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Original poster

Shamed at the Duck pond.

337 replies

GiveMeAUserName123 · 19/09/2021 13:02

Took my kids to the duck pond today as we accidentally let close to a whole loaf of bread go mouldy. Instead of waste it I thought we could give it to the ducks…..well!

Got there and there was a mum, who if you was to judge on the spot came across as one of those perfect, kind, loving hippy mums with polite kids, she was handing her children what could only be described as real duck feed, they were pellet like and brown.

Also there across the pond was a dad with his young kid, about 4, throwing in peas from a brown kfraft box that has obviously been recycled.

Then us, I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum, standing there with her two kids throwing bread into the pond out of the plastic wrapper, with (very slight) mould. Completely inorganic and clearly not saving the world.

The young 4 year old said “ducks don’t eat bread” to his dad who was in ear shot of us, he replied that they do sometimes eat bread as he was obviously being polite to us.

Since when did parents become so perfect?

Just felt like a huge fail as we crossed back over the bridge to read a sign that said “bread kills ducks.”

(My kids didn’t notice the sign thank god!)

🤦🏼‍♀️ Fail

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
TillyTopper · 19/09/2021 13:36

Due to publicity a lot of ppl stop feeding bread to swans here - then there was another public campaign of "Quick feed the swans bread because they are dying through hunger". Apparently bread doesn't hurt them!

Your post is very judgemental of single mums though!

LukeEvansWife · 19/09/2021 13:36

Why did you say the bread was mouldy and then backtrack and imply it was stale

DebbieHarrysCheekbones · 19/09/2021 13:37

Firstly how do know the relationship status of those other parents?

Secondly the implied associations between inadequacy or making do and single mother comment is totally shit given that you are married.

I think you’re really peculiar

Abouttimemum · 19/09/2021 13:37

I thought it was fairly well known now that bread is harmful to water quality, in that it promotes the growth of algal blooms. It’s also not ideal for the wildlife.
So generally I don’t take bread to the pond, but I don’t really care if anyone else does! You definitely weren’t being judged.

LukeEvansWife · 19/09/2021 13:37

And why would you feed an animal anything mouldy?

icedcoffees · 19/09/2021 13:37

I don't think you've come across in the way you wanted to here.

Mariell · 19/09/2021 13:38

.

Shamed at the Duck pond.
Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/09/2021 13:38

Who gives a shit about your marital status. I’m sorry but I just don’t see the relevance.

Thesearmsofmine · 19/09/2021 13:38

How were you shamed? The dad sounded quite nice and polite. I could easily have been the hippie mum with the duck food, sometimes I take that, sometimes I take (non mouldy bread) sometimes I mix a batch of seeds, peas etc for them, I don’t care what others are doing.

User5490453456 · 19/09/2021 13:39

This 100% sounds like a fake thread. OP is clearly making up a story using a few controversial MN themes and then throwing in some poor grammar for effect. Trying to get this on trending which worked.

Cherrysoup · 19/09/2021 13:39

Some bread won’t kill them, but mouldy bread may well do. When there was a public campaign re not feeding bread, there were apparently some duck deaths as they’d been very reliant on it. There are better things to feed.

You’ve judged yourself and publicised your own self doubt. Stop projecting onto others what you think of yourself. Confused

yossell · 19/09/2021 13:39

My god, these replies!

I thought your post hilarious, and recognised it as about that ever present sense of parental failure.

Whinge · 19/09/2021 13:40

@Doggiedementia

Why are you continuing to ignore the upset you’ve caused to single parents?
Apparently the OP thinks it's fine to judge others and cause upset to many other posters then brush it all off with a that's not the point 🙄

I really hope all the single parents on here know how amazing they are, and don't let a judgemental idiot like the OP spoil their day 💐💐

SoupDragon · 19/09/2021 13:40

Everyone there was the only adult, so they could of all been single or married- that’s not the point!!

Bollocks was it. You were absolutely implying that being a single mother was somehow shameful. I’m married, but if you was to judge there and then, a single mum, standing there with her two kids ...

No one shamed you at the duck pond but you've definitely shamed yourself here.

Doggiedementia · 19/09/2021 13:40

So any woman out with kids on her own is judged negatively as a single mother according to you?

Porridgealert · 19/09/2021 13:40

It isn't just that bread isn't very nutritious, bits that don't get eaten start to foul up the pond and causes problems for the ducks and the eco systems. Ducks can fly. If they don't get enough nutrition in one place, they can fly to find it elsewhere.

sittingonacornflake · 19/09/2021 13:40

@coodawoodashooda same here. My son has only just this week started asking about his dad (who doesn't seem him, wanker) and I'm feeling all kinds of emotional about it. I think that's why that post really got to me today. It's the type of thing I usually shrug off as ignorant and small minded.

I hope you have a better week next week Thanks

Doggiedementia · 19/09/2021 13:41

The post was not hilarious. And the judgement of single mothers specifically (why wasn’t the dad with the child a single dad and judged as such?) is appalling.

AntiHop · 19/09/2021 13:41

What do you want from this thread? To reassure you that it is not common knowledge that you shouldn't give bread to ducks? I'm really surprised you didn't know this. I'm at bit confused about your problem with the other parents. Why did you need to point out one of them was using a cardboard box?

SchadenfreudePersonified · 19/09/2021 13:41

My neighbour complains when I feed stale bread to the birds because it doesn't contain enough nutrients for them.

I told her nobody's holding a gun to their heads. They can choose between starvation and rickets - not up to me to tell them to eat it or leave it.

It must be a preferred food source though, because I get more birds than she does with her RSPB grain feed.

(I would add that I do give them other stuff as well - cheese and fat and what have you)

mumsiedarlingrevolta · 19/09/2021 13:42

Ducks, swans etc can eat bread.

The Queen's swan keeper or whatever he is called made a statement because ppl were stopping feeding them.

What they absolutely can not have is mouldy bread.
Maybe that's why they were judging you??

SethWho · 19/09/2021 13:42

@itsgettingwierd

What does a single mum look like?

Just so I know if I've been doing it right all these years Hmm

In my experience they look pulled together, having thriving children and no what to feed ducks.

Maybe we should start wearing stickers so married people aren't accidentally considered one of us.

Mariell · 19/09/2021 13:42

@yossell

My god, these replies!

I thought your post hilarious, and recognised it as about that ever present sense of parental failure.

That’s because you’re normal and not part of the terminally offended brigade. I understand what the op meant and her lighthearted tone.

The outraged bristling on this thread is hilarious.

Awwlookatmybabyspider · 19/09/2021 13:42

My God these replies.
I thought your reply was hilarious.

With the greatest respect. I think you need to get out more

user89000005 · 19/09/2021 13:43

You think you're a failure because you looked like a single mother, with a plastic bag and mouldy bread? Are we supposed to be laughing at this, it's not with you if we are.