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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to be fed up with my DC's Christmas performances being spoilt by noisy smaller children?

130 replies

gonaenodaethat · 13/12/2010 22:29

I've been to several Christmas performances/concerts/carol services in the last few days. My DDs (12 and 8) have practiced hard with all their classmates and were looking forward to them.

Each time though though, all their efforts were drowned out by the persistant banging, shouting and general noise of pre-school siblings.(one in particular)

Now, my children were small once and I understand it can be difficult to keep them quiet but I don't get the mentality where no effort is made to engage or keep them quiet at all. FGS, if all else fails, take them out. It's so distracting for the big kids who have put so much effort in.

I'm not talking about a little bit of noise, I know that's unavoidable, I'm talking about sustained noise right through the whole thing. At one point this particular child tried to get on the stage!

Anyway, feel a bit tight as he was only wee but couldn't help being p'd off.

OP posts:

scurryfunge · 13/12/2010 22:30

Done to death, sorry.

Yawn.

ShanahansRevenge · 13/12/2010 22:33

YABU....some kids cannot be otherwise engaged during those things...my own DD tried to get on the stage last year at my other DCs Nativity...of course I stopped her...but what can I do? Miss the whole thing? No. It's a kids performance..not the RSC ffs.

Get there early so you're at the front.

mogwhistle · 13/12/2010 22:35

YANBU

Hulababy · 13/12/2010 22:36

At DD's school the head reminded us that there was a camera recording the performance so could everyone be aware of the fact and refrain from excess noise - i.e. take noisy toddlers and babies out if they make a noise all the time.

TBH though it has rarely been a problem. Most parents seem to take noisy little ones out if they start.

A little bit of toddler chatter is fine if subdued. Running about, constant crying and loud talking or shouting is unfair to the performers and the parents do need to take the child out.

Original poster

gonaenodaethat · 13/12/2010 22:37

I'm not bothered about me. The kids on stage found it really offputting.

Is there another thread? Sorry, I looked for one but couldn't see it.

OP posts:

Gogopops · 13/12/2010 22:37

YANBU. It's not fair on everyone else who wants to enjoy the performance.

tomhardyismydh · 13/12/2010 22:39

have nothing to say about said nativity but I love your name op.

made me laugh and remember my childhood for some stupid reason

TheSleepFairy · 13/12/2010 22:40

I own a noisy small child & 2 older children.
I get an ear bashing from the older children because I don't attend church, assembly, carol singing as much as they want me to.

I know as soon as said noisy child see's her sister's on stage she wants to be with them & will do all she can to attract their attention.
I bring toy's, crisps (even at 10am) & try to wedge us both as far from the stage but as near to the exit as possible.

Our school do an evening performance for over 11's only so you can see the play in peace.

In the last 2 years I have never seen my children perform in peace as I am always the one trying to colour a picture, open crisps & whispering to said toddler to be quiet.

Sorry for my 2 year old wanting to be with her sister's & for me never being able to see a full play yet to date

Hulababy · 13/12/2010 22:42

I do remember DD's school a year or two ago having a creche type set up in the closest classroom where toddlers and babies could be left with staff so they could enjoy the play in peace. There were lots of toys for little ones plus babies were nursed and cuddled, or slept. I helped out one day in there. It worked really well.

MrsLevinson · 13/12/2010 22:44

YANBU

And I haven't seen another thread on this either.

shinyrobot · 13/12/2010 22:44

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alicet · 13/12/2010 22:44

My ds school do dress rehearsals that pre schoolers can come to but then actual performances are for adults only. Think this seems a good compromise as hopefully you will get to see at least a dress rehearsal if you can't find someone to look after your younger child during the performance.

Agree it is offputting for the children performing who have put in a lot of effort.

shinyshoes · 13/12/2010 22:45

mine have a daytime showing where all can attend and an evening showing where NO children whatsoever are allowed in. Perhaps you could suggest that

edam · 13/12/2010 22:45

My friend's son managed to bang his head on the end of the pew at ds's carol concert, causing loud howling. Twice.

I wouldn't mind if he was a toddler, but he's four and you'd think he'd have noticed solid oak is hard the first time... (Actually I don't mind at all, poor sausage, it must have really hurt and he wasn't the only noisy sibling. Was just bizarre that he did it a second time just to check how much it had hurt the first!)

Original poster

gonaenodaethat · 13/12/2010 22:48

Thanks tomhardyismydh.

Fairy, I did all those things when DD2 was little and most parents of small children do. It's the lack of effort that annoys me and the constant noise right through.
Of course no-one objects to a toddler shouting out a bit or waving at their siblings but sometimes it's just too much.

OP posts:

hillyhilly · 13/12/2010 22:53

My DS is a nightmare and literally ate for the whole hour last week as when he wasn't eating, he was talking loudly.
I couldn't have left with him as the doorways were blocked by several layers of people and he would have screamed blue murder so he sat on my knee and stuffed his face withcrap

Pancakeflipper · 13/12/2010 22:58

Apologies to the parents filming the infant school nativity this week at my eldest's school.

I took food, books, crayons, paper. I sssh'ed and hushed. I did think about exiting but that would have meant walking down to the front and all the way round the front of the "stage" in mid production. That is instant execution by our Headteacher.

But I know you lovely parents will be viewing that film of your dear child and grimacing at the very vocal soundtrack of my 2 yr old requesting loudly "mummy draw a goat. That's rubbish. Draw a cow. Rubbish. Draw a big red dog... Nah... Ha ha .. Let's play Scooby Doo. Shaggy.. yeah."

You'll be delighted to hear my eldest has banned us from next years gig.

nightmarebeforechristmas · 13/12/2010 22:59

yanbu

scottishmummy · 13/12/2010 23:00

oh behave!your wean doesnt need hallowed silence for a xmas production.nor do you

are you hoping for anna scher scholarship ,agent in the wings?is that why you are so pushy?

TheSleepFairy · 13/12/2010 23:01

gona glad to see my effort's arn't being seen as lazy parenting.
I honestly would rather just buy the dvd & watch it when everyone has gone to bed

We are in a very small school so only have 3 or 4 toddlers & my lovely is always the loudest but that is because she adores her sister's.

Lonnie · 13/12/2010 23:02

None of the schools our kids have attended have done a full blown toddler invited thing they have all done "preschoolers not welcome" or if they get noicy please leave (and I saw the Head ask parents to do so)

I Have to say having been to one or two where preschoolers did ruin it i fidn that better so YANBU

Original poster

gonaenodaethat · 13/12/2010 23:02

"mummy draw a goat. That's rubbish. Draw a cow. Rubbish. Draw a big red dog... Nah... Ha ha .. Let's play Scooby Doo. Shaggy.. yeah."

"he would have screamed blue murder so he sat on my knee and stuffed his face withcrap"

These have made me laugh and reminded me of when DD2 was small. It's hard.

OP posts:

scottishmummy · 13/12/2010 23:05

i stuff tunnocks tea cake in weans yap to hush em.and any of you pushy growlers can piss off.weans are noisy,get over it

your spluttering wean oscar performance wont be spoiled by someone else wean squawking/shuffling/gurning

as school plays are all rubbish

ReindeerBollocks · 13/12/2010 23:07

DD ruined DS's play by screaming his name very loudly (during a quiet section ). But she is only 19 months.

It's a school play though not a performance by the RSC, so I'd expect noisy spectators.

scottishmummy · 13/12/2010 23:07

indeedy school play not rsamd.precious parents are the pits

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