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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I hate small girls who do plays and expect you to be their audience

89 replies

activate · 14/12/2010 21:30

After 16 years of just boys I have entered a horrible phase with my 6 year old girl where her friends come round and work out plays and then expect to perform them to me

I can't stnad it

I found myself explainging today that they need to stop and the important thing about a story is a start, middle and end

OP posts:
PixieOnaLeaf · 14/12/2010 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

MrsNonSmoker · 14/12/2010 23:56

A couple of summers ago, my DDs and their friends made up a really odd show, very avant garde (ages then from 5 to 10) and performed it in my front garden. About a dozen neighbours came, all set out in chairs, there were costume changes, music etc., then at the very end my youngest decided to show her knickers ... Anyway, nothing to do with Y BU or not. Just wanted to tell everyone!

Morloth · 15/12/2010 01:26

Exactly what FellatioNelson said, I can just about handle my own DS's 'interesting' stuff (for us it is watching 'movies' he makes with his lego), but being forced to endure someone else's kid's is HORRIBLE.

YANBU.

hifi · 15/12/2010 01:33

TOTALLY agre,other peoples kids ones are even worse,especially when the mothers encourage it.

earwicga · 15/12/2010 01:40

I think the worst one I have had was the Easter ones when my kids were small. It involved them standing against walls being crucified. It was half funny and half horrific.

mathanxiety · 15/12/2010 03:04

None of my DDs or their friends ever did this but I had the occasional odd bout of magic tricks from time to time by the DDs and DS.

However, I know what I missed because whenever we visited exMIL she would actually organise the grandchildren to put on a performance of something (indiscernible), give the starring role to her favourite grandchild, and make everyone sit and watch something interminable that always involved Irish dancing by the Favourite.

LOL at the crucifixions Earwicga Xmas Grin

nooka · 15/12/2010 03:15

My dd and my ds like to do shows. I suspect that dd is the instigator, but ds likes the more directorial/production aspects - he does the music and they share the yelling fairly equally. they are 11 and 10, so it goes on for quite a while :) I have to admit although I am impressed with their creativity I do get bored very quickly.

My big sister used to organise all the nieghbourhood children into serious plays (proper ones with scripts, costumes and everything) performed in my parents house because it had the biggest rooms. I can remember being a weasel in Toad of Toad Hall. Wonderfully bossy my big sister - she grew up to be a vicar Grin.

MissAnthrope · 15/12/2010 03:17

Oh my word. Why have I not been warned about this sooner?

By Pixie's reckoning I only have two years to actively discourage mentally prepare for this horror Shock

AngelsOnHigh · 15/12/2010 03:33

When my DS and I were about that age, we used to play "confessions" It's now called reconciliation.

We would open the wardrobe door, make our DB the "priest" behind the wardrobe door and then take turns to "confess" our sins.

It usually degenerated into sins such as "Bless me Father for I have sinned. Today I ate a dead dog"

I guess that's why DB grew up as an athiest. He still is.

AngelsOnHigh · 15/12/2010 03:38

When DD and DS put on a show now, I sit on the lounge and watch (with a book on my lap to read) Every now and then I will say "That's really great" or clap Xmas Grin'

Actually, why do kids today require an audience?

My parents didn't have a clue what we were doing and I think we would have thrown them out if they had wanted to watch.

AngelsOnHigh · 15/12/2010 03:39

Should be disintrigated. Must be a freudian slip. As in degenerates

Restrainedrabbit · 15/12/2010 03:42

I'd forgotten about this phase, my DSIS and I used to do this!! I've got two DDs- eek!

Slightly · 15/12/2010 04:16

Oh hell, YADefinitelyNBU.

I have been subjected treated to one of these shows this very evening.

I am convinced they deliberately keep going until they can see the glazed-eye expression of an adult who has lost the will to live, in each and every audience member.

I feel your pain.

echt · 15/12/2010 05:15

Agree with all those say their own DC is just about bearable, but it's other people's that get on your threepennies.

And you know what's worse? The ones where the doting parents welcome and encourage this shite when you've come round for a cosy adult chat.

Sweet. Mother.Of. God.

goingroundthebend4 · 15/12/2010 05:26

Can i send Dd over for her muscial shows, you will think plays are great by then.Oh did i mention she is learning to play drums Grin

Though to be fair shes not to bad at it but just so dam loud , earplugs for you and neighbours be sent to

HecTheHallsWithBoughsOfHolly · 15/12/2010 07:06

I think I am feeling slightly grateful that my children have no interest in me whatsoever Grin

schmee · 15/12/2010 07:12

The video camera idea sounds great. My DSs (age 4) do "shows" for me - I encourage it as the alternative is that they will beat each other up to get my attention and I'd rather 15 minutes of very confused dialogue than a trip to A&E.

But getting them to video it so I can "watch it when they've gone to sleep" sounds like a fantastic idea.

ProfYaffle · 15/12/2010 07:19

Oh God, YANBU. My dds have just commenced this phase. The first time, tbf, it's sweet, funny etc. By the time they've performed slight variations on the same show for the 79th time it's wearing thin Hmm

Last week dh berated me for hiding behind the laptop and not even pretending to watch. I pointed out that he'd been at work and and I'd been watching 'plays' for 3 hours.

singarainbow · 15/12/2010 07:24

I hate it too. My 7 yo DD is soooooooo horrible when -bossing- directing. And they go on for hours.
Especially when they argue all the way through it, I just threaten them that I will leave the room if they dont get on.
I hate hate hate it. Blush

WoodRose · 15/12/2010 08:23

Be thankful you are only expected to watch! DD and her friend LOVE staging ballet shows but as they are both busy being sleeping beauty/ Clara/ Sugar Plum Fairy etc, friend's mother & I are dragged away from coffee and chat to take on the roles of Carabos/ Prince/Nutcracker. DD and friend make it very clear if our dancing is not up to snuff.Blush

colditz · 15/12/2010 08:30

I used to do this.

I was reminded of it by my mother watching the Young Ones with me, and shouting "That's you, that is" at the part where Rik Mayal starts banging things and cawing "Look at me! Look at me! No, listen, ahahahaha, everyone listen, listen, hey, listen to this, LOOK at me then...."

Blush
melikalikimaka · 15/12/2010 08:31

Yes it's great when they pretend they are Christine Agueilara off X factor.

domesticsluttery · 15/12/2010 08:36

It isn't just boys.

DS1 is learning to play the piano, and both he and DS2 sing in the school choir. They both seem to think they are the next Bryn Terfel.

If I have to listen to another slightly off key carol recital, with pauses where DS1 forgets where he is in the sheet music and DS2 carries on singing so they end up ut of synch, I may have to bury myself in a mince pie.

splashy · 15/12/2010 09:55

ROFL at earwigca

ledkrsbellyislikesantas · 15/12/2010 10:02

yanbu They go on for ages dont they too?I find myself saying "will it be much longer?" then feeling guilty,
I sent her to dance and drama to try and harness this "talent" but she just comes back and shows it all to me and scratches my floor with her tap shoes Xmas Angry