To think this mum was neglectful

[mistletoeandwine86]

Was at the playground today with DH and 2yo DC, one of us was following him carefully around the climbing frames etc.

2 other mums come into playground, with 1 DC each a bit older than mine, i'd say 4 yo. One mum had a baby in pushchair too. They were chatting and not staying very close to their DC who were running around playing together. First mum then took her DD to the toilet.

Second mum stayed in playground with baby in pushchair and DS playing. Her DS climbs on a big climbing frame and she watches him but doesn't stay close. She walks round the edge pushing her baby in pushchair and he goes the other way on the climbing frame. Next thing he falls off, the mum calls him but didn't see him fall off He starts crying and she calls him again, leaves pushchair but still can't see him so my DH has to tell her that he fell off and where he is!

To be fair to her she does go straight round to him and picks him up but he fell about 3feet! AIBU to think that she should have been watching him closer?? DH and i always supervise our DS 100% on play equipment and follow him around.

[Justmuddlingalong]

Nice.

[wigglypiggly]

accidents happen, children fall off, ideally all playgrounds should be supervised at all times but it happens, it doesn't sound deliberate, do you really think she was deliberately neglectful.

[Thurmanmurman]

No she wasn’t neglectful. It was an accident (kids have them all the time) and 3ft is hardly high! Sorry but you sound very judgmental and also a helecopter parent.

[Expressedways]

That’s not neglect

[Queenofthestress]

I think you have a bit of the only-have-one-child-but-know-whats-best-itus there OP
It's harder juggling a baby in a buggy and a toddler than you think!

[QforCucumber]

My child fell off a climbing frame at the weekend at the park, while I watched. Sometimes you cant just hover at them the whole time.

[SileneOliveira]

OMG A CHILD FELL!!! Call the police, social services and MI5!

Seriously, get a grip. Children fall.

[zippey]

It’s fine, falling off climbing frames is a rite of passage. Constant surveillance of children is as bad as lack of surveillance. There needs to be a balance. And parents are humans and make mistakes. I’d give the parent a break.

[MintedLamb]

Impossible to supervise 100% when you have more than one child. Accidents happen.

[TokyoSushi]

Not neglectful, you sound a bit too much the other way.

[Tinyteatime]

DH and i always supervise our DS 100% on play equipment and follow him around.

I can guarantee you won’t be doing this when he’s 4. If you did I’d think you were a ridiculous helicopter parent. YABU in calling her neglectful.

[Nicknacky]

I don’t stay close to my kid in the play equipment. I thing neglectful here at all.

[pinkcardi]

And how will you closely supervise and follow your DC if you were to have more than one?

And should single parents with more than one child not go to the park as they couldn't closely follow them all?

Or what about parents with 3 children? Heaven forbid if they ever went to the park and had to neglect one child whilst looking after the others?

[PotteringAlong]

I have a 7, 4 and a 2 year old. How do you suggest I supervise them all 100% as you put it?

Life was easy with 1 child...

[Kaykay06]

Is she meant to have eyes in the back of her head, I must be very neglectful then as my four boys played at the park loads and last time I checked I don’t have four sets of eyes to constantly watch each one I obviously made sure they were all in the park and walked round checking on them but if one fell over or off something whilst I was chatting to another son nothing I did would change that and they’ve always been fine not wrapped in cotton wool that’s for sure and no head injures or broken bones yet which is a miracle with my lot

[gamerchick]

Falling 3 feet is not much man OP. Has your kid never rolled off the bed?

[AccidentalOven]

Are you being serious? Is this a reverse?

Short of following him round carrying the baby in bit sure what else you'd expect. Will you be attending school with your 4 year old op?

[Bookworm4]

Oh no you're those dreary parent do that trail round play parks/soft plays never letting your DC enjoy life and get in everyone's way. I must be terrible; I used to sit on the bench and let mine run around; within my line of vision but never shadowed them like a creepy stalker.

[PolarBearDisguisedAsAPenguin]

YABU. He is four and it was an accident in a play ground.

I agree that you sound like you are too much the other way.

[DontTouchTheMoustache]

Wow this is one of the most judgemental posts ive read for a while. I'm sure you and dh found it easier to follow your one DS around than she did on her own whilst also pushing a pram. She took her eyes of him for a few moments, that is not neglect FGS.

[arethereanyleftatall]

I think Yabu. I'm of the feeling that children should be left to explore at parks, they shouldn't be on equipment they need help on.

[EllenRipley]

🤣

[OpportunityKnocks]

Yabu

[PaulHollywoodsSexGut]

Oh fuck off you parsimonious arse.

Good lord, it’s a good job it’s not super massively hard keeping a watch on two whilst (likely) a sleep deprived zombie.

[PutTheBunnyBackInTheBox]

Here we go again...Why are people so judgemental? Does it make you feel better to criticise someone else, op?

No wonder mental health problems are rising when we now seem to live in a world where every little mistake is jumped upon. No one is perfect and we all fuck up from time to time. Hopefully the next time YOU fuck up, OP, no one will be there to judge you.