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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:
YenSon · 15/10/2025 06:23

Yes. You are being completely ridiculous. What a resourceful teen. Hopefully you displayed a bit of compassion and some pain medication

Alwaytired44 · 15/10/2025 06:47

There are15 year olds out there doing drugs, getting pregnant and being involved in knife crime, you should count your lucky stars if this is all your 15 year old has done wrong!!! 🙄

andfinallyhereweare · 15/10/2025 06:50

I’d much rather waste an apple than my child be in pain. I’d be more worried about the example you’re setting that an apple is worth more than your child. It’s a apple.

Newbie8918 · 15/10/2025 06:56

Wait until you hear what I did with Greek yoghurt for my sunburn……cucumber for my eyes……banana hair mask……
You would also be pretty livid with cleopatra….

Beenwhereyouareagain · 15/10/2025 07:11

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.

Or you could have had him wash it and carry it for his snack.

JeminaTheGiantBear · 15/10/2025 07:14

Woe, woe for the Apple that but for your callous son would have lived forever!

OldBeyondMyYears · 15/10/2025 07:15

You are being UTTERLY ridiculous!

21ZIGGY · 15/10/2025 07:18

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.

The hike was already over

Loobyloot · 15/10/2025 07:35

You need to get something Vivobarefoot hiking boots and you'll never need to do foot exercises again, since they let feet be feet. Change all shoes to barefoot shoes and it will massively help lots of body issues.

Cheesytwists · 15/10/2025 07:43

I'm more wondering why your DS is getting foot pain after walking and playing football. Have you looked into this. Could it be Severs - if so, it can become debilitating and tight calfs can contribute so he needs to be stretching daily and think about seeing a physio or getting some insoles from the orthoic department (hospital physio can refer).

I'd be trying to get to the bottom of it - the apple is a sign to do something!

Skyflymom · 15/10/2025 07:43

PosiePerkinPootleFlump · 13/10/2025 14:27

Does green apple mean Granny Smith or Golden Delicious? Both are a disgrace to the name of apple and far better used as a foot massager than to eat.

exactly! OP needs to get a trip, it could have been a pink lady, that would have been something to cry about!

Strictlycomeparent · 15/10/2025 07:44

This wouldn’t bother me personally.

Poppyfun1 · 15/10/2025 07:51

Oh how I wish these were the types of problems in my life…….

Nothing7 · 15/10/2025 07:53

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.

It wasn’t wasted! It wasn’t consumed however actually was a great help to relieve pain and was used! This is resourceful and feel for the 15 year old if this is a normal reaction? To ensure it wasn’t fully wasted, rather than bin it you could have thrown it in a hedgerow or something for an animal to consume.
Its not uncommon for many apples to go to waste since they fall from trees and get damaged / spoiled.

Kazzybingbong · 15/10/2025 08:04

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.

Oh my goodness, how will your younger son ever move past this horrific situation that he witnessed? He’ll need therapy to stop him using fruit as pain relief for the rest of his life, I’d imagine.

PloddingAlong21 · 15/10/2025 08:14

sweetpickle2 · 13/10/2025 14:13

Would you rather he was in pain? Strange reaction. It's an apple, not a Fabergé egg.

This really tickled me

Fuzzymuddle33 · 15/10/2025 08:16

I think this is a wind up?

this would only be unreasonable if you were unable to afford another apple and being a though you’ve gone away for a family break/day out this isn’t the case.

such a first world problem that I think it’s a joke?

PloddingAlong21 · 15/10/2025 08:17

OP you are being utterly ridiculous.

he could have bought a tennis ball BUT - he didn’t. Therefore he had two options - lateral thinking (apple) or remain in pain.

It sounds like you’d have rather he remained in pain. No point saying he should have bought a ball, as he didn’t.

He isn’t setting a bad example to your son - if you reacted and berated him you’re setting a bad example. “If you’re in pain, put up and shut up”. Way to go.

DangerousAlchemy · 15/10/2025 08:23

What a disappointing post. I saw Scaffell Pike and I thought 'here we go, this'll be a good one - maybe someone had to be rescued or there was a vicious dog or someone wearing flip flops and a bikini on the hike' - but no. a bloody apple 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 this cannot be a real post, surely?

JillMW · 15/10/2025 08:28

This is an extra level of control. An apple!!!

Marriedandkidsx · 15/10/2025 08:40

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!

If you lose it over this I dread to think what else you lose it over - those poor kids. You've lost the plot.

bittertwisted · 15/10/2025 08:51

DangerousAlchemy · 15/10/2025 08:23

What a disappointing post. I saw Scaffell Pike and I thought 'here we go, this'll be a good one - maybe someone had to be rescued or there was a vicious dog or someone wearing flip flops and a bikini on the hike' - but no. a bloody apple 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 this cannot be a real post, surely?

or maybe some illegals in flip flops and bikinis
and then a hard dog stealing a MN chicken from a picnic

I bloody dreamt about rolling my foot on a green apple last night, dressed as Snow White 😂😂

Hopingtobeaparent · 15/10/2025 08:55

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.

So, just to be clear, you’re more concerned about wasting 1 apple, than feeling proud of your son using his initiative, and addressing his foot pain needs?

Wow.

I really hope this is not a real post….

DingDongJingle · 15/10/2025 08:58

Just wondering if I’m the only parent who often finds manky apples in the bottom of their kids’ school bags that they’ve taken in for break time for days on end and never actually eaten? 😳

opencecilgee · 15/10/2025 09:06

I cannot believe you have started a thread about such a trivial matter.