To think this loud parenting was not imaginative play.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

I know I'm being judgey and jealous but here goes it. I was in the park with DD (2 yo) yesterday and I had half an hour of two different parents doing this, "are we in a car? Underwater? We're feeding sharks, SHARKS. Are we? And octopuses. OCTOPUSES. Are they babies? BABIES?" Next parent, "Are we driving to the sweet shop, to buy sweets, SWEETS?" Repeat ad nauseum.

The DC in question were old enough to be using their own imaginations and thinking up their own scenarios. Didn't get the chance though. It was audible from every corner of the playground.

Now, part of me is jealous that I don't have the energy, inclination or imagination myself to do this. Part of me, however, was thinking, 'let your DC think up their own games'. Is it better than TV if you are doing all the thinking for them? Of course it is because they are at least moving around. I didn't want to hear it after 10 minutes so I don't know if their DC did.

[nurseneedshelp]

Urgh that kinda behaviour drives me mad! My DD says "thank god your not like that"

Its as though they want everyone one to look at how amazing they are?????

[Lucyellensmum95]

yuck - i bloody hate loud parenting, makes my teeth itch so it does - there was a family at the stables the other day, the girl wanted some sweets (all the kids buy sweets after their lesson, all of them) and the mother said no she didn't have any money. Fair enough, ive been without change at the stables. I was about to go to my purse to find 50p to give to her if it was ok with mum and the dad started with "well, you have 5 seconds to stop this or I am going to lose my temper" It wasn't done in a "then i will smack you sort of way" it more made me think ..and then what are you going to do?? Then you'll be buggered. "i'm not having this behaviour" bla bla bla - just buy the girl some fucking sweets or at least be a bit conciliatory. Everyone else had sweets but her, i felt sorry for her but of course i felt i couldnt offer as it had become a "parenting issue" i mean, just fuck off loud parents!! can you tell im in a bad mood?

[AThingInYourLife]

Your problem is that you could hear them playing with their children?

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Lucyellensmum95 poor thing. I am a sugar avoider but in that case

That's the thing AThing, the playground was busy, lots of parents and I could hear some parents and they could hear me, as we passed. These two sets, one after another, you could hear from every corner of the playground.

[Bearbehind]

This drives me insane. I had the misfortune of staying in a hotel near Peppa Pig world recently and the restaurant was full of loud parents all trying to out loud each other whilst discussing the rides they have been on during the day. Grrrrrr!

[stepawayfromthescreen]

What's the problem?!
Parents nearby are playing with their kids, joining in with a bit of make believe, using their imagination? And this is loud parenting?!
Well you'd hate me then cos I probably do that most times we visit the park. Sitting on a bench tapping on my iPhone is a bit dull.

[PeterParkerSays]

Beat them at their own gaem: "what that, Lucinda, octopi, why so they are. How many legs do they have? That's right, clever girl"

[PeterParkerSays]

Yes, that bold thing worked really well didn't it, sign....

octopi then, if you won't let me embolden parts of words.

[DaveMccave]

Oh god Lucyellensmum. There is nothing more frustrating than a stranger offering a tantrumming child whatever it is they are tantrumming g for in front of them! that child had probably already had too many sweets that day, just because all the other kids were having them doesn't mean she shouldn't be disciplined for having a hissy fit about it.

As for the OP, I would probably just smirk at this too, but feel slightly inferior. The park is there to give me space, not be constantly in charge of play, but that kind of play has it's place. Maybe the toddlers had been in front of cbeebies all day.

[Runningblue]

Surely it depends on your child? Some kids play very independently- but other kids - my kid, likes to play with me, alas not allowing me to sit on the bench whilst i peruse my blackberry.
He is developing his imagination but likes a playmate, which like it or not, is often me.

[TheSurgeonsMate]

I think you know YABU.

Maybe it just wasn't the moment in that child's day for "doing their imaginative play." Perhaps it was just time for a play?

[Fillyjonk75]

I used to do as these parents especially with DD1, as I was repeating back clearly what she was trying to say and I was often the only one available to play imaginitive games with her. I am usually told I am very soft spoken but sometimes got people looking at me like YABVU, OP.

[MrsTerryPratchett]

Embolden I should take you with me next time.

I knew I would get the 'sitting on an iPhone' contrast. I am in the middle. I hang out with DD because she is pushing people ATM so I'm not one of the ignoring DC crowd.

I don't mind 'joining in' make-believe either. I frequently have to be a dinosaur This was the parent doing ALL the imagining. Not so much the sweet shop one but the bloody sea life one was at it. Even up to "we can help them into an aquarium, like the one we went to in Florida, FLORIDA".

I do know IABU BTW.

[IfNotNowThenWhen]

lucyellensmum- If I told ds I had no money for sweets, and some stranger came over to give me 50 p, I would blow a gasket!
So what if the other kids had sweets?
In a child over the age of, say, 5, this shouldn't warrant a tantrum, so I would be very "nomeansnoandthisendsnow"

Life's not fair. .

[MarmaladeTwatkins]

YANBU

Parks are for kids. Let them get on with it. Benches are for parents, newspapers and coffee.

[Wannabestepfordwife]

Yabu I probably "loud parent" but i don't know many people where I am so if I didn't witter on to dd I wouldn't talk to anyone till dp gets home