Mom learns harsh lesson in parenting after promising her child could play with a random 20-something-year-old's cane and gets denied: ‘Who does that?!’

Author image for Elna McHilderson
Elna McHilderson • Managing Editor
Jun 28, 2025 9:00 AM EDT

When it comes to parenting, it is your duty to not pass down any of your own unsavory qualities. For example, if you noticed that your parents raised to you have a short fuse or be entitled, you need to learn how to mature out of that yourself and then also make sure you don't rub that off onto your kids. You see what I'm saying? Of course, that is much easier said than down, because most people have to go to years of therapy before realizing the generational traumas that have been passed down from their parents and affecting them their entire lives… 

 

So, as you would think, most of the time these things still get passed down from generation to generation and that's how we still have Karens in every generation. Just take this kid whose mom promised they could play with a strangers walking-aid device… 

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  • Like… What?? Who does that? You don't just walk up to a stranger and demand to play with their medical device. Didn't your mom ever teach you that those things aren't toys? No??? Well, you're never too old to learn…

  • Cheezburger Image 10521341696
    via Unsplash+ (and A.C.)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • i'm dis led, so whenever i leave the house, i usually bring my cane with me. it helps me deal with the pain and also keeps me steady on my feet when i walk.
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • last week was my sister's birthday. she wanted to spend it at chuck e. cheese, so we drove out and let her go wild for a few hours. i mostly sat at the table keeping an eye on our things while she ran around, but at one point i got up to go to the bathroom.
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • on my way back to the table, a woman and her child stepped in front of me before i could sit down. we were set up directly across from the soda fountain, so i thought maybe they were waiting for their turn to use it, but the mom gives me a wide grin, points at my cane,
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • and says "hi there. can my daughter try out your walking stick?" i didn't really know how to respond at first. i just kind of paused (and probably made a face because she looked insulted) before i said "no."
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • she stared at me blankly and told me "are you serious? i promised her that she could." "... why?" the woman rolled her eyes and mumbled something about me being r de as she dragged her kid away.
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • i know this isn't the most interesting story, but this is still one of the stupidest encounters i've ever had. i'm only in my mid twenties, so i'm used to people giving me weird looks when they notice my cane, but they typically don't bring it up- and
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • obviously never ask to use it. who does that? what has to go through your mind to think that's okay to do?
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • Cheezburger Image 10521350144
    via Unsplash+ (and Andrej Lišakov)

    The image does not depict the actual subjects of the story. Subjects are models.

  • YunaAfterDark Ah yes, the classic "I promised my kind your medical device" routine parenting level delusional.
    via YunaAfterDark
  • SissyPlusPlus OP i'm still confused why she even wanted to use it in the first place. like, was she planning to use it as a sword? wave it around like a wand?
    via SissyPlusPlus
  • boredathome1962 NTA. Some people have zero empathy - they see everything and everyone only as how they can benefit themselves. It's sad. And she's bringing up her child without saying No. Doubly sad. Be glad you're not like that!
    via boredathome1962
  • TwinkleMirth Absolutely agree. It's one thing to be curious, but treating someone's mobility aid like a toy is a whole different level of inconsiderate. Teaching a child that they're entitled to other peoples belongings, especially something as personal and necessary as a cane is such a bad precedent. Respect and empathy go a long way, and it's disappointing when people don't model that for their kids.
    via TwinkleMirth
  • Useful Protection270 Never assume anything about a dis lity. I used to work in retail. And there was a guy that was a regular. He sometimes parked in a handicap spot. sometimes he didn't (he has a handicap parking tag) to see the guy move. You would think there's nothing wrong with him. Unless he came in in shorts. Then, you could see his prosthetic leg. DAV lost his leg in Afghanistan. His bad days, he used a cane. One day, he came in to buy a bike. He was training for a biathlon.
    via Useful_Protection270
  • Neat-Ad3228 I can understand kids like playing with canes my grandkids love to play with mine, usually mimicking me! I would never allow a stranger or their child to play with mine. Creepy if I honest.
    via Neat-Ad3228

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