for telling a group of giggling girlies to make sure he sticks a condom on

[muttimalzwei]

Basically thought it would be nice to treat kids to a meal in the pub as husband on lates. Cut a long story short the food took ages to come, was awful burnt kids crap and my son was causing a bit of a fuss and wouldn't sit in his high chair. Then some mums I know through my daughter's school came in all glammed up and saw me struggling to settle my son and generally having a mare. I couldn't handle it really and decided to leave without eating my food. On the way out a group of giggly girlies watched as I struggled to get my writhing son into the pushchair and found it all very amusing. I left them by saying. ''You might not find it funny either girls, so just make sure he sticks a condom on!'' Was I being very unreasonable or am I just a hormonally challenged old bat?

You had a bad experiance and were rightly pissed off, they meant no harm, you caused no harm, forget it. Others will disagree

I love my kids, don't get me wrong but it just seems so HARD going out in public sometimes. Wish people woudln't bloody stare so much. They are KIDS for Gawd's sake!!

they may have been gay!!

I think its fine. You could have said a lot worse and you were probably feeling more harrassed than it appeared. I wouldn't worry about it. I have said far ruder and felt far more ashamed.

Tis true, they may have been gay!

Once I was truly struggling to collapse a pushchair so that we could get on a little train while on holiday in France. Two very smug couples were finding this v amusing. I just said 'oh f off, just cos you haven't got anything interesting to say to each other you have to look to me for your amusement' Oops...perhaps I'm just not cut out for this socialising with the children in public

No - it was a perfectly reasonable comment

It sounds like you need to get the kids sorted out though if it's hard to take them out in public.

You should have said 'Oh how kind of you to offer' and pushed it in their direction

I would love to have done that! The kids are generally ok but little one is not himself today. Just wish some people would be more tolerant. I just feel sometimes wheeling my pram in somewhere where ladies are lunching and they just want you kids to be totally quiet and completely under control. Hate it.

Op, you have literally made me LOL! Sorry, I know that you were having a crap time but you're funny .

how old were they?

And tutting pensioners on buses as you wheel into the front space...One of them said to her pal that she was surprised at how mums didn't walk anymore like in her day...it was peeing it down!!! All I could come back with was 'Oh thank you for your support, I am here you know and I can hear what you are saying about me'

What the girls? they were about 19/20ish. Probably mums themselves who know only too well and were just out on a rare night!

I'm now wondering what AphraBen said that was so rude...

You might have been unreasonable, it depends on how their laughing was intended. They may not have been laughing at you struggling.

Bascially, the only kid related issue that annoys me in public is very naughty children when parents do nothing about the behaviour.

But other than that I'm generally very tolerant and I have alot of sympathy for parents struggling with children. It's hard. Sometimes I smile etc at parents with screaming kids in a restaurant but my meaning is by smiling is that it's not bothering me or I understand.

But obviously as that can be misinterpreted by over sensitive people who don't want people looking at all, I won't bother.

Oh don't, I'd never be allowed back on MNet, reviled forever.

A1980 I was being oversensitive to be honest but I was very tired and hormonal, hence potentially unreasonable. I too smile sympathetically and even help struggling parents in restaurants, hadn't thought that that might be misinterpreted until now...

Oh go on Aphraben, just one anecdote...

I had't considered people might not appreciate sympathising until reading this, so I'll just ignore it from now on.

Yes I got your point, and I was unreasonable

You probably did them a favour. Just possibly one of them might remember you the next time some bloke has his pants off.

Ha ha Rockbird!:o

muttimalzwei, I just think it was funny, and not a big deal. Don't stress over it.

My children would have assumed that your son was a mistake that you regretted, and been a bit sad for him. Especially if you seemed cross.

I know Goblinchild that's why I am ashamed now. Luckily my daughter doesn't know what a condom is so won't have understood what I was saying and I do love love love my kids with all my heart. I was just FRUSTRATED and I find it HARD. I need to get out more, without kids!!!!