how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

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1

I was leaving the mall with my 2 year old, fully loaded with bags, holding my son’s hand, trying to rush out of the mall only concentrating on pulling him along and looking infront of me.
We were exiting out of a shop and not the mall exit so the space was cramped a bit and people were walking closely.
On our way out, a family of 5 was coming from the other side, with dad pushing the stroller and mom holding 2 slightly older kids (may be 5 and 6 yrs old)
While passing them I think my son touched the stroller (intentionally touched it and I did see that he had touched the stroller). I am sure he would not have touched the baby girl inside the stroller because for one, he never just goes and touches strangers even if they are kids and second I was pulling him along and I think he could not have reached her. (however the guy’s remark had me thinking if my son did).
So then I hear the guy saying “Wow, seriously, you cannot control your child !!”
I had already passed the guy and was a bit far from him now while he was speaking. However I half mindedly realized, he must have been saying that to me. I kind of looked back, not truning entirely in my rush and did see him looking back at me.
I kept walking, I was tired and stopping anywhere meant I would have to grab my son again because he just wanted to run around.
I do realize that my son is a bit out of control sometimes but it is stuff like:
if I let go, he runs in the parking lot wanting me to catch him so I do not let go or when he sees an escalator, I have to use the escalator or he has to push button to open the handicapped door.
I also realize that if my son did touch the baby, it was not the best of the behaviour and would not be liked by the parents.
However when I got back in the car, I was just so furious at this guy’s comment.
I know I should teach my son better, to not touch each and everything he sees but still I see him as a 2 year old who is inquisitive and personally I would not have reacted like that guy, had some other young toddler touched my baby.
(BTW my son hardly looks 2)

Am I wrong here ? should my son be more controlled ?

2

Re: how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

What your son did does not sound too bad. Sometimes people say things just to say them.

3

Re: how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

I felt like saying that to a lady whose kids were making lots and lots of noise at my job. but they were 8-10 years old. :/

4

Re: how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

Unless and untill your son does not end up laying face down in snow and crying every time you try to stop him from something or dont give in to his demands, he is a well behaved kid.

5

Re: how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

Thanks for the reassurance that he is like any regular kid and I am not a bad mother.

My son is a little hyper as compared to some other desi kids that we see but I think that is either because he is the only one who goes to daycare among them or may be because he is the only boy among all those girls (of his age) so he is usually the one who starts and then others follow him in making a hangama.
I am not the most leniant mother and am stern with my kid when I think I should be. I do not let him do just whatever he wants and whenever he wants but I also do not like to stop him all the time.

Since that guy's other kids were a little older and the baby was very young, I guess he may have forgotten what a 2 year old is like.

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Re: how controlled or well behaved a toddler should be

I just feel like the guy was someone who is the type who would just try to pick a fight with people over petty things, as a hobby :p....seriously I dont see anything wrong with a hardly two year old touching the stroller or for that matter the girl inside it as long as he did not hurt her....you can start disciplining your child from as young an age as 1 year but children at this age are starting to explore the big world and there is so much going on that at this young age, development wise, they cannot behave like a 30 yr old :)