So I (26M) was at IKEA last weekend, wandering through the maze of fake rooms and existential dread. I passed the kids’ section and saw this toddler standing alone, crying his eyes out. No adult in sight. I crouched down, tried to calm him, and asked where his parents were. He pointed vaguely toward the cafeteria. I didn’t want to just leave him there, so I gently took his hand and said, “Let’s find someone who works here.”
Just as we turn a corner, a woman screams. Turns out she was in the next aisle and saw me walk off with her kid. Security got involved. She was crying. The kid was now crying more. I was trying to explain that I didn’t abduct her child, just trying to help, but I don’t think anyone was listening over the chaos.
Eventually it got cleared up, and the mom actually apologized once she calmed down. I got a free cinnamon roll and a mild panic attack.
TL;DR: Tried to help a lost kid at IKEA. Got mistaken for a kidnapper. Scarred myself and probably the child for life.
Comments
i wouldn’t call it a big fuck up, as you had good intentions, and the mother’s reaction was also valid
only thing you could have done better was probably ask for an employee first rather than bringing the child yourself
Note to self, don’t try to help a crying kid standing alone in the store. Walk away so you don’t get accused of kidnapping. 🫣
That’s crazy! How did the mom not hear her own kid bawling its eyes out? Glad you lived to tell the tale.
It must have been mortifying at the time but it’s a great story and you and friends will get some laughs out of it in the future.
If you are a man or a minority, never help a lost child by taking them to get help. Stand next to them and shout HELP loudly until others or in this case staff approach you, safety in numbers.
Didn’t I read this exact story (except in a Target) last week- that everybody debunked?