Today I felt like a proper Mumsnetter......

[itsgettingwierd]

When I met an actual performance parent

Not the ones who are just chatting to their children in a supermarket and are accused as such.

But one who was telling random strangers in a queue about how his 8yo has read the Hobbit (and his 8yo mentioned how dad didn't read it until he was 13!)

He was also getting him to give Harry Potter quizzes to the adults as he's a "Harry Potter genius" and this kid was loving lording it over adults he knew the answers.

We also had to listen to his jokes as he was encouraged to "tell another one".

I did the only thing anyone could do and turned to face forwards but listen in to the show going on behind me!

And now I understand what MNers mean when they talk about performance parenting at outdoor attractions!

Cringe

I once stood my shy dd who was 3yo in front of a teacher at a school open day for my older child and forced encouraged her to receit a poem.
The teacher looked uncomfortable, my poor DD was speaking so quietly that she was barely audible and I stood there behind DD doing the hand movements explaining the poem
I am utterly ashamed of myself.

🤣🤣

I'm sure we've all been guilty at times at trying to get out children to perform something!

But this was something else to a level I've never experienced.

I've heard about it here all the time and often think "I'm sure they're exaggerating".

Well - no!

It's an actual thing and it's very uncomfortable to be around

Ooh that is super cringey!

My DD is 9 and would probably choose to impress people by letting off loud farts or something

No doubt someone will come along soon and tell you to stop being so judgemental, she's probably secretly struggling and you should go and buy her a creme egg 🤣

What on earth were you queueing for that brought out the worst best of the Performance parent? Do tell us more

Yikes. At 8 the best I could've hoped for with DS is him doing 'Armpit farts' to wow the crowd .

The ONLY response in these situation is to say "Oh dear, you didn't read the Hobbit til you were 8? Oh well never mind, plenty of time to catch up I suppose. I remember in Reception class my son used to spend hours reading Harry Potter to me, so exhausting!"

@ChaosTrulyReigns

What on earth were you queueing for that brought out the worst best of the Performance parent? Do tell us more

A steam train 🤣🤣🤣

It all stemmed from the young children waiting started to run around and climb the barriers and dad began with "oh he's so food at climbing". As he engaged people it got more and more performance.

TBF to the young lad he was actually an absolutely charming well mannered and polite boy.

When ds was 6 I caught him showing the nice old lady next door how he can burp on demand, and explaining "I've been able to do that since I was 2 you know!"

Twas a proud day 😂