My DS has taken a dislike to old people

[bupcakesandcunting]

And I find it amusing

We were on the bus last week and he started getting really agitated and fidgetty. When I asked him what was up he said "All the old people are making me sad" I asked him why and he said they all looked grey.

Then today I picked him up from pre-school and I said I needed to nip to Aldi to buy some bread. He started wailing in the street "ALDI IS STUPID AND FULL OF OLD PEOPLE"

Anyway, he seems not to like OAPS. Which I kind of feel bad about because he attracts old people like bears to honey. AIBU to chuckle when he gets OAP rage? He is only three, btw.

Lots of children find older people scary - it is completely normal. Bupcakes clearly isn't a ageist bigot at all because she is chuckling at HER SON's reaction not at other older people. Like the OP said, she will still encourage her son to be more social and less fearing of people with grey hair etc

I am sure her son will grow our of this - this just like everyone else. Those that were talking of their reactions when they were little were talking in hindsight and realised how funny they were being because of course there is nothing to fear or worry about when talking and visiting with the elderly.

I am quite surprised at some of teh earlier comments on this thread. I hadn't realised that such humour was acceptable on mumsnet.
I agree totally with seeker.

I think it's unacceptable, the child is only three and thus blame-free, but the adults around him should be showing him what is and isn't acceptable. Not finding it funny.
I agree with the 'replace old people with black people' and see how you are shaping his world view bupcakes.

Are their no older people at his preschool?
Ours has a lot of helpers with grey hair and glasses.

'Those that were talking of their reactions when they were little were talking in hindsight and realised how funny they were being because of course there is nothing to fear or worry about when talking and visiting with the elderly.'

I think this is OK if you mean 'funny peculiar' and not 'funny ha ha'. (I think OP meant the latter)

I still think that it isn't acceptable when you couldn't make similar remarks about any other section of society.
It is all very strange because many people will never be obese, in a wheelchair,have facial scarring etc and yet we will all (unless we die tragically young) be old one day and our bodies will gradually wear out. WE WILL BE THE SAME PEOPLE THAT WE ARE NOW.

It's not funny and i certainly would not tolerate (let alone laugh at it) from my ds.

DD used to scream if anyone over the age of about 60 so much as looked at her! Even now at 3 she has her hair ruffled by them regularly when we pass and always shouts " Don't touch my hair!" at them.

Tis v embarrassing, but I suppose anyone wrinkly with a huge nose and ear hair ( 90% of the old men I see around here) would be quite terrifying to a 3 year old

Oh, bloody hell. Now 90% of people over 60 are wrinkly with huge noses and ear hair.

I give up. I really, truly fucking do.

I can't be bothered to read the whole thread, which is most unusual for me, but I can't believe there are adults who think it is funny to say old people are grey all over.

All I can say is that I hope some of you get really old and have to put up with people thinking that you don't count, have never been young and have no feelings and should be shut away so that your 3 yr old doesn't have to get to know them!
My DS regularly got his hair touched by everyone (old and young) when he was little, it was very fine and stuck straight up,had he made a fuss (which he didn't)I would have explained that they were being friendly and that it wasn't polite to shout at them.
It isn't so much what you say as how you behave yourself. I always chat to elderly people-DCs see it and it doesn't occur to them that there is anything strange about the person. It is possible-in other societies the elderly are very much respected and it would never occur to a 3 yr old to be rude-they would have picked up the respectful attitude early on.

seeker et al = agreed!