"Creepy" and "condescending": the man who complimented a mum on the train

A story came to the nation’s attention during the week which melted our hearts and restored our faith in humanity.

Well, for most of us anyway.

Other people appeared to be put out by the fact a stranger on a train complimented a young mum’s parenting skills and passed her a note saying as much.

"Creepy," "condescending" and "unnecessary" were just a few of the words bandied around social media when Sammie Welch’s story hit the headlines.

Now I can be as scathing as the next person, but even I found it difficult to pour scorn on this man’s exceptionally kind gesture.

Upon seeing mum Sammie tend to her son with endless patience on a crowded train and quietly remind him how to behave when the five-year-old appeared to get restless as children do, one man felt that Sammie should know her efforts hadn't gone unnoticed.

Tell me, what's wrong with that? Because I am struggling to figure it out here.

In an age where we regularly cast aspersions on other people’s parenting skills, isn’t it a refreshing change to see someone complimented for just doing their best?

When we have celebrities attacking each other’s family dynamic on reality TV shows and we appear to make a habit of judging other mums, surely the idea of a kind word and a nod of recognition should be welcomed with open arms.

The fact that this stranger felt compelled to compliment the 23-year-old mum and praise her son’s behaviour wasn’t creepy or condescending; it was kind.

We could all do with taking a leaf out of his book.