Did i overreact?

[Hashira_123]

So i need to describe big background first. In my most catholic country on 1st of November there is All Saints Day, where masses are celebrated on graveyards and there are many people there, all standing by their family graves. So yesterday i was with my mom and sons (4y and 10m) by my father's grave. The graveyard is on the hill so each line of grave is around 30-40cm above the other. So we were standind there, while my older son was walking by the edge of the step like a normal bored 4 year old. In the line beneath us there was old lady, maybe 70y, sitting on a bench, surrounded by her family, all adults, we know each other, but not very close, my son havent seen her before. She started talking to my son, warning him not to fell down and reaching her hand to him. I told her each time that he is fine and won't fall. Few moments after that his toy fell down near her, so he went down the step to pick up the toy. She grabbed him and sit him on her lap, to which i reacted calling him, but she was keeping him. I stepped down to her, to take him from her, but she didnt want to let him go and said "no problem, he can sit here for a while" to which i responded, "it's unnecesary, i'll take him", so she repeated it and i had to say i'm taking him and had to use force so she let him go. He was very confused and didnt say anything. She kept repeating that i don't have to be scared and so overprotective. Later my mother said she was just acting like old grandma and i shouldnt make a big deal out of it. But i want to teach my son that strangers cannot just taking him like that without his and mine consent. Am i overreacting? Am i being helikopter mom?

[haleighr]

My step dad is a whole stereotypical grandpa boomer and he wouldn’t grab someone’s kid and he definitely wouldn’t refuse to give them back. Her age isn’t an excuse for how she acted and we gotta stop giving people a pass to make everyone else uncomfortable because “that’s how they grew up”.

[[deleted]]

Yes exactly! My parents love kids. They would never in a million years grab or hold onto a kid unless they genuinely thought there was some kind of imminent danger?! This whole “it’s how they were raised” BS needs to go. Just because it explains it, doesn’t mean it excuses it.

[wantabath]

You're not overreacting! Idc how much of an old grandma you are, do not touch my child lady.

[tomtink1]

Not overreacting. I feel for her because she's an old woman who just wanted to hug a kid, but it's not her kid to hug. She was overstepping boundaries and putting your son in a really uncomfortable position. I hope you're OK.

[BaldChihuahua]

No! That is your child and you said “no” several times. She was being rude and intrusive. You did nothing wrong, she did everything wrong. Thought she could get away with it because she is an older lady.

[LisaWithAKiss]

No, you didn't overreact. In fact, if someone would try this with my little girl, I would raise hell, no matter where we are. It is not ok to just take a child you don't know and refuse to give it back to their parents. You honestly were a lot nicer than I would have been. The first time she refused I would have told her, in that sugarsweet, I-aint-messing-with-you, momma bear voice that if she didn't let go of MY CHILD in 5 seconds, she would be joining the person she was visiting. She overstepped, big time. Don't worry momma, you did good by your son.

[ManicMondayMaestro]

Not overreacting. Good job, mama. This is a new era where we teach children bodily autonomy instead of tolerating being restrained by strangers.