AITA for asking a child to stop?

A Reddit user shares their experience at a store when they politely asked a young girl (around 6-7 years old) to stop kicking a heavy box they had placed at their feet.

The child’s mother responded angrily, shouting that the Redditor should speak to her, not her daughter. The Redditor is confused by the reaction and wonders if they were in the wrong for asking the child to stop. Read the full story below to learn.

‘ AITA for asking a child to stop?’

So I went to the store to return some stuff I got online. It was a big box, pretty heavy. When I got to the counter I put the box by my feet because there was not space for it anywhere else. Right after that I started hearing banging.

I looked and a girl (6-7) was looking at me directly and was kicking the box. So I just said “Please, stop kicking the box”. And the lady that was with her pulled her away and started screaming “Don’t talk to my daughter. If you have something to say it to me not to her”.

She was loud and and her tone was rude. I was just baffled. I didn’t understand that outburst. AITA for asking this child to stop kicking the box? Is it something that you’re not supposed to do?

Lets dive into the reactions from Reddit:

Ta11Baby − Mom is the a**hole for setting such a bad example for her daughter in multiple ways (disrespecting property, yelling at strangers, etc.)

ZinnyiaTessa −  NTA. It’s perfectly reasonable to politely ask a child to stop doing something that could damage ur belongings. The mother’s reaction was completely over the top.

Beautifuldisgrace93 −  NTA. You were direct in asking, you even said please, and the child is old enough to know better if your guesstimate on the age is indeed accurate. From the mother’s reaction, I assume she was probably o**rwhelmed from dealing with the b**t all day.

But I still say you did nothing wrong by asking the child directly, and the mother should have been the first to say something to the child if I’m being completely honest.

SignalOk535 −  Stare the mum dead in the face and loudly “Please ask your child not to kick my box”

_s1m0n_s3z −  Embarrassment makes some people angry.

ScopeIsDope −  Nta- if mum doesn’t want strangers interacting with her child she needs to stop her child interacting(and potentially damaging) the stranger and their things. 

ParsimoniousSalad −  NTA. Kids aren’t supposed to talk to strangers, but I think adults can give brief statements to kids. Like please stop kicking my property, ouch, etc.

Lady_Fel001 −  “Fine, apologies. Tell your b**t to stop kicking my box or move her away. Better now?”
NTA. Christ, I’m a parent and I hate parents.

not_a_cat_i_swear −  “Can you parent your f**king child and tell it to stop kicking the box?”

Glitch427119 −  NTA I’m a mom and if you noticed my kid doing that before i did and politely asked them to stop like you did, my only response would’ve been “you heard them, now apologize for messing with something that wasn’t yours.”