Filipino mom praised for witty response to older woman at Target asking if her baby was adopted because they didn’t look alike
Not every thought needs to be spoken, especially when it does not concern you. In a post shared by a Reddit user who goes by @EstelleKiki on September 8, 2025, one mother recalled an encounter that caught her completely off guard while she was out with her half-Filipino infant son. The stranger outright asked if the baby was actually hers. What followed, however, taught the older woman to think twice before making assumptions about people's lives.
While out at Target with her infant son, the mother was approached by a stranger who admired the baby before inquiring if he was adopted. As a Filipino mother with a white husband, she shared that her son looked like his father, with pale skin and blue eyes. Still, moments like these reveal how quickly appearances shape perception. But rather than correcting the comment, she chose humor, replying, “Nope, actually, I stole him. His real mom is in aisle 6."
And the reaction everyone had been waiting for did come. The energy completely shifted. The older woman didn't laugh or react verbally; her face just went pale, and she slowly backed away. The mom carried on humming and pushing the stroller. There was nothing particularly dramatic about what had happened, no raised voices or confrontation. Yet, the response didn’t just end the conversation; it seemed to leave a quiet impression on the woman, a reminder that not every insensitive remark deserves an explanation.
The comment section was filled with anecdotes from people sharing similar instances. Some were even quick to point out how much it's normalized to comment on babies and even give unsolicited advice to mothers. For example, @Safe-Progress9126 recounted, "Reminds me of when I was pregnant, standing in line with a chocolate bar. This random lady comments that sugar isn't good for babies. I turned to her, stone-faced, and said, 'I'm not pregnant.' She put down what she was holding and turned tail straight out of the store."
u/titaniaBBW-36M shared, "Why would you even ask that question? People need to learn to filter—to think before they speak!" But @NothingAndNow111's comment took it to another level in showing how insensitive people can be to the parents with mixed-race kids. She recalled, "My mum's cousin's son looks just like his dad—pale, red-haired, freckles. Nothing like his mum, who's Colombian. Olive-skinned, dark hair, dark eyes, etc. So she would always get comments like, 'Are you his nanny?' 'How long have you been sitting for him?'"
While curiosity can be understandable, remarks about someone else’s child should always come with a sense of restraint. What if the baby from this particular story had been adopted? What if the mother had suffered through difficulties to conceive and then decided to adopt? A simple question like that can open wounds that aren't easy to close. Plus, all babies are adorable, and it doesn't take much to simply smile, compliment the baby, and move on.
Of course, many praised the mom's quick wit.
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