Reasons My Kid is Crying: Enter comp to win a meal for two at Heston's The Fat Duck

[RachelMumsnet]

For those who haven’t come across it, the hugely popular Tumblr, Reasons My Son is Crying went viral earlier this year. It all started when father Greg Pembroke posted pictures online of his three-year-old son, mid-tantrum, alongside the reason he was crying: He had broken his bit of cheese in half. Think AIBU for kids.

Within a week the original blog had featured on countless news, radio and television websites around the world. As people shared the blog, a community was born, and submissions started pouring in. In one month, the blog had received over 5 million hits – it is predicted to reach 14.5 million visits this year.

The book Reasons My Kid is Crying collects together the photos sent to Greg from parents across the globe, documenting the many, completely illogical reasons why small children cry. (‘I let him play on the grass’ . . . ‘We told him the pig says “oink”’ . . . ‘The neighbour’s dog isn’t outside’). But it is also a poignant reminder, for burned-out parents (and grandparents!) everywhere, that they’re not alone, and that not all toddler tantrums are tragedies - that it is, in fact, OK to laugh at the universal, baffling logic of toddlers! You can see a gallery from the book here:

Reasons My Kid is Crying.

We’re inviting you to send in your pics to show the irrational reasons why your child went into meltdown. Post up your pics (and captions) on this thread by 9th December and we’ll create a gallery of our favourite 10 pics. Each person who makes the shortlist will receive a copy of the book. The Editor at Boxtree will then choose a winning photo form the ten which will be announced on this thread on 11th December. The Winner will enjoy a Virgin Experience Days luxury meal out for two at Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck restaurant.

We mentioned earlier the book reminds of us AIBU for kids - for inspiration, enjoy this mumsnet classic

Crying because 'I hate the Bath'

I just had a good one this morning, no present though. DS had his warning of having to sit in the time out corner and started crying "but the tree is there, I can't go under the tree, I'm not a present" :)

No photo

If Pascha doesn't win this it's a travesty! I just woke my baby girl up laughing at your photo

The cheese was configured incorrectly on his cracker.

Well I'm another one who doesn't understand why MN is promoting a book which is all about laughing at pictures of an upset child?

My toddler often cries over stupid things , but it is usually a sign that he is tired or not feeling very well.

Kids posting humiliating pictures of other kids on line is a serious problem, why encourage parents to do the same? It's not really showing respect for them as people is it?

I've often cried about minor things but i wouldn't expect my partner to take a photo and show all his mates so they could have a good laugh.

Oh thank God. I was starting to feel like a pariah.

Exactly what she said

I can see why MN are doing it. Being a parent can be hard. Sometimes children do cry for the funniest reasons. Because the sky is blue, not green. Nobody is laughing at poorly children, because that's not funny. But we are all laughing at our own children when they are crying for the type of reasons that only a kid would cry over.

Having a sense of humour whilst being a parent can be a lifeline.

It's fine it you don't get it, don't participate. But don't assume that everyone is wrong for not thinking your way.

Do your children honestly not cry for what seem ridiculous reasons ever? My eldest still does (nearly 4) and I can either get stressed about it or I can laugh about it.

but what's the point of photos?

I'm not stupid, I totally get the point of it and that's fine - but posting photos of upset children is a step too far imo.

It's not 'serious' in the same way as you've been framed showing children being upset isn't serious. The children are not in danger.

That doesn't mean it is either respectful or funny to take/ publish online/ look at photos or footage of them in tears.

Julia I have no problem with people sharing stories about ridiculous things their children have cried about. And a lot of the photos on this thread are from people who have been trying to take a photo of their child and they have just happened to start crying.

That is not what this book is.

The author has taken repeated photos of his toddlers crying and posted them on line.

There are times when a crying toddler needs a cuddle and times when they need to be spoken to firmly or even ignored, but I don't think it is ever appropriate to pull out your phone and take a picture. These are not tiny babies they are old enough to know that they are upset and daddy is taking a photo.

I am not saying that that is what all the posters on this thread have done, but it is what the author has done, and that is what I am objecting to.

I think we will have to agree to disagree.

I don't think that it's the end of the world if a parent takes a photo of a crying toddler, why should we only document happy times? Also given that the phenomenon went viral, I think I'm not the only one to feel this way.

I take your point that a genuinely upset toddler (or anyone for that matter) needs a cuddle or ignoring or whatever, but I'm not sure that this is what this is actually about.

'I don't think that it's the end of the world if a parent takes a photo of a crying toddler, why should we only document happy times? '

I'm not sure that THIS is what it's actually about, tbh.

It's not about 'documenting' sadness or whatever. It's about laughing at it.

There is always a reason a child cries. It may not be the one they give you. That doesn't make it OK to laugh at them - or parade them in public for others to laugh at.

Ok Rooners, I don't feel like you do about this. I don't think anyone has disagreed with your sentiment, in fact we have all given the reason our kids are crying.

But I'm bowing out now, I don't want to nit pick over something that was supposed to be lighthearted.

Fair enough.

Fwiw I agree it seems a shame to spoil a thread that was intended to be just that.

However I do feel that sometimes attitudes that seem mainstream warrant being challenged.

It wasn't a political point I was attempting to make anyway. It was just a rather visceral response I felt to seeing these pictures, and I decided to comment on it, and people were understandably a bit offended/defensive, and so it went.

I think I have explained as well as I can, I won't promise to leave the thread as I never do but if no one engages further with me then I might bugger off

This is dd in her playpen / Bazinga ball pit!

She loved loved loved the balls....

And then she hated the balls...

Well I'm totally unapologetic for ruining the thread. If you think it is "lighthearted" then remember this story:

www.theguardian.com/music/2012/jun/25/placebo-album-cover-star-sue

I'm not sure the author's kids are going to be thanking him when they are teenagers.

Well, if we're quoting Guardian stories, perhaps a pertinent one would be on the bloke who started this meme to begin with:

Greg, a radio advertising copywriter, is not so much making fun of kids as tipping his hat to them: "When you experience disappointment, you want to be able to lie down on the ground and scream, but you can't because you're an adult confined by the rules of society. People are almost envious of children being able to fully express themselves the way they'd like to."

Oh lord! I was scrolling down this thread, having a chuckle with my DD1 and came across all the misery guts.....have you nothing else to moan about or pick to pieces?

The pictures were taken in a moment of jest, the Dc were perfectly fine, not harmed or hurt or disturbed. It would be be a totally different matter if it were. That's why people are sharing and having a giggle as their dc were being silly.

Im sure there are other pressing matters for people to get their knickers in a twist over on other threads!!

Was we not to laugh at my Dnephew when he was heart broke he didn't have a fancy bridesmaid dress (4yr) and refused to get in his dapper suit? if I had a camera I would have took a pic to show him now he is 18! Im sure he cant even remember!

CVran what a bottom lip! Adorable!!

some cracking pictures on here --- off to go dig some out of dc!!

He wanted to try on his new gillet, so I put it on him!

Aww, Tinker no I wouldn't have laughed at that! Poor little guy - a suit is a lot more boring than a bridesmaid's dress, and at that age he's less likely to be brainwashed aware that there are such strict rules on what boys and girls can wear. 100 years ago, a boy that age would still be in dresses, and 200 years ago men wore hugely fancy clothes if they could afford them.

I find the stories below hilarious because the children genuinely have nothing to be upset about - they're just learning to cope with life not being exactly as they would like in that precise moment at all times, and at times that's so bizarre as to be funny. Preschoolers with a reasonable cause for upset (not that anyone could blame parents for not altering path in the situation, either) wouldn't have me laughing at them, no. When my DS wanted a pretty pink flowery dress at 3 we talked about how it may be daft, but society says those are for girls right now, and so people might laugh at him if he wore it. He decided against. I didn't laugh at him for it though. That would be a bit harsh IMO.

I don't agree that finding toddlers grappling with reality can't be funny, though I always fought to keep a straight face. I do agree that laughing at kids who are upset for legit reasons, at an age when they fully understand they're being mocked, isn't kind. None of us would like it, after all. Nobody likes having their pride lacerated, be they one or one hundred.

He spilt his milk down himself

He couldn't take someone elses car off them at playgroup

Crying because she grabbed the remote control and managed to turn off Peppa Pig herself!