Mum of super energetic 3&3/4 years old twin boys here. We went to our local playground today. Despite the summer time and the weekend, it wasn’t busy.
At this point there were only another two boys there with their ‘dad’ /presumably/. They were playing with a couple of those little cars with remote controls. From my previous experience, I was already on high alert, as my boys just love chasing those cars. For a while I’ve tried to distract them, unsuccessfully.
I sat down on a bench and called my sister. I often do this as at home it’s nearly impossible /due to my boys above mentioned hyperactivity/. I always call my sister to offload and get advice.
While talking I was looking at the boys. Suddenly the ‘dad’ stood front of me declaring that one of my sons broke their toy car. /It was a wheel coming off but he couldn’t put it back./ I apologised, but he was still just standing there. I cut my call short to give him my full attention.
Turned out that ‘dad’ wanted me to pay for the toy, as he said that it was a precious Christmas present.
I felt awful, it felt as if my little ones were judged as criminals. I was and I’m still a bit baffled. We don’t have particularly expensive toys and the ones we take to the playground I was always prepared to lose or get them broken. It’s happened in the past and I’d have never asked parents to buy me one instead.
’Dad’ was also having a go at my parenting, by saying I should control my children. Given they’re twins I can’t be with both of them in any given moment. My boys also told me that they didn’t break it, which of course can be true or not. I didn’t see them break the car, I’ve seen them chasing it but I haven’t seen them breaking it. TBH I’m not sure what’s happened.
I genuinely feel sorry for the 5 years old little boy, whose car was broken but AIBU to feel harshly judged by ‘dad’? I eventually offered to give my name and phone number so we can arrange me to pay for it some point. Because of difficult finances I couldn’t just do it straight away. That point ‘dad’ told me to leave it, as it was.
He wasn’t aggressive but I still felt unfairly judged and criticised. I admit I’m not the most perfect mums as my boys often overwhelm me. This little playground so far was a safe haven for us because it’s secure, I can be a bit less on high alerts there compared to when we’re at home in our flat, where’s not a single minute to switch off. Now I feel anxious to go to the playground again. I just can’t stop my boys to be interested in other children’s toys. They’re just learning about possessions, about how to interact with others.