AITA for shouting and scaring a kid?

I(22) was at university with my family, taking photos ahead of graduation. Many other graduating students were there, some of whom I recognized. Some I didn’t. I was posing for a photo with flowers and a teddy bear when it happened. I saw a kid(probably six or seven year old) walk onto the road and then I saw an incoming car. So I shouted at his parents who were taking photos of his brother “Car! Grab the kid!”

They glanced at me and turned around. Fortunately, the car stopped a couple of meters before it would have hit the kid. He seemed pretty scared though. Quite upset. His mom said there was no need to shout and that obviously the car wasn’t moving that quickly since the driver braked in time.

14 thoughts on “AITA for shouting and scaring a kid?”
  1. NTA, the kid was obviously scared from almost being hit by a car not from you yelling. The parents were being negligent

  2. Don’t worry about this

    The mother couldn’t handle the public shame and embarrassment of being shown up as a negligent parent. There are few things more painful than being called a bad mother (even in her own head as you didn’t say that).

    She was just defending her own self image from the pain of being a bad mother in that moment .

    Her words were not about you. You can leave them where she put them. No need to pick them up and feel them.

    You can also offer her compassion in your heart. It will help you feel better if you feel pity for the foolish woman.

    Nta

  3. NTA.

    Her: “Why are you shouting? The car was only going 10mph- my kid would have survived that!”

    She was embarrassed and took her shame & guilt out on you. She should have thanked you.

  4. NTA what type of parent doesn’t watch their younger kids around cars?? Id have shouted too! You absolutely did the right thing, im sure they’d rather a scared kid than a dead one. Don’t dwell on this🫶

  5. Nta, better the kid be scared and the mother embarrassed than the kid get hit by a car. Hopefully they’ll keep a better ey on the kid or he won’t wander off as much after this.

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