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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think people should control their children?

33 replies

grassfedhedgehog · 10/02/2026 18:15

Am I the only one who thinks parenting has gone down the drain lately?

I was on a busy rush hour train home after work today and two parents with their two children made me rage internally Envy They were all sat in seats two opposite two (london overground, the seats were opposite over the middle aisle) and the bit of floor not occupied by people or bags was being used to push toy truck back and forth between them. Kids kept getting up too leaving seats unoccupied barring their bags for minutes at a time (busy train, no spare seats). Saw one poor lady get her arm used as a road briefly for the truck. The parents seemed entirely disinterested in the kids and more interested in their phones.

AIBU to think the standard of parenting as plummeted lately? Especially in public?

OP posts:
Terip · 10/02/2026 18:45

Phones and the inability to not check them every fucking second of every fucking day will be the downfall of us all.

Smartiepants79 · 10/02/2026 18:44

Well I wouldn’t have allowed mine to touch strangers or get in the way but if they’re not in the way then playing with their toys on the floor is preferable to many other things they could have been doing. Like running around shrieking or watching Peppa pig at full volume without headphones.

Furlane · 10/02/2026 18:42

I think most people would agree that they need to keep their own children under control?

Bearbookagainandagain · 10/02/2026 18:40

What age were the children?

I'm lucky I don't have to take my pre-schoolers on a train at peak hour. They would absolutely behave horribly.

No, I wouldn't let them use other passengers arms for their truck...
But standing and playing? Were they being particularly disruptive?

If so I'm happy to parent, but the alternative is them crying and screaming, so make your choice I guess....

mondaytosunday · 10/02/2026 18:25

Plating with a truck on the floor seems fine and using an arm as a road? Many (most) would think that sweet unless they were aggressive and hurt the person. Getting up repeatedly might be annoying if they were getting in people’s way. Shrieking bothers me far more than a couple kids entertaining themselves either a toy.

DollopOfFun · 10/02/2026 18:21

Kids today!

said no one ever.

VioletBees · 10/02/2026 18:19

Get a grip. Kids playing with a toy truck and not faces buried in technology just to shut them up would be a delightful site for most.

Gowlett · 10/02/2026 18:19

Yanbu. I always bring our special travelling straight-jacket for my child. Doesn’t stop him talking to other passengers, though…