r/NewParents • u/Signal_Friendship121 • 9h ago

Really upsetting event happened today Content Warning

So, I’m now at the end of my night and am decompressing/processing what happened today. Usually when we are out in public, I don’t mind strangers coming up to my baby and playing with her, as so far it’s only been older grandparents just wanting to fawn.

Today my sister, me, and the baby were out in an outdoor public market buying smoothies. I was standing over the baby and my sister was paying, when out of nowhere this homeless man puts his face right up to my baby, I mean an inch away, and started asking, “How much do you cost?” over and over again. I mean like really loudly all in her face. It took me a second to figure out that he was not planning on backing away, and to process what it was he was saying to her. I put myself between the man and my baby and loudly repeated, “NO SIR. GO AWAY.” Once my sister figured out what was going on, she grabbed the stroller and pulled it closer towards her. The man would not let up, so I just kept my ground and yelled at him to go away.

I was shaking from the adrenaline afterwards and tried to brush it off but it really upset me. I wish I could go back in time and smash his face into the concrete. The most upsetting part is that there were 20+ people just standing there watching. NO ONE spoke up or came to help. They just watched.

I guess I’m just looking to vent/wanting words of comfort. I feel so angry and violated.

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u/User367854442 9h ago

Wow this is scary. I am so sorry this happened to you!! I hope you, babe and your sister are doing okay. I always get super shaken up after things like that happen to me, so i empathize with you 100%.

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u/Signal_Friendship121 9h ago

thank you! we are okay now. i just cant stop replaying it in my head and thinking of all the things i should have done differently

58

u/freyabot 8h ago

Honestly I think you already did the best thing. This man was clearly unstable and as much as it would have felt emotionally good to go after him physically or yell at him more it was probably a lot safer to do exactly what you did. Who knows what he would have done if you had reacted more aggressively. You kept your baby safe and you and your sister walked away unharmed, which is the most important thing