hyndis]

A stuffed animal or other soft object won't hurt anything except the ego.

Kids are a lot tougher than they look. When I was little I was falling out of trees all the time. Even broke a few bones. Luckily, kids heal back to being good as new very quickly.

And while learning to walk toddlers all over and faceplant on the floor continually. They get some bumps and bruises, but its part of learning and growing up. There's a reason why young children heal so much faster than adults.

[dalesys]

My ex caught our 4 & 2 year olds using their newborn brother as the marker for their longjumping contest... as in "jump over and hopefully past him!"

[Slave to the Phone]

I laughed irl when I read that.

[siskaren]

I laughed irl when I read that.

You and me both. I can just picture a 4 year old and a 2 year old thinking that's a good idea.

[Food Lady]

Were the 4- and 2-year-olds boys?

[Der Cute]

Hey, I'd be scratching my forehead with my middle finger. Lady, it's a fuckin STUFFED ANIMAL. It's not a bag of rocks, it's not a missile..if anything, it would have startled and made baby fuss. Wah.