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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:
Lunde · 13/10/2025 16:04

Sometimes you have to use what is available - speaking as someone who once sat a Uni exam with a packet of frozen peas taped around my wrist. I also used peas after my joint replacement surgery (the kids learned never to eat Euro Shopper peas)

I mean sure I could have eaten them but it was worth it to reduce the pain

Do you really begrudge him an apple?

SadOldLadyOfTheLowlands · 13/10/2025 16:04

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.

especially when we could’ve used it for a snack on the hike.

But you had already done the hike?

TheFourYearOldDrankAllTheMilk · 13/10/2025 16:04

I don't think this is a waste; apples are in season and if it avoids you having to purchase a plastic-based piece of equipment, then that's much better for the planet. Put it in the compost or dig into the flower bed.

Donttellempike · 13/10/2025 16:06

LoveWine123 · 13/10/2025 15:57

You've really convinced me I'm wrong now. Great argument!

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I’m not interested in convincing you. I was making fun of you. You’re welcome 👍

SeriaMau · 13/10/2025 16:06

Shocking waste of an apple. They don’t grow on trees, you know.

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:09

godmum56 · 13/10/2025 15:41

are you one of those people who think that apples shouldn't be used for candle holders, potatoes for printing or removing broken light bulbs, olive oil for lubricating a lock?

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I'm an individual uninterested in false equivalences.

JustSawJohnny · 13/10/2025 16:09

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 not a great example of parenting to be miffed about a 30p apple over your child's pain, either.

Where is your empathy?

Tennis balls cost more than an apple, as do painkillers.

I personally think he did a good job of thinking on his feet there, pun intended.

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:10

Dontcallmescarface · 13/10/2025 15:45

Don't ever attend a Christingle service if chucking 1 apple away makes you feel frustrated, you'll never recover.

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Okay, sure

Bruisername · 13/10/2025 16:10

SadOldLadyOfTheLowlands · 13/10/2025 16:04

especially when we could’ve used it for a snack on the hike.

But you had already done the hike?

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Actually that makes it worse - if they are going on a hike tomorrow and she meant that - then she was happy for her DS to really struggle in pain tomorrow

3luckystars · 13/10/2025 16:11

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.

He used a 10p item relieving his pain. How can you think that is ‘wasting food’?

If he ate the apple and got sick is that a waste? Your mind is warped.

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:11

JustSawJohnny · 13/10/2025 16:09

It's not a great example of parenting to be miffed about a 30p apple over your child's pain, either.

Where is your empathy?

Tennis balls cost more than an apple, as do painkillers.

I personally think he did a good job of thinking on his feet there, pun intended.

Show quote history

Except tennis balls don't break the bank, are multipurpose and infinitely more reusable in this context than an apple.

Tunnocksmallow · 13/10/2025 16:12

TheCurious0range · 13/10/2025 14:15

Why is the colour of the apple relevant, would it have been ok if it was red one?

This seems like a huge amount of drama over an apple

Imagine the horror if he’d chosen a … Pink Lady faintingaway

AleaEim · 13/10/2025 16:13

Well I hope you deduct the 50p out of his pocket money or make him do some chores to make up for the cost. Are you ok OP?

DirtyBird · 13/10/2025 16:13

I hate wasting food and this would annoy me at first but then I would've laughed. And because I have dogs, I would've fed it to them to make me feel better.

Why was the color of the apple important to mention??

JustSawJohnny · 13/10/2025 16:16

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:11

Except tennis balls don't break the bank, are multipurpose and infinitely more reusable in this context than an apple.

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Are you always this unmoving and defensive?

Your kid was in pain and attempting to ease it, with a natural remedy too, and all you have is 'Waaaah - waste!', even though he used it for a viable purpose!

I'm glad I never experienced such coldness as a child and would never treat my son this way either.

Put the apple outside and let the birds and insects have it - as literally millions of apples do per year across the country. I've put at least 50 in our composter as they've bruised a lot or split on falling.

HUGE over reaction.

saraclara · 13/10/2025 16:20

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:09

I'm an individual uninterested in false equivalences.

Edited
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You mean you're an individual who isn't prepared to consider logic, if it makes you wrong?

The only difference between the lad's use of the apple, and someone using a food items in the examples above, is that the apple was used to solve an actual health-based need, rather than for a fun craft activity or DIY.

3luckystars · 13/10/2025 16:21

You could have fed to the foot apple to another animal.
did you not think of this?

Topsy1976 · 13/10/2025 16:21

The answer to your question is 100% yes

J3001 · 13/10/2025 16:22

Omg this is batshit crazy its one apple , wish there was voting on this

itsgettingweird · 13/10/2025 16:23

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

could you flip it and see it as a good example of problem solving and doing something constructive rather than just whinging about being in pain?

FableLies · 13/10/2025 16:23

I feel like you're placing virtual signalling about food wastage above rationale thinking.

wandererofthekingdom · 13/10/2025 16:25

Get a grip is all I can think of.
I'm also wondering how they got you to fork out for a holiday if you're so tight with apples!!

Outside9 · 13/10/2025 16:25

saraclara · 13/10/2025 16:20

You mean you're an individual who isn't prepared to consider logic, if it makes you wrong?

The only difference between the lad's use of the apple, and someone using a food items in the examples above, is that the apple was used to solve an actual health-based need, rather than for a fun craft activity or DIY.

Show quote history

No, I genuinely think it's an illogical false equivalence.

And "need" is a stretch.

CanIbeRio · 13/10/2025 16:26

I don't think I could ever be that bothered to take the time and effort to post a moan about something so utterly trivial as this. If this is all you have to be annoyed at in my eyes you're winning at life!

JudiRuliani · 13/10/2025 16:27

What other mind-numbingly tedious non-issues have you over reacted about OP?

You could have praised his ingenuity and been pleased it helped his pain. This would’ve made him feel good about himself, but instead he’s probably sighing and inwardly rolling his eyes about how uptight you are.