The bad man

Yesterday while I was at thrift shop a mother and her young child (maybe 2 or a little younger) were walking around the store and as they got in line the little boy walked maybe an arms reach from her just looking at the floor.

She yells “the bad man is gonna get you” and you can see instant panic on his face as he started to cry and yell “no mommy not the bad man” and she says again with a smile “yea, the bad man is gonna grab you” as he is shuffling back to her.

I don’t judge on the way people parent but there is just something about that, that upset me. I felt so bad for the baby, I wanted to hold him and tell him it was gonna be ok no one was gonna get him but of course I couldn’t. So I paid for my stuff and left.

I just had to vent about this

Edit:

I have 3 kids 6, 4 and 3 months. I have talked to my older two about bad people in the world and what they have to do if someone did try to take them. I have had times where my oldest would hide from me around the corner and I would panic yelling for him and when I found him or he jumped out I would talk to him about it! He doesn’t do it anyone cause one time he did it he saw the panic and worry on my face so he stopped. I have severe anxiety so when I take my kids places I instantly watch everyone close, I trust no one. It actually makes shopping very difficult so most of the time they stay home with their dad. Like I said I don’t judge but I felt sorry for the little boy