General Chat

as i arrived home tonight,a woman was knocking at my door: her english wasn't very good,but she said that she was returning this child(about 2yr old) to a woman in the mews,but nobody was at home,and she had to go to work...would i look after the child,until the mother got home...well,i looked down the mews,and nobody was at home in any of the houses...anyhow,i said sorry,i live on my own,i don't know the child,and i don't know the mother.....now i'me feeling guilty, any gents out there...what would you have done.....bryan.

i Know i am not a gent bryan, but i think you did the right thing, in todays society, sadly.

Bryan please don't feel guilty. Like Em said you did the right thing.

Bryan Don't feel guilty. I think you did absolutely the right thing. In this day and age you just never know

Totally think you did the right thing Bryan, as you had to protect yourself. XX

You did the right thing and the woman was totally wrong for asking you. I can't get over that!!

You would most likely have been in dire trouble, had you taken in the child, and possibly have ended up on one of the lists of which there has been much publicity lately. len

Don't feel guilty Bryan. You did the right thing. You don't know, it could have been her child, and she could have been trying to 'dump' it. Stranger things have happened. Linda

I'm not a gent but I am a mother and I think you did the right thing.

Yes, I agree - unfortunately you would have put yourself in a very compromising situation if you had taken in the child. What a sad world we live in, Jay

Bryan you made the right decision. It seems a very peculiar thing to ask someone to do and you would have been in a very awkward position had you done otherwise. I suppose if you know the house she was returning the child to you could knock and ask if the child is ok as it really was very irresponsible of her to try to hand the child over to a complete stranger. Daisy

It's sad that one feels that one has to protect oneself, but witch hunts seem to start so easily. How would you explain yourself if it turned out that the mother did not live in the road and you were found with a strange child. 'Well, it's like this, your Honour, this woman came to the door and gave me this child' 'Oh really' 'Five years for abduction -take him away' Also sad that society is so insular that few people know their neighbours, even sometimes those next door. We are lucky that in our Close of 21 houses virtually everyone knows everyone else, but I think we an exception.

thanks girls,i've only lived here about 7/8 months,and the mews is tucked away from everywhere,and the only neighbour who speaks to me, is asking me to do him favours. but,when i say i'me feeling guilty,is i think of the poor kiddie,being outside in the cold,as it's freezing in london . bryan.

Bryan, why dont you knock at your neighbours doors tomorrow to see if there was indeed a child deposited back to its rightful parent, it all sounds very dodgy to me, you did the right thing, in this sad world we live in, people are all too ready to jump to conclusions, but the woman who tried to dump a small child with someone she cant have known is utterly reprehensible

Bryan, you did the right thing. unfortunately as others had said dhe could have been trying to dump the child, or she could have been serious and was dropping off the child to it's mother. My mother works in a day nursary and if the parents are late (after closing) they have to ring social services to come and get the child because their insurance will not cover them. It's a shame because the parents could be stuck in traffic, but if they ring and say their stuck in traffic and will be as quick as they can and where they are, then one of the girls will often stay behind 'to help lock up' until the parent arrives. The only hing you could have done is told her to take the child to the police station and explain the situation, let them decide what to do. Chances are they would have taken the child in and asked social services to take the child until it could be reunited to it's parents. (I go hate to call people it but the alternative is s/he and his/her) If I knew the child and their mother then I would take the child in, but if I didn't I would do the same as you)

I think you did the right thing, i would certainly inform the Mother that her child minder put her child at great risk she may not be aware, so dont feel guilty you did the right thing

thanks to the gents for the replies as well,as you really know how i must have felt. not sure which house,the kiddie came from...theres just four cottages,plus mine...they are all professional people,possibly muslims,but not sure. anyhow,thank you,as it seems i made the right decision. bryan.

definately made the right decision Bryan, don't sweat it. In todays society you shouldn't put yourself in a bad spot. When my daughter was younger and had friends over. Hubby usually ended up driving them home but always made daughter go with him. You never know. Smart move

off to bed now,but just wanted to thank you all for your replies. bryan.

Bryan, Dont feel guilty, You did the right thing, To be honest Im surprised at the woman doing this, very odd if you ask me. Roxanne x