What Would You Have Done?

I would get mall security's number on my cell phone and the second I saw her walk away in the future. I would call them and tell them she habitually does this and the child has gotten into trouble before when she has left him unattended. Including hitting your child. I'm sure they will come right down. Mall security is BORED! LOL! They are always looking for adventure. I'm sure she will be so mad she won't return and your problem will be solved.

Can't do much for the child unfortunately unless you call CPS on her. I don't ever usually recommend that though. Some people just don't think, because they were raised this way, that a child need supervision at all times. I'm not saying it's right. But they have a profound misunderstanding about how safe the world is for their child. Smaller community's don't even lock their front doors which is shocking to me. So she might be a fine mom and just didn't want to deal with the situation or you... and thinks the mall is safe.

I guess in this situation I would be most concerned about my child not getting hit again. That would have upset me to no extent. So sorry that happened. Me and my children go all the time to Oakview and Westroads and I've seen this sort of situation alot sadly. Although I am the crazy mom who follows her 3 year old around and makes her 5 year old stay by her so they don't have that sort of issue.

Sorry to hear about this situation. I had a similiar on in Ohio, a little boy about 3 totally out of control and wildly runnning around the play area. He ran over4 kids and knocked them down so hard they cried.(one being my daughter) Of course his mom was not there but his 10-11 y.o. sister was there. I asked her to please watch her brother closer as he hurt 4 kids already and running is not allowed in the play area. When the mom came back she got angry with me t for telling her daughter to watch her brother closer as not to hurt anyone else. I told the mom next time I will get security and she can explain to them why she left her son without adult supervision.(in this mall an adult-18 or older, needs to be with children.) She just huffed and walked away.
I would advise you that if that child is there again and mom leaves him there, then I would alert security and have then take the child or at least call his mom over the PA system. This is child neglect and the mom needs to realize you cannot leave your child in the play area alone. If she does this in public, I would hate to see what she does at home. I am not a fan of getting the authorities involved but the mom seems not to care and needs a rude awakening or aleast parenting classes.
Hope this helps and happy to see you tried to help with mom. L.

I don't think there's much more that you could have done. Next time you see the child there by himself, I would get the mall security there. 4 years old is too young to leave a child unattended--the other parents aren't there to be a free babysitter for her! Maybe if she does it again, you can tell her that you charge $10 for her leaving her son for the rest of you to watch! :)

I'm not sure what I would've done because I would've been in such shock that a) the child was in there w/o a parent and b) the mom didn't acknowledge me when I said that her child hit mine. That's just crazy! I'd be tempted to call CPS if I knew where they lived because if she's this bad of a mother in public, who knows what goes on behind closed doors.

You did the right thing and all you could do. I've seen many parents enjoying their lunch and their own conversation so much that they don't even tell the child next to them to stop standing on the chair. Too many times I see kids running around rest. or standing on chairs or benches while they eat. Most of the time the parents are just too into their own conversations to pay attention. In stores I see a lot of children wondering around alone and the toy section becomes a babysitter while the parents shop. Maybe next time you notice the children alone in the play area you can get the mall security to call the parents over the speakers or wait for them to show up to let them know you are not to leave them unattended. Nothing much you can do except keep a watchful eye. If you say anymore you might end up with an angry mom who gets verbal with you in front of the children.