Once in awhile I will take my mom out but it’s fairly rare. She 90 with Alzheimer’s. My sister is more comfortable taking her out to eat etc. and does so more often. Anyhow, when I do get her out of the house, if there are people with babies in strollers she’ll break away go up to them and start making kissing noises or blow kisses. People mostly try to be polite but you can see the cringe on their faces as people understandably are cautious these days. If she sees kids 50 feet away she’ll try to bolt over to them. My sister doesn’t see anything wrong with it but it makes me uncomfortable. Am I being unreasonable?
One lady told my MIL off a good 12 or so years ago for doing it.
Othere than maybe trying to get your mothers attention elsewheres, or if you see the child before your mom does, whisper to your mom to not get close .
That is a tough one
We have gotten so bent of shape over the silliest things anymore. I mean really....this should be a non issue.
If any parent doesn't want someone approaching their little ones I'm sure they would say something, but most parents I encounter enjoy having their children being made over.
People of all ages are drawn to babies and little ones(myself included), but if you've ever taken either a baby or young child into a nursing facility, just about all the older folks there get very excited and want to get a closer look and talk to them and even hold them if the parents allow. I think it's quite precious how the older folks interact with them.
I think you need to just let your mom have these small moments of joy as I'm sure she probably doesn't have many anymore, and perhaps you can even learn a thing or two from her.
I think distraction is your only hope for now.
A personal story: There was an elderly gentleman in mild cognitive decline who frequented our local grocery store handing out dollar bills to small children who were behaving well. My GD was the recipient of one of these dollar bills and my DD was a little bit taken aback. Luckily, I recognized him from other places around town and knew that he had somewhat recently lost his wife and had moved into an assisted living facility.
As disconcerting and perhaps inappropriate this may have been, it gave this sweet man a way to get a little exercise and fill lonely hours with something positive, in his mind anyway. He stopped doing it after a while. I don’t know if he was asked to stop but if so, I hope the management was kind.
I think it is uncomfortable for you only if your Sister isn't bothered and if people, for the most part, are kind. If she is reaching at or for the children that's another thing, and visits then to any areas where there are children will have to be avoided. That should not be difficult.
Meanwhile, when your mom does this, simply comment gently and kindly to the mother of the children "My mother thinks you have a lovely family."
There's nothing else needed.
Your mother means no harm and is doing no harm.
I DO worry that this "breaking away" is somewhat concerning. Having at 82 taken a spill just yesterday I am reminded our balance is so precarious as we age, due to brain changes. I wouldn't want your mother to fall and sustain injury, so perhaps rethink taking her out, stay in and enjoy games at the facility or some such.
Best of luck.