Also, I'd like to point out OP never suggested they were going to kidnap her child. Other posters put those words in her mouth. OP was simply sharing a peculiar encounter, one that I can relate to as similar things have happened to me, both with and without my kids along.

I think the people who need to lighten up are those pouncing on her for absolutely no reason.

Anonymous wrote:I would have found this weird and possibly alerting, yes.

Something about the do you live near here question just sits totally wrong with me. There are reasons to ask that - but the person usually tells you the reason - like, I'm looking for Flower Street, or to ask if a particular store is nearby. "Do you live near here?" isn't something you ask a random stranger at Target.

Yep. Most likely they were targeting people to ask for money, so it's surprising they didn't ask OP. I've had similar encounters where someone pretends to be really friendly and chatty and then springs it on you: "Can you give me some cash?" They were probably checking out OP to see if she would be an easy mark.

OP relax. I moved to US from an other country in which is considered ok to approach parents and compliment their kids. I learned the hard way in US it is different; I came out of my church And I complimented a mom with a young girl and they looked at me like if I had three heads and probably were thinking to call security!!! So, it is often cultural, particularly in the peoplearrived to US not long ago. By the way, read the statistics about human trafficking, you will not find even one case of a random kid kidnapped in a random store in the suburbs. Most human trafficking happen in very poor areas/countries and often the kids relatives are involved in the trafficking ring.

You are grasping at straws op. You're trying to find a problem when there isnt one.

I would have found this weird and possibly alerting, yes.

Something about the do you live near here question just sits totally wrong with me. There are reasons to ask that - but the person usually tells you the reason - like, I'm looking for Flower Street, or to ask if a particular store is nearby. "Do you live near here?" isn't something you ask a random stranger at Target.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP they probably run an in-home daycare and were looking for clients. A lot of people are more open to giving it a shot -or a site visit if they see positive interaction first. It’s a long shot, but cheaper than advertising.

Oh that theory totally makes sense to me too. I hadn’t thought if it, but it would explain their being overly interest in my kid and abruptly asking where we live. Midweek at Target is a good time to try to run into moms with their young kids.

If they run a daycare, wouldn't they be working at that time?

They did not run a daycare. Just going to shut down that silly theory right now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP they probably run an in-home daycare and were looking for clients. A lot of people are more open to giving it a shot -or a site visit if they see positive interaction first. It’s a long shot, but cheaper than advertising.

Oh that theory totally makes sense to me too. I hadn’t thought if it, but it would explain their being overly interest in my kid and abruptly asking where we live. Midweek at Target is a good time to try to run into moms with their young kids.

Come on. Is there any way in hell you would be interested in being approached in public by complete strangers, supposedly interested in watching your child in their "in-home daycare"? OP, you're smarter than that.

Anonymous wrote:OP, it doesn't matter what other people think. They were not there. You saw these people's body language and your gut is telling you something is off. It's fine to listen to your gut and be alert.

I've been scammed shortly after moving to this area by a couple of friendly women. So I get it now.

I agree. OP, ignore the snark from those who are just dying to label you a "racist" because you mentioned the ethnicity of these people. I've had something similar happen to me before and was immediately on alert, just as you were. And no, this wasn't just another mom saying how cute your child was. This was decidedly different.

It may not happen often, but these weird incidents *do* occur and it's good that you took note of it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
OP they probably run an in-home daycare and were looking for clients. A lot of people are more open to giving it a shot -or a site visit if they see positive interaction first. It’s a long shot, but cheaper than advertising.

Oh that theory totally makes sense to me too. I hadn’t thought if it, but it would explain their being overly interest in my kid and abruptly asking where we live. Midweek at Target is a good time to try to run into moms with their young kids.

If they run a daycare, wouldn't they be working at that time?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok fine. You asked, you got answered. It’s not weird. Some women said hi to your cute kid and tried to have a conversation with you. Not weird. Then they stayed in the store shopping, as did you. Not weird. Then they got into a car where their husband/boyfriend/son/whatever was waiting because he didn’t feel like being bored senseless in Target while the women window shopped for 30 min. Not weird. They were of a different ethnic group than you. Not weird. You making a thing of it/acting like it was weird? That’s weird.

They actually did not appear to be shopping. They didn’t have a cart or items with them.

I walk through target without a cart all the time if I'm just going to grab one thing

Does anyone get out of Target with only one thing?

Anonymous wrote:Sometimes your senses just go up, and maybe you don’t even have to know why.

I was at Kohl’s the other day and a man who really didn’t look like he was shopping came up to me from behind and complimented my boots. What man compliments boots of a woman? I thought for sure I had been pick pocketed.

I hadn’t, but this man had my senses up.

JFC. The kind of man who wants to say something nice but sure as hell doesn't want to offend anyone preciousl sensibilities by commenting on something like your *actual* looks so picks something neutral like your stupid shoes?

Anonymous wrote:
OP they probably run an in-home daycare and were looking for clients. A lot of people are more open to giving it a shot -or a site visit if they see positive interaction first. It’s a long shot, but cheaper than advertising.

Oh that theory totally makes sense to me too. I hadn’t thought if it, but it would explain their being overly interest in my kid and abruptly asking where we live. Midweek at Target is a good time to try to run into moms with their young kids.

Anonymous wrote:You think they were trying to snatch your toddler from you in the middle of Target as part of a sex trafficking ring?

No, I mentioned those things because I don’t think that was the case. I recently read people saying they had been targeted for those things at Target/Costco. I mentioned those because I’m saying I believe those have been debunked.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok fine. You asked, you got answered. It’s not weird. Some women said hi to your cute kid and tried to have a conversation with you. Not weird. Then they stayed in the store shopping, as did you. Not weird. Then they got into a car where their husband/boyfriend/son/whatever was waiting because he didn’t feel like being bored senseless in Target while the women window shopped for 30 min. Not weird. They were of a different ethnic group than you. Not weird. You making a thing of it/acting like it was weird? That’s weird.

They actually did not appear to be shopping. They didn’t have a cart or items with them.

I walk through target without a cart all the time if I'm just going to grab one thing