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Original poster

Entitled parenting at Waddesdon Manor this afternoon...

126 replies

bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 18:54

Previous post was deleted because I mentioned names...

We were sitting in Wigwam cafe outside watching a light installation. There was a semi circle of trees, each being lit up. Two screens behind a rope for kids to press and the lights changed colours.

Anyway, two kids went under the ropes and over to the lights. They SAT on a light, breaking the cover off. Then they turned two lights so they faced the opposite way. Parents? Standing watching them with indulgent smiles. Kids were about 5.

When the dad went over to call them back, I said to him, do you think you could parent your children? They're not meant to be behind the ropes, they're spoiling it for everyone, and they've damaged a light. He just looked at me and said 'right'. Then as he walked away he flipped me the bird (the kids said; I didn't see).

What a knob. And the mum too. No wonder kids are enttiled if this is the sort of shitty parenting they grow up with.

OP posts:
Heaviestdirtyestsoul · 31/12/2018 21:39

@dementedma now I'm worried you mean my youngest, we did our best amusing and keeping control of him- we didnt let him run free as it were but he did climb out from under table a good few times and was caught and brought back by myself and his dad- adhd and autism are the reason, but we were trying to celebrate his dad's birthday with family- first time in a long time- redcar?

TeachesOfPeaches · 31/12/2018 21:40

What's flipping the bird?

Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 21:40

It’s on until 2 January, Dolce - see waddesdon.org.uk/whats-on/christmas-carnival/

House tickets sold out but gardens free to enter for NT members. Go! Really worth it. But all cafes and food outlets are £££...

OP posts:

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Families
Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 21:41

Teaches - sticking up middle finger...

OP posts:
dementedma · 31/12/2018 21:43

heaviest it was only you if your Archie was also shrieking at the top of his voice, running round the tables and climbing up on empty chairs!

dementedma · 31/12/2018 21:44

not Redcar! Smile

Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 21:44

Drspouse - people are welcome to do whatever the hell they want in their own house. Not with other people’s property, though. I wonder if they let their dc run amok and destroy their own house?

OP posts:
Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 21:46

Cocolepew - wtf? Some people are bonkers.

OP posts:
drspouse · 31/12/2018 21:46

Oh FGS
I'm NOT saying they shouldn't stop their children doing this.
I'm saying if you want them to stop, find a different way to say it.

AWishForWingsThatWork · 31/12/2018 21:47

Some parents suck, I'm afraid, and you found a pair today. Raising vandals and entitled brats. Charming.

My children weren't spectacular at our outing today squabbling and over the top silliness. I pulled them out and took them home, letting them no in uncertain terms why they'd had to leave early and were losing more privileges for the rest of the day for it. Not having it. Not fair to me or anyone else to let them behave badly in public.

TheHodgeoftheHedge · 31/12/2018 21:49

I'm saying if you want them to stop, find a different way to say it.

So what exactly should one say?

Wolfiefan · 31/12/2018 21:49

I was tempted today OP. Lovely walk and the couple in front ignored the repeatedly shouted demands for an ice cream, the wrestling (with a younger child who was clearly unhappy) the punches and slaps and so it went on.
I’m sure the kids both got their ice creams too. Zero consequence.

Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 21:53

Jeez, Drspouse, I asked you above what magic words you would have usd. So what would you have said??

Also, your posts have not been at all clear. They have seemed to say that you agree with these parents’ decisions.

wings, it is an exciting and overwhelming time of year for kids, I get that. Sounds like you handled it well!

wolfiefan -argh!

OP posts:
XingMing · 31/12/2018 21:54

How many ways are there to express, "stop that now Archie"?

Other than "Stop that now Archie".

dementedma · 31/12/2018 21:56

express it....and then follow up when ignored.Saying it over and over with no move to act when Archie continues to be a little shit is poor parenting. HTH

brizzledrizzle · 31/12/2018 21:57

Some people think that letting children explore IS parenting them

It is as long as it is appropriate exploring. Wrecking lights is not exploring it`s bad behaviour. Mine used to explore a lot when they were younger - climbing trees, running round the fields, all kinds of things not never damaging things.

Heaviestdirtyestsoul · 31/12/2018 21:59

Demented, he wasn't shouting so much as peeping like a train, loudly- I got some awful looks- mind you- I got some lovely understanding smiles too xx

greenpop21 · 31/12/2018 22:05

It's what parents do when they realise they have no control and the kids wouldn't listen to them if they told them to stop. So they smile indulgently instead.

Orchidflower1 · 31/12/2018 22:10

Good for you op!

donkeyshrekmom · 31/12/2018 22:12

Similar today in The Close in Salisbury. Display of light balls, suspended from the ceiling of a tunnel. Signs asking people not to touch. Numerous kids taking no notice and parents smiling indulgently. It made me not want to hang around because that kind of smug, middle-class, Boden-clad slack parenting fucks me right off.

planespotting · 31/12/2018 22:13

I don't know OP
Before had to parent my child, I was working with children ad families
Maybe then I would have secretly thought do you think you could parent your children?
But I never said so. I definitely would 't now. Some parents are dealing with a lot and in my opinion you can't go wrong being kind.
I think I would have said something like "hi! I don't think we are meant to go under the rope" or simply alert the staff there
Staff are always best trained for this.

I think your sentence was not the most helpful, but I see why you felt it was unfair for them to mess with the display!

AlexaAmbidextra · 31/12/2018 22:15

Do you think you could find a more pleasant way to ask?

@drspouse. She shouldn’t have had to ask at all. There was nothing unpleasant in what OP said, unless of course you are one of those parents. What would you expect her to do? Go on bended knee, say pretty please and grovel. Ffs.

Original poster
bookwormsforever · 31/12/2018 22:23

Planespotting. There were no staff!! There were hundreds of lights and installations. No staff. I guess the national trust thought they could trust middle class parents to actually parent.

No. Turns out they couldn’t.

And come on. Really? They have so much going on, but they’re able to take their dc to the attraction, buy hot chocolate for everyone... just not actually parent? Nah. Don’t buy that.

Donkey -yup!

OP posts:
Cranky17 · 31/12/2018 22:25

I bumped into a friend in primark today, the mum chatted to me while her dd laid on the floor twisting. People had to step over her. Mum didn’t say anything. I was very embarrassed

Cranky17 · 31/12/2018 22:27

middle class parents to actually parent. often they are the worst Wink

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