PSA: Kids Are People Not Possessions

So today Aaron (1 yrs) and I were outside a school, he saw all the shapes on the wall, spelt the names and noted the colours so I decided to record him doing some of that a second time around. Suddenly a random parent comes up and hold his hand "playfully" trying to take him away and Aaron instantly began crying...

Now, I understand people find it funny but I don't, I hate it with a passion. Especially since last night a random worker at a supermarket we frequent saw me and the kids playing on a bench behind the check out section, smiled nicely extending her hand to Aaron and walking with him ok then suddenly dragged him sideways behind a counter saying, "Mi a tek yuh weh!" (I'm going to take you away)...

Now Aaron screamed, dragged away and cried running back to me as I too move to protect him... Aaron wouldn't let go of me and quickly said "go! go! go!" begging for us to leave the supermarket... I can not fathom why in all that is holy people think it's funny to do that to children! And another worker brushing it off saying, "A play she jus a play, a thur dem pretty" (She's just teasing, it's because the kids are pretty) to which I curtly snapped, "Everyone is pretty"...

I understood what she meant in the Jamaican context but these comments and gestures have been 24/7 from 2013 when I first had Israel... It's at a point where Israel (4 yrs) stands in front of his brother and shouts, "No! You're not taking us! No!" whenever someone make those comments, another person made the mistake of "playfully" reaching to take Aaron away and Israel angrily wrestled their hands and legs to let go of his brother.

I honestly don't know if it's just a Jamaican thing or a universal occurrence but please just stop. I appreciate the classist/colour prejudice compliment indented and understand the jest it is said in but it is not funny, it not not right, it is at best psychologically harmful to kids, just stop. Stop asking for other people's kids. Stop telling children you're going to take them away from mommy/daddy.

Stop telling kids they are pretty because they are brown/white/light complexioned. Stop asking them to come home with you... oh and stop trying to bribe my kids with food/toys to follow you home. Stop it!