When an Elderly Lady Touches Their Child at a Store, a Protective Mother Screams and Chaos Ensues.

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During a seemingly ordinary shopping trip, the Original Poster (OP) and his wife found themselves amidst an unexpected altercation. When an elderly woman with dementia embraced their toddler, the wife’s intense reaction sparked an escalating conflict, drawing store security and even the police. But as the dust began to settle, who truly was at fault?

A Routine Shopping Trip

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OP and his wife embarked on a regular shopping trip. As they wandered the store, OP decided to venture to another aisle in search of some jerky. His wife, meanwhile, remained with their young son.

The Unexpected Embrace

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A sudden scream from his wife startled OP. He raced to her side, only to discover an elderly woman hugging their 19-month-old son. The initial shock left OP’s wife deeply unsettled.

The Clarification

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A man hurriedly approached, revealing himself to be the elderly woman’s son. He quickly explained that his mother had dementia, often mistaking other children as her own. The confusion was innocent but deeply distressing to OP’s wife.

A Tense Exchange

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OP tried to soothe the situation by acknowledging the woman’s condition and apologizing for his wife’s alarmed response. However, without OP realizing it, his wife had already escalated matters by alerting store security and calling 911.

Growing Crowd

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The scene began to draw attention, making it increasingly uncomfortable. The son of the elderly woman looked mortified, while OP felt a mixture of embarrassment and concern. The entire store watched as the situation spiraled out of control.

Security’s Protocol

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Store security explained that, due to the 911 call, they were obliged to wait for the police before any parties could leave. As they all waited, tension hung thick in the air, with each party pondering the consequences.

The Police’s Arrival

Around 25 minutes later, police officers arrived on the scene. After getting a summary from OP’s wife, their bewildered expressions said it all. This seemed to be an overblown reaction to a harmless incident.

Light-hearted Departure

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The police, seemingly amused, took statements and soon began to depart. Their parting gesture—a friendly fist bump with the elderly woman’s son—indicated their view on the situation. OP could only look on, feeling a sense of disappointment.

Husband vs. Wife

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Once the dust settled, a rift appeared between OP and his wife. She felt betrayed that OP did not support her actions. OP, on the other hand, felt that the response was blown out of proportion and tried to explain his perspective.

A Question of Support

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In their ensuing argument, OP’s wife felt that he had failed in his role as a husband. She was deeply hurt by his perceived lack of support. OP, however, maintained that the entire incident could have been easily avoided.

Seeking External Opinions

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To gauge who was in the right, the couple decided to recount the story to family and friends. The feedback was split down the middle—half siding with OP and half with his wife.

A Suggestion from BIL

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Seeing the humor in the situation, OP’s brother-in-law suggested sharing the story on an online forum. He frequented the community and thought the tale might resonate with its users.

Varied Reactions

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As comments poured in, varied reactions began to emerge. Some sympathized with OP, while others felt his wife’s concerns were valid. The incident had truly divided opinions.

While OP didn’t seek personal reflections, the experience had surely left its mark.

Was Thinking His Wife Overreacted Towards An Elderly Dementia Patient Appropriate?

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The readers in the forum had a lot of mixed views on the matter.

Forum Responds

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One reader said, “Your wife’s initial concern was justified, but after the situation was explained and an apology was offered, she should have dropped it.”

Another Commenter Thinks

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Another responder wrote: “The lack of empathy is astounding. I feel so bad for that woman’s son.”

A Third View on The Story

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A different person states, “Your wife’s initial panic is understandable, but doubling down and calling the police when it was already clear the woman wasn’t a threat and the moment was over was extreme and unnecessary.”