Softplay Woman with 2 Obvs Under 3s

Ozanj · 2024-04-06T11:39:23+00:00

A woman with 2 obviously under 3s without any physical ability was taking them through the area aimed at Over 5s. Both kids had near misses with my son (that she didn’t notice) because they weren’t waiting their turns on the slide. I managed that calmly. Suddenly she decides to wake up and shout at me when one of mine has a near miss with one of hers. I lost it at her a bit - didn’t swear - but told her quite loudly that the area was for over 5s and if her kids didn’t have the ability to keep up she should keep them at home. Told her she was a disgrace of a mother and that if I see her again in the Over 5s area I’m going to report her to the management. obvs I shouldn’t have shouted but I was furious. DH (who wasn’t there) thinks I overreacted but I believe I was right (except for the shouting). Was I?

shepherdsangeldelight · 07/04/2024 16:11

Bearbookagainandagain · 06/04/2024 19:49

I have never seen an "area for above 5" at soft plays in my area. I have seen loads of 5yo in the under 2/3 yo though. Never came to my mind to shout at them and their parents.

Edited

There is a soft play near us that has a separate (and strictly enforced) area for under 5s and another area for over 5s (with 5 year olds being the cross over age). Whilst younger children can go in the older children bit, (and it's necessary if you have a child in each age range although we opted not to go to this particular place when this was our case as it was too tricky) the play area is really too difficult for the majority of younger children (lots of it is too much until about age 7/8); it's not really suitable for adults to go on the play frame to help them; and so younger children (unless more able) just stick in the under 5s bit.

If OP's soft play is like this, rather that just one where it's all free flow with "recommended" age ranges, her reaction is a lot more understandable, although still OTT.

Bearbookagainandagain · 06/04/2024 19:49

I have never seen an "area for above 5" at soft plays in my area. I have seen loads of 5yo in the under 2/3 yo though. Never came to my mind to shout at them and their parents.

Notadoormat4 · 06/04/2024 19:46

The only disgrace was you.

If you weren't happy, you should've spoken to a member of staff.

Even if she shouted first, although I'm not surprised given what you've said, you went too far.

Pinkpinkpink15 · 06/04/2024 19:39

Rudolftheorange · 06/04/2024 15:00

I’m on the OP’s side with this, but obviously not how she went about it or what she said. . It is definitely irritating when tiny toddlers are tottering around because you take your big kids to soft play to burn off energy. Obviously they should be mindful of little ones but honestly I think if you take little ones into an over 5s area you’re restricting the normal play of older kids so it’s a bit selfish unless it’s during the school day.

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@Rudolftheorange

which is what I said!

saoirse31 · 06/04/2024 17:48

A disgrace of a mother? You are completely ott.

Nagado · 06/04/2024 17:44

Ozanj · 06/04/2024 13:41

She shouted first. I saw red and put her in her place. I still don’t think I did anything wrong

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You didn’t put her in her place though. You just had a tantrum and showed everyone within hearing distance that you can’t control yourself.

There’s a big difference between being assertive and being aggressive. If you’d been assertive then you would have put her in her place. As it is, you’ve both just made yourself look like a pair of fishwives.

AnxiousRabbit · 06/04/2024 16:14

Rudolftheorange · 06/04/2024 15:00

I’m on the OP’s side with this, but obviously not how she went about it or what she said. . It is definitely irritating when tiny toddlers are tottering around because you take your big kids to soft play to burn off energy. Obviously they should be mindful of little ones but honestly I think if you take little ones into an over 5s area you’re restricting the normal play of older kids so it’s a bit selfish unless it’s during the school day.

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Maybe I shouldn't have said little ones
I should have said mindful of others
There is burning off energy but that doesn't mean barging and climbing over smaller or slower children...whether that's related to their age, size or a disability.
I seem to recall the soft play we used had under 3 and main....the under 3 was terribly boring.
I have always seen younger kids on the main frames in every setting I have been to.

zingally · 06/04/2024 15:24

You over-reacted and were quite rude.

Frankly, if an unsupervised 3yo got bumped in an area not for their age group, I'd call that natural consequences and not get involved. I perhaps might have said to my older child to please be careful around the littler ones. But that being said, it's soft play, not navigating the trenches of WW1.

OP, the world is full of stupid people, who probably shouldn't be parents. And if this is the first one you've encountered, you've done well. Don't take it all so seriously.

Rudolftheorange · 06/04/2024 15:00

Pinkpinkpink15 · 06/04/2024 12:56

@AnxiousRabbit

lots of soft play places have this restriction for exactly this reason, so the slightly older kids can run around climb in a way that is fun for their age group. If you allow your younger kids in there you have to accept the risk they might get knocked, hurried, 'helped' etc.

it's soft playing not scaling a rock face

@Ozanj YABU, very unreasonable. Aggressive & nasty, there was NO call for it.

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I’m on the OP’s side with this, but obviously not how she went about it or what she said. . It is definitely irritating when tiny toddlers are tottering around because you take your big kids to soft play to burn off energy. Obviously they should be mindful of little ones but honestly I think if you take little ones into an over 5s area you’re restricting the normal play of older kids so it’s a bit selfish unless it’s during the school day.

fitzwilliamdarcy · 06/04/2024 14:46

Is “saw red” the new “mamabear came out” as the mum’s ready excuse for aggressive behaviour?

Just grim behaviour, OP. Really grim.

Screamingabdabz · 06/04/2024 14:42

‘Seeing red’. The excuse of every violent halfwit.

LaraCooper · 06/04/2024 14:36

AnxiousRabbit · 06/04/2024 12:48

Never seen an area for OVER any age.
They have areas for under5s but no restriction on the main area.
She was with them
Maybe your over 5s should be more aware of little ones?

This

Whaleandsnail6 · 06/04/2024 14:34

Your reaction was ridiculous but I do understand your frustration at an obviously too young child getting in the way of the older children, in the area clearly marked for their age.

Its hard for older children when they are doing what they should in the area aimed at them but they get into trouble for hurting children who are too young to be in there.

Hobnobswantshernameback · 06/04/2024 14:28

Bit Jezza Kyle innit

Undethetree · 06/04/2024 14:07

Suddenarabia · 06/04/2024 13:43

Not sure there’s much of a lower point in life than screaming at another mum in soft play tbh

😂😂yep

NuffSaidSam · 06/04/2024 14:05

Ozanj · 06/04/2024 13:41

She shouted first. I saw red and put her in her place. I still don’t think I did anything wrong

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And that's why this thread is pointless. No matter how unanimous it is you won't ever believe you've done anything wrong.

BakedTattie · 06/04/2024 13:59

You acted like that infront of children?!

Overtheatlantic · 06/04/2024 13:59

You sound rough af 😆

MumChp · 06/04/2024 13:59

What did you learn you kids today about behavoir?
I would be ashamed.

Awaydays · 06/04/2024 13:56

Jesus OP, if you genuinely reacted like that I feel embarrassed for you.

MoltenLasagne · 06/04/2024 13:54

People, this is why it's important to teach your kids emotional regulation. Because if not they grow up to become adults who think it's OK to start shouting at someone in a softplay and will say they "saw red" as though that's a legitimate excuse. How embarrassing.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 06/04/2024 13:51

Fuck me, it's softplay.

Luxell934 · 06/04/2024 13:50

hobbitonthehill · 06/04/2024 13:43

Sound like your the one who should stay home tbh

This!

If you can’t control your big girl emotions in public places then I think you should stay at home OP.

DoYouSmokePaul · 06/04/2024 13:49

It’s not healthy to “see red” over something so minor or want to “put someone in their place”.

SouthLondonMum22 · 06/04/2024 13:47

You massively over reacted. Telling her loudly about the age was absolutely fine, everything else wasn’t.