Shamed at the Duck pond.

[GiveMeAUserName123]

Took my kids to the duck pond today as we accidentally let close to a whole loaf of bread go mouldy. Instead of waste it I thought we could give it to the ducks…..well!

Got there and there was a mum, who if you was to judge on the spot came across as one of those perfect, kind, loving hippy mums with polite kids, she was handing her children what could only be described as real duck feed, they were pellet like and brown.

Also there across the pond was a dad with his young kid, about 4, throwing in peas from a brown kfraft box that has obviously been recycled.

Then us, I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum, standing there with her two kids throwing bread into the pond out of the plastic wrapper, with (very slight) mould. Completely inorganic and clearly not saving the world.

The young 4 year old said “ducks don’t eat bread” to his dad who was in ear shot of us, he replied that they do sometimes eat bread as he was obviously being polite to us.

Since when did parents become so perfect?

Just felt like a huge fail as we crossed back over the bridge to read a sign that said “bread kills ducks.”

(My kids didn’t notice the sign thank god!)

🤦🏼‍♀️ Fail

[GiveMeAUserName123]

All the ducks came to us though, so bread was the speciality of the day I guess

[sittingonacornflake]

As a single mother myself, I bristled at the way you worded that.

It's a shame you think you looked worse because you looked like a single mother. I'm not sure what's so terrible about being one to be honest. Other than reading things like this

[Geamhradh]

You sound far more judgemental of the other parents tbh.

[bookh]

Ach OP, give yourself a break.

Farmers wife here. We have chickens and ducks, they get all the crap of the day, including bread and it's never killed them. I think the problem was if they consist on a diet entirely bread based its not ideal. So there was a campaign to get people to try and give other bits as well.

[TheQueef]

Ah bugger it.
I used to put everything out for the birds but I too got told off for giving crackers
The kids didn't notice and they enjoyed it so take a no score draw, not a fail!

[ImitationofBeing]

You are the one judging.

[Geamhradh]

And aside from not knowing that bread isn't very good for birds, how did it possibly occur to you that food that had gone mouldy would be OK?

[Whinge]

More like shaming others who were at the duckpond.

No one shamed or judged you, but your post is dripping with judgment for the other people who you encounted.

[megletthesecond]

It's not the end of the world. Fewer people are feeding them bread but humans haven't killed the duck population by feeding them bread over the years.
I have a poundland bag of bird seed for the ducks.

[IsDaveThere]

Bread is bad enough but you fed them mouldy bread? Just Google to see how bad that is for ducks.

[BuckyBarnesArm]

Oh dear, you're going to get hell for this post. And you do sound more judgemental than anyone you've mentioned in your OP.

[LateDecemberBackInLowB12]

You were judging them. And single mums by the sounds of it.

They sounded really kind actually.

[Kuachui]

Your the one judging single mums. What's being single got to do with anything?? They could have been single parents too.

[Patbutchersarrow]

I've done this loads of times op. been there throwing bread in with the kids while other parents are throwing in feed/ peas whilst giving me disapproving glances . Does bread really kill ducks? I never knew this .

[Kuachui]

Also yes you just potentially killed ducks so of course they weren't being perfect they just weren't trying to kill ducks with mouldy bread

[GoodnightGrandma]

@ImitationofBeing

You are the one judging.

This.

[TwooThirty]

I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum,
Why would you judge a single mum?

[AmDillDandin]

Why would you have been judged as a single parent, but not the other woman, or indeed the man?

[Mariell]

More embarrassing for me is the outrage my dog has that anyone could throw perfectly good food into the water and the first time I fed ducks with him, he looked panic stricken and plunged into the water to retrieve the bread and devour it!

[ComDummings]

Bread is better than nothing for ducks but you fed them mouldy bread? That’s so horrible.

[GoWalkabout]

Ha never post on Mumsnet to feel better eh?

[Ughmaybenot]

You sound judgemental as fuck, how on earth do you think you were ‘shamed’? You even said yourself that the other dad tried to save your feelings by being polite about the bread.

[Thatsplentyjack]

Why would people think you were a single mother?

[PatchworkElmer]

Nobody shamed you though?

[FGSWhatNow]

Why the hell would you think that mouldy bread was a good idea?