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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to let my grandson stay on the swing

212 replies

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:32

While I'm looking after my grandson (2 &1/2), it's my job to keep him safe and happy. I do want to teach him social skills (sharing etc)...but also that he's important & he shouldn't necessarily put other people ahead of himself (especially strangers).
So, when at the park, I allow him to stay on the swing even when there are people nearby waiting for a turn.

At a park today, there was a very vocal mother with 2 children. She came along about 1 minute after gs had got on the swing. One of her children got on the other swing while her 2nd child had to wait. She kept saying, very loudly, that other child had to wait until we finished. Until he complained enough that she removed her daughter from the swing to let him on (making her daughter cry). Why would she think it's ok for my gs...a stranger...to be upset by being removed for her children?
There was another (I assume) grandparent that had taken child from her pram to sit & wait right next to the swing for a turn. Why not go on a different activity while waiting? It just feels pushy!

My grandson had waited ages for a turn...but from other areas of the park..& went running over once the swings were free. What rules do other people go by...& do these change with children's ages?

OP posts:
EppingIsFun · 01/09/2026 22:23

She was unreasonable to start hinting loudly after your GS had only been on a minute.

You were unreasonable to let him stay on so long when other children were waiting. And no, it's not 'pushy' for people to wait by the swings for their turn.

AgentPidge · 01/09/2026 22:18

ChampagneLassie · 01/09/2026 22:12

I’d be teaching you GS to share and be a decent human. You reap what you sow.

I think you're right. Some people are afraid to say no to their kids (or here, grandkids) and the kids turn into spoilt brats.

Mooselander · 01/09/2026 22:16

I think YABU. When my children (5 and 3) want to go on something at the playground they want to wait next to it, so they’re first to go on it when it’s free.

They are very patient, but if a child is taking longer than their fair share at a turn they sometimes ask when it will be their turn. I just explain it will be their turn when the other child is done, and they can either continue to wait or go on something else. They always wait.

That isn’t me being pushy, that’s me literally explaining the situation at hand. What’s wrong with that? Confused

ChampagneLassie · 01/09/2026 22:12

I’d be teaching you GS to share and be a decent human. You reap what you sow.

Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 22:07

Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 22:05

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

Apologies, I should’ve quoted @WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz

Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 22:05

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 22:03

WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 01/09/2026 21:58

Does your daughter take him to a swimming pool with watering can toys?

?

OP posts:
Hellohelga · 01/09/2026 22:02

It’s a sad day when grown ups don’t know how to share. I despair for the kids.

EverMerge · 01/09/2026 22:01

I would not move. It’s a park. Go play elsewhere until it’s free.

Raptors · 01/09/2026 22:01

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:58

I called time. He will happily stay on a swing for an hour (when we're the only ones there).

So you had no problem upsetting him after you'd made a petty passive aggressive point that you thought your grandchild was too important to share the swing? What a great role model. Hmm

Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 21:59

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:52

It was a huge park with loads to do but just 2 swings.
He only just got on when she arrived with her 2. We probably stayed on for 6/7 mins.
Tbh...I probably would have got him off sooner...if she wasn't being so loud about us getting off!! 🤷

How childish! That’s not teaching your GS much is it?

TheLette · 01/09/2026 21:59

YABVU. If there are children waiting for their turn, you move on after 2/3 minutes. Not 7 minutes. You manage your own kid's possible disappointment by counting down towards the end. It's not about you OP, it's about kids getting a turn. Your grandson can always go back to the swing later on, for another turn, you know.

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:58

Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 21:46

YABU, dis he decide he’d had enough then, or did you call time?

I called time. He will happily stay on a swing for an hour (when we're the only ones there).

OP posts:
WhatHappenedToYourFurnitureCuz · 01/09/2026 21:58

Does your daughter take him to a swimming pool with watering can toys?

Iocanepowder · 01/09/2026 21:57

As a mum of a 5 and 2 year old, YABU. I encourage them to take turns and share all park equipment. Same goes for stuff like zip wires.

Sprogonthetyne · 01/09/2026 21:55

I don't remove instantly, but usually set a limit, somthing like 20 more swings then it's this boy/girls turn, and count them down. As toddlers mine just enjoyed a countdown, which was enough of a distraction to stop them crying about being taken out.

Smartiepants79 · 01/09/2026 21:55

It’s fine not to immediately remove your grandson but once he’s had a decent turn it’s time to swap with someone else. He might be upset for a bit but that’s toddlers for you and that’s life!
Five minutes on a swing would seem like an eternity when you’re doing the pushing.

SomeMoreSummer · 01/09/2026 21:55

Even a 5 year old could tell you that you have to take turns on the swing! There are never enough. 3/4 minutes each if there’s someone waiting. Then wait for another turn if that’s all he wants to do. You are teaching him to be selfish. But don’t worry, you’re not the only one!

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:52

Cla7 · 01/09/2026 21:42

Yes, if it’s busy you take turns. Whether you’re unreasonable depends on how long he was on the swing. 1-3 minutes - YANBU. 5+ minutes: YABU.

It was a huge park with loads to do but just 2 swings.
He only just got on when she arrived with her 2. We probably stayed on for 6/7 mins.
Tbh...I probably would have got him off sooner...if she wasn't being so loud about us getting off!! 🤷

OP posts:
Raptors · 01/09/2026 21:49

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:47

She was very loudly saying her son could go on when my grandson got off. She was absolutely trying to get me to get him off so her son could get on.
My point being, her daughter was upset...as would my gs have been had I let her push him off.

I genuinely can't believe you just ignored other children waiting and monopolised a swing for so long.

It's ok for him to be upset sometimes, what happens if he indefinitely refuses to get off, do you just let him stay on the swing until he decides he's done?

Cla7 · 01/09/2026 21:49

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:47

She was very loudly saying her son could go on when my grandson got off. She was absolutely trying to get me to get him off so her son could get on.
My point being, her daughter was upset...as would my gs have been had I let her push him off.

Yes, they’ll get upset, they’re toddlers. This is where you hug them and calmly explain to them that we’re taking turns because the equipment is for everyone. You help him develop social skills and regulate his emotions.

Toosadtonight · 01/09/2026 21:49

I’d tell my grandson that he could have a few minutes on the swing then we would let the next child have a turn, loud enough for other parents to hear so that they knew we were aware there was a queue forming . Then they could stop tutting and my grandson could enjoy his turn properly then after a few mins I’d say time to come off, then we’d find something else to play on. If the swing was free later on we would go back to it.

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:47

maggisimpson · 01/09/2026 21:38

So the other mum told her son he had to wait, then swapped her children over? Didn't do anything to your grandson at all?
What's the problem?

She was very loudly saying her son could go on when my grandson got off. She was absolutely trying to get me to get him off so her son could get on.
My point being, her daughter was upset...as would my gs have been had I let her push him off.

OP posts:
Pinkchickenwine · 01/09/2026 21:46

GrannyMW50 · 01/09/2026 21:42

Probably about 5/6/7 minutes.

YABU, dis he decide he’d had enough then, or did you call time?

fumingrightnow1 · 01/09/2026 21:45

Yeah thats too long to hog the swings that will feel like hours in toddler time.