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Original poster

DS15 Used a Green Apple to Roll His Foot After Hike – Am I Overreacting?

524 replies

OneShyCritic · 13/10/2025 14:07

So, we just got back from a weekend in the Lake District with our two lads (15 and 11) and another family. We all did Scafell Pike together, and it was brilliant... but when we got back to the hotel, my DS15 said his feet were aching after the hike. To try and ease the pain, he decided to put a green apple on the floor and roll his bare foot back and forth over it. It’s something he does at home with a tennis ball after football training, and it really helps with muscle soreness.

Now, here’s the thing: we didn’t have a tennis ball, so he used an apple instead. I get that he was trying to relieve the pain, but when I saw him doing it, I was a bit miffed. The apple obviously had to go straight in the bin after – it ended up all soft and stinky! I just feel like if he thought he was going to need something like that, he should’ve remembered to bring a tennis ball.

Am I being unreasonable to be a bit frustrated about it, or am I overreacting? I know he was trying to help himself, but I just can’t help thinking it was a bit... well, a waste to use an apple!

OP posts:
Autisticburnouthell · 14/10/2025 18:02

OneShyCritic · 13/10/2025 14:25

I also worry it’s not a great example for my younger son (11) to see him just waste food like that.

Being proactive and solving his health issue is a good example.

FunnyRaven · 14/10/2025 18:04

Definitely rage bait

WtP · 14/10/2025 18:06

Pebblepoppy · 13/10/2025 14:47

Surely for the population of England, at least, the LD is the nearest mountains to home 🤣

Show quote history

I would argue that more people in England live closer to Snowden in Wales than the Scafell Pike in the LD?

ImogenBrocklehurst · 14/10/2025 18:08

Mumsnet is a very strange place today…

disturbia · 14/10/2025 18:13

I think you have made this one up OP or Mumsnet's AI is being silly nobody is that mean.

independentfriend · 14/10/2025 18:22

I think it's all true - it's a stupid waste of communal food and he's old enough to know better. Lots of people have strong reactions to this kind of food waste.

Equally it's related inexpensive food and not the end of the world - think of people's designated portions of frozen peas to use for injuries (though they're generally reusable)

Can you think of non-perishable-food, non tennis ball options he could have used instead? That's worth sharing with him.

Crispsrule · 14/10/2025 18:28

I think you should be chuffed that you have teenagers who will walk up somewhere like Scarfell Pike without complaining too much or expecting you to sort their pain niggles out! Defo YABU!

Happyjoe · 14/10/2025 18:32

If this is all you have to worry about then you lead a very charmed life.

Shellyash · 14/10/2025 18:32

A green apple... no chance. Should have used red definitely.

Butchyrestingface · 14/10/2025 18:34

OneShyCritic · 13/10/2025 14:25

Thanks for the replies! Just to clarify, my frustration isn’t about my son trying to relieve his foot pain – it’s that the apple got squashed and wasted. It was perfectly good fruit that could’ve been eaten later, and now it’s just gone. I know he was trying to help himself, but it just feels wasteful, especially when we could’ve used it for a snack on the hike.

I usually hate it when posters respond to an OP with "I wish I had your problems/is that the biggest thing you've got to worry about?". If MN banned inane non-problems, the AIBU board would instantly resemble the Sahara desert.

This OP takes the biscuit though, or the 🍏

CatComments · 14/10/2025 18:34

I knew exactly what he was going to use it for because I do the same thing with a tennis ball as well. An apple is a great substitute for the ball, and losing 1 apple weighs out the foot cramp he would have ended up with if he didn't use it.

Huge over reaction. Is your period due or something? (I am the textbook stereo type woman who flips over nothing a day or so before my period comes, before people dog pile on accusing me of hating women or whatever).

Judecb · 14/10/2025 18:37

Clever lad, using what was available!

Invinoveritaz · 14/10/2025 18:37

I bet if you walk around anywhere slightly rural atm you will find boxes of apples outside people’s homes going free. It’s been an incredible year for apples this year where I live and I’m guessing up North too. They are hardly in short supply!
i think he has been resourceful. If it had been an avocado or more expensive fruit I’d say maybe you could say something but I think it would be petty to make an issue out of this.

BrainlessBoiledFrog · 14/10/2025 18:37

Your son had sore feet and used an apple as he hasn’t got a tennis ball. You feel miffed! It was setting a bad example as the apple got bruised and went in the bin.

So you must regularly eat every single scrap of food in your house and never once waste any food, energy, water, clothing, furniture.

How do you cope if your child leaves some of their dinner? How do you cope with ever turning a light switch on?

Seriously this is the maddest post I’ve read in a while.

Toddlerteaplease · 14/10/2025 18:38

EveryKneeShallBow · 13/10/2025 14:08

I think it was a good bit of lateral thinking problem solving.

This! I like his resourcefulness

Blipette · 14/10/2025 18:38

I’ll send you the 40p for the apple

choccytime · 14/10/2025 18:39

I honestly can't believe you posted about this

shhblackbag · 14/10/2025 18:39

Cramp in feet and legs - so awful. You're unreasonable and overreacting. I know this isn't in AIBU, but you really are.

CaffeineAndChords · 14/10/2025 18:40

Oh god. I wish my worries were as small as this.

ReadingTime · 14/10/2025 18:44

That would annoy me too OP.

Ferrissia3 · 14/10/2025 18:46

vodkaredbullgirl · 13/10/2025 14:21

Good thinking of your son.

I think that's hilarious and such a cute story! I too am interested to hear whether there were other colors of apple available, because if there were that makes it even cuter! He was looking to sub a tennis ball and came up with a spherical object that's the same color!! 😆😆

I also really hate food waste but this seems like an exception to me. I honestly think it's adorable.

Oldwmn · 14/10/2025 18:46

OneShyCritic · 13/10/2025 14:07

So, we just got back from a weekend in the Lake District with our two lads (15 and 11) and another family. We all did Scafell Pike together, and it was brilliant... but when we got back to the hotel, my DS15 said his feet were aching after the hike. To try and ease the pain, he decided to put a green apple on the floor and roll his bare foot back and forth over it. It’s something he does at home with a tennis ball after football training, and it really helps with muscle soreness.

Now, here’s the thing: we didn’t have a tennis ball, so he used an apple instead. I get that he was trying to relieve the pain, but when I saw him doing it, I was a bit miffed. The apple obviously had to go straight in the bin after – it ended up all soft and stinky! I just feel like if he thought he was going to need something like that, he should’ve remembered to bring a tennis ball.

Am I being unreasonable to be a bit frustrated about it, or am I overreacting? I know he was trying to help himself, but I just can’t help thinking it was a bit... well, a waste to use an apple!

Massive over reaction! Get a grip

Heartyredbeaker56 · 14/10/2025 18:46

Your definitely taking the piss

SnowFrogJelly · 14/10/2025 18:48

I can’t believe you started a thread about this

Dontlletmedownbruce · 14/10/2025 18:49

What a waste. They don't grow on trees you know..