Page 5 | DS15 Used a Green Apple to Roll His Foot After Hike – Am I Overreacting?

LoveWine123 · 13/10/2025 14:55

AutumnDayswhen · 13/10/2025 14:51

I've gone through a period of life when I skipped meals due to lack of money. I still think op is being ridiculous. Furthermore, I think taking this kind of over the top approach to minor things children do harms our relationship with them. They are people too and they are allowed to not be held up to some ridiculous standard.

"Not sweating the small stuff" , I am sure, is the reason my children still love to hang out with me as teens

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Why would a discussion about it harm their relationship? Isn't this exactly the kind of opportunity parents can use to teach their kids? Why would a discussion be harmful?

Sunshineismyfavourite · 13/10/2025 14:55

YABU. He didn't waste the apple he needed it to relieve his pain. He didn't have a tennis ball and frankly, I would be admiring his problem solving skills not worrying about throwing away one green apple.

isthismylifenow · 13/10/2025 14:56

Plantar fasciitis folk take note. I bet this s a pretty good idea for rolling on your sore feet when it's been in the fridge.

Thanks OP's son.

BoarBrush · 13/10/2025 14:56

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.

But you had already returned from the hike?

BackToLurk · 13/10/2025 14:56

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.

Your younger son’s your favourite, isn’t he?

Donttellempike · 13/10/2025 14:57

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!

🤦‍♀️

Tryingtokeepgoing · 13/10/2025 14:57

LoveWine123 · 13/10/2025 14:41

I might have a different perspective to some other posters, but I would also have a problem with food waste in this way. Having grown up in a place where food was not always available, I would find it difficult to watch fresh fruit be wasted like this. I try and teach my kids to respect and appreciate the fact they have food and clothes available. Yes in the grand scheme of things, it's just an apple (costing what? 20p, 30p?), however it's still food and it shows they are lucky enough to have never gone without food before. I would want my kids to show more appreciation. I also have a thing about kids throwing clothes on the floor...it's disrespectful and it shows they don't value their possessions because the bank of mum and dad will just buy them more.

I wouldn't use this example to berate him but I would definitely have a discussion about it. You're not wrong to be thinking what you are thinking.

You have to admit however that it’s a bit odd to value your son’s comfort and wellbeing at somewhat less than 40p, and so much so that she’s actually cross about it. A couple of neurofen would have cost the same - would that have been a waste too?

ARichtGoodDram · 13/10/2025 14:57

We definitely have different views on food waste in that case.

Well yes, if you'd rather your child remained in pain, potentially impacting the rest of your holiday, rather than using an apple to relieve that pain in a clever, quick thinking way then we certainly do.

CatchTheWind1920 · 13/10/2025 14:57

You sound like my German mil whose mum was alive during WWII and now has major food waste issues. It's an apple. You'll get over it 😅

johnd2 · 13/10/2025 14:57

Think of it as a disposable emergency tennis ball for the cost of an apple!

Househassles · 13/10/2025 14:57

If he'd used the apple despite a tennis ball being handy, YANBU. If he used the apple because no tennis ball or similar was handy, YABU. If you'd suggested that he take a tennis ball for this purpose and he declined, then maybe HIBU. Regardless, take a tennis ball next time.

SugarPlumpFairyCakes · 13/10/2025 14:58

I’d have thrown the apple into the hedgerow for little animals to feast on it.

dannyufcfan · 13/10/2025 14:59

Has this thread been made by AI

dannyufcfan · 13/10/2025 15:00

Why the tf do you give a toss if he wasted an apple?

Donttellempike · 13/10/2025 15:01

NewHat · 13/10/2025 14:21

I think you are being absolutely ludicrous. So much so that I am supposing that this is a reverse.

Parebts should encourage their children to think for themselves. He forgot the ball so solved the problem. Maybe you should have shot him like a race horse with a broken leg instead.

😂😂😂😂

Marmalade71 · 13/10/2025 15:02

Are you quite well?

Dontcallmescarface · 13/10/2025 15:03

You think an apple is worth more than your son managing his pain? What kind of batshit fuckery is that?

DrowningInSyrup · 13/10/2025 15:03

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's a good example of how to ease pain if you forget your tennis ball. You must have had occasion to throw food stuff our before, surely? You seem unhealthily attached to the apple.

Didsomeonesaydogs · 13/10/2025 15:03

Imagine the fallout if OP knew people use bags of peas as ice packs…

Donttellempike · 13/10/2025 15:04

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.

When you’re in your dotage and relying on your kids. Your son will probably remember this.

On the off chance this is not invented rage bait 🍏

nomas · 13/10/2025 15:05

I hate food wastage too but surely the apple could be peeled and eaten?

ACatAsleepInYourHat · 13/10/2025 15:06

This type of thread is exactly why I love MumsNet so much, these little nuggets of utter batshittery amongst the mundanities. Who knew that an apple could cause so much overthinking and anguish?

PizzaPowder · 13/10/2025 15:07

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.

You're at it, surely????

It was used for a very good purpose. Ok, it wasn't eaten but it wasn't wasted either.

BedlingtonFloof · 13/10/2025 15:07

nomas · 13/10/2025 15:05

I hate food wastage too but surely the apple could be peeled and eaten?

I do too, but actually, I don't think it was wasted. Sure, he didn't eat it, but it served a useful function for him in another way.

BellaVita · 13/10/2025 15:07

Really?

Well done to your son for climbing Scafell Pike.

Seriously, get a life ffs.