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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have walked out of the restaurant

158 replies

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:08

I had been at a play area with my kids and when we went to sit down it was a booth. My kids immediately started bickering about who’s food was whose and which drink belonged to who and I’m trying to get them to just shuffle down a bit so I can sit down. They weren’t listening to me at all. Eventually I was going to blow and stepped outside.

OP posts:
IronEverything · 04/08/2026 14:09

You mean you walked out and left your bickering kids alone in the restaurant? No that's obviously not okay.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 04/08/2026 14:09

You left them behind?

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:10

No, three other adults with them

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 04/08/2026 14:10

Did the kids leave with you? If not who kept an eye on them? How old are the kids?

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 04/08/2026 14:10

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:10

No, three other adults with them

So what's the problem?

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:10

They are 5 and 3.

OP posts:
amber763 · 04/08/2026 14:10

So you just left them kicking off with other people having to deal? If theyre misbehaving then parent them or take them home.

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:11

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 04/08/2026 14:10

So what's the problem?

Show quote history

well

OP posts:
theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:11

How old are they?

You are the parent, literally your job to manage them and give the manners, unless you left them with their dad?

Or the nanny, if you have a nanny with you, then ok

Needmorelego · 04/08/2026 14:12

Been there. Done that.
Take a deep breath.
All will be fine.
💐🙂

Jellycatspyjamas · 04/08/2026 14:12

At that age I’d have sorted their food and drink placed where I wanted them to sit. What made it really difficult for you? What were the other adults doing to help?

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:12

I Can only dream of a nanny. I was trying very hard to parent them but it is very difficult when they don’t listen to a blessed word you say.

OP posts:
theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:12

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:10

They are 5 and 3.

if you can't behave like an adult here, what makes you think they can?
Why do you expect a 3 and a 5 yo to be more grown-up than you are?

LizzieSiddal · 04/08/2026 14:13

Flowers we all reach boiling point at some stage. You left them with three other adults so they were safe. I’d calm down then go back in, ask them to budge up and I expect they will this time!

theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:13

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:12

I Can only dream of a nanny. I was trying very hard to parent them but it is very difficult when they don’t listen to a blessed word you say.

but WHO did you leave them with?
Their dad? fine

who were the 3 adults?

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:13

Jellycatspyjamas · 04/08/2026 14:12

At that age I’d have sorted their food and drink placed where I wanted them to sit. What made it really difficult for you? What were the other adults doing to help?

To be fair, it shouldn’t have been hard. It was a booth so they just had to go in and sit down but then they started fighting kind of at the top of the booth so I couldn’t get in at all and I was stood like an idiot blocking the aisle.

OP posts:
Tryagain26 · 04/08/2026 14:13

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:12

I Can only dream of a nanny. I was trying very hard to parent them but it is very difficult when they don’t listen to a blessed word you say.

Alk kids behave like that sometimes especially siblings that age.
You just take a deep breath and stay calm.

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:14

theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:13

but WHO did you leave them with?
Their dad? fine

who were the 3 adults?

Show quote history

Well, it wasn’t King Charles and Camilla was it Confused yes, their dad and PIL

OP posts:
Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:14

Tryagain26 · 04/08/2026 14:13

Alk kids behave like that sometimes especially siblings that age.
You just take a deep breath and stay calm.

Show quote history

I hope so, all the other kids in the restaurant seemed well behaved.

OP posts:
JoshLymanSwagger · 04/08/2026 14:15

3 adults v 2 kids.

No problem.

As long as the kids didn't wander off into the woods and make rudimentary bows and arrows and hunt the wildlife. 🤷🏻‍♀️

🍷💐

theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:15

LizzieSiddal · 04/08/2026 14:13

Flowers we all reach boiling point at some stage. You left them with three other adults so they were safe. I’d calm down then go back in, ask them to budge up and I expect they will this time!

If you teach a 3yo that ignoring mum when she tells you to do something, so she will leave and you can keep ignoring her, I am not sure you will be happy with the long-term results

Jellycatspyjamas · 04/08/2026 14:15

Yep, I get it. The only way is divide and conquer - one on either side of you or on opposite sides of the table. Apologise for blocking the aisle and physically remove the one closest to you. Did the other adults not try to help?

theneighboureatmysalad · 04/08/2026 14:16

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:14

Well, it wasn’t King Charles and Camilla was it Confused yes, their dad and PIL

Show quote history

you are the one trying to make yourself interesting

How is anyone supposed to know who you childishly left them with? You could have been with friends, having to deal with their own kids, how are we supposed to guess?

Original poster
watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:16

If I’d physically removed then I’d have knocked all the drinks etc over (not much room!) I hate the way ordinary stuff with kids turns into misery.

OP posts:
Jellycatspyjamas · 04/08/2026 14:17

watchthetv · 04/08/2026 14:14

Well, it wasn’t King Charles and Camilla was it Confused yes, their dad and PIL

Show quote history

I’d have expected dad to wade in and the grandparents to help diffuse things. It shouldn’t be left to one adult to wrangle the kids while the other 3 presumably settled themselves with food etc.