AITAH for abandoning a random kid after I almost missed my train?

A Reddit user recounts a tense travel experience where a flustered stranger left her child in their care, only to disappear for nearly 40 minutes. With their train about to depart and the child still unattended, the user made the difficult decision to hand the child over to the police before running for their train. Later, the mother called angrily, accusing them of kidnapping. The user wonders if they handled the situation correctly or acted irresponsibly. Read the full story below…

‘ AITAH for abandoning a random kid after I almost missed my train?’

Throwaway because I have colleagues following my main. Also, sorry for the grammar. I was traveling back to the state I work in, with 45 mins to spare before my train. Just chilling when this lady comes up with a kid, looking flustered. She says, “can you watch him for a minute? I have an emergency, will be right back.” Before I could even respond, she hands me her number and disappears.

At first, I thought, fine, i’ll be here anyway. But 15 mins turned into 30, then 40. I kept calling her, but she never picked up. The kid was crying, and I was panicking because my train was about to leave. When the warning whistle blew, i had to decide. I ran to the police checkpost, explained everything, gave the kid, her and my number to them, and ran for my train. Just made it just in time. A minute later we were off .

10 mins later, she called, screaming that I kidnapped her kid and saying she’d filed a police complaint. I told her I’d called multiple times, she didn’t pick up, and the kid was now with the cops, ask them. I then called her a terrible mom and hung up. I feel bad for the kid, but I didn’t know what else to do.. AITAH?

Here’s the comments of Reddit users:

Broad_Respond_2205 −  You kidnapped a child by keeping an eye on him for 45 mins (after being requested for 1 min) then giving it to the cops? Alrighty then. Don’t let her fool you, you absolutely did the right thing. NTA.

Reasonable-Knee397 −  NTA. You did the right thing by bringing that kid to the police checkpoint. Now she can try justifying herself to the authorities instead of taking it out on you. You did the best that you possibly could in this situation.. Good on you!

Silent_Cash_E −  Nta. Sounds like a s**m..in a moment of decision you have to leave the kid alone or bring him with you. Then she calls the police on you for kidnapping. She might try and extort you so she doesnt report it. You handled it perfect.

Holliemic −  NTA. You didn’t abandon the kid, you upgraded his security by handing him over to the professionals. The mom literally treated you like a free babysitting service without asking, vanished for 40 minutes, then had the audacity to scream kidnapping? Nah. You handled it way better than most of us would’ve—I’d have folded like a lawn chair after 10 minutes of a crying kid.

MansikkaFI −  Nta. You should have handed the kid to the police immediately tho so that youd protect yourself as you can never know with crazy people.

celticmusebooks −  Honestly, you should have brought the kid to the police the first time you called and she didn’t pick up.. NTA.

Illustrious-Unit-636 −  NTA the lady is irresponsible and needs to learn the hard way. How could she know you’re not some dangerous diddler?

Hollimara −  NTA. You didn’t abandon the kid—you passed them off to people who are literally \*trained\* for this kind of situation. The mom basically turned you into a babysitter without your consent, ignored your calls, and then tried to flip it on you? Wild. You handled it way better than most people would’ve. Next time someone pulls a stunt like that, just yell “not my circus, not my monkey” and call the cops right away.

JKristiina −  NTA. I would’ve taken the kid to the police straight away. This woman ABANDONED their kid! I wouldn’t have taken any responsibility for any time, straight to the police!

No-Boat-1536 −  I think she was working a s**m.