To the woman at the hospital judging me for being on my phone

[Changesorter]

I am at a hospital waiting room with my son. Ophthalmology, nothing serious he's happily playing with the toys. I'm sat on my phone. There's a woman sat round the corner saying to her friend ' I hate seeing mums ignore thier kids on phone's. I know she's talking about me because she just glared and tutted a minute ago.

What she doesn't know isthat I suffer from huge health anxiety. Simply looking at a noticeboard in a hospital is triggering

[MimiSunshine]

Put your phone in silent and then pretend to make a call. Say loudly into it: just got your text, yes we're fine, just waiting to see the Dr, it's nothing serious and DS is happily playing but there's a right rude woman talking loudly to her friend, I was going to tell her she had something brown on the back of her skirt / trousers but don't think I'll bother now

Then wait and see how long she can stand it until she gets up to check 😄

[Changesorter]

:D!!!!

[KoalaDownUnder]

Mimi

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Have faith in yourself. Your kid is fine. Your parenting is fine. Her manners, on the other hand...

[Mrsfrumble]

at Mimi's suggestion.

It is sad to see children desperately trying to attract to the attention of a parent glued to their phone, or a parent ignoring a child who is acting up, but if a child is happily absorbed in something else I don't see a problem. How is it any different to reading a magazine or newspaper?

[xStefx]

Cant think of anything better than Mimi's suggestion :-)

[RebootYourEngine]

Please do what mimi said.

[Changesorter]

She's gone now. More the pity.

Getting out of here soon would be great.

[The80sweregreat]

why do people judge? it makes me wonder
good luck at the appointment!

[Hedgehog80]

I had a man have a go at me once when I was walking along and on my phone he literally shouted in my face "what's wrong with your generation????? It's dangerous to do that. ANYONE could grab you as you're not paying attention "

I was actually replying to a series of frantic texts from my dds 1-1 as she was having her second hypo of the morning and was not well at all (she has type 1) but he judged me (and made me jump!)

[Bubbinsmakesthree]

You don't need an excuse providing your child is happily preoccupied. You don't need to put on a parenting performance for other people.

[Fighterofthenightman]

I doubt she'll see this.

[SheepyFun]

Your son is happy, you're coping, it's none of her business - if he was screaming and you were ignoring him, that would be a bit different.

And surely hospital is somewhere where people often need to be on their phones because even a routine appointment means you aren't where you usually would be, so you need to arrange someone to pick up another child, get something brought in etc. Our local hospital has no phone reception at all in A&E, which really isn't great when you need to be with the patient as they are too unwell to explain what medication they've taken, while the friend who is looking after your baby is trying to contact you to say that they've got an important appointment, so can they leave the child with someone else. That was a fun evening.....

[WorraLiberty]

If he's happily playing with toys, I can't see her problem

However, I hate seeing kids being ignored and shouting "Mummy! Muuuum! Dadddddy! Daaaaad!", while the parents have got their noses buried in their phones.

I used to see it a lot in my old job, when I used to travel by bus during school run time. Not only did it drive me mad, but it just made me feel sorry for the kids.

[GloGirl]

It's awful isn't it. I also get anxious and find my phone a distraction from it and I hate people to judge me they don't know my life.

More often than not in a new surrounding my DC will be quite happy to play as the toys are new etc and don't need me. At home I don't get 5 minutes to sit and chill out on my phone as they're bored and all over me

I'm not sure people understand that, or like you say realise medical appointments can be very stressful.

[elQuintoConyo]

Yanbu.

I'm out in the woods with my dog. On my phone. Trying to ignore:

Look! Mummy! A stick!
Look! Mummy! A rabbit's ear!
Look! Mummy! Horse poo!
Look! Mummy! A stick!

[Tinkerbec]

I bet if you were reading a news paper or a book you wouldn't have been judged as much.

[GabsAlot]

i suffer from anxiety i cant just sit anywhere staring at the wall i have to occupy myself

she can think what she likes she doesnt know u or your issues

[SparkleTwinkleGoldGlitter]

I never nderstand the outrage about parents on phones while dc play happily, I mean haven't most of us done it.

I could understand her rudeness if your son was sitting crying and you were on the photo to Julie about roast chicken but his a happy child playing with toys, do people really think it's not ok for children to play alone

[ITGurl]

I remember my dad reading his mews paper for hours and me trying to get his attention by covering some of the text.
I do think our medium of information might be different but the issues are not new.

[SeriousSteve]

Hope appointment goes well, rude woman.

Hedgehog sorry to hear about the hypo. My DW had one this morning, glucagon sorted it.

[Aderyn2016]

You should have told her that if she has something to say, she ought to say it to your face and not passive aggressively through her friend. Then remind her that it isn't her child or her business and to keep her sticky beak out of yours!

[nannybeach]

A huge amount of people on their phones are RUDE, most Gp surgeries and Hospitals have notices up saying PLEASE SWITCH OFF YOUR PHONE.I was on an acute ward, Guys Mother wired up to all sorts, BIG sign saying please switch off your phone, asked him politely to go outside to use it, was told it was only a quick call, fast forward 10 years, patients on their phones, wanting to give medication or do observations, told y patient to wait while they may a call.

[NeverEverAnythingEver]

I have done as Aderyn said before. People tend to back down pretty quickly...

OMG elQuintoConyo I so hear you!