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AIBU?

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Original poster

In thinking this was mean??

16 replies

cookielove · 22/05/2011 10:41

I was at a fete the yesterday, working on a face painting stall this year we decided to do those stick on tattoos, which actually turned out quite well, any who lots of parents said to the children they could have one or the other, but most said they could have both (obviously if that is what the child wanted)

So there was a mother with two girls, roughly around the age of 6 and 8, she told them very clearly that yes they could have both done, so my work colleague put on their tattoos, and they waited for me to finish so they could have their face painted, then there mum started saying actually you can't have a face paint now, which upset both the girls, she then said oh you can either have ice cream or have your face painted. So the older one said she wanted both and didn't know how to choose, so her mother said to her 'well i am going to get and ice cream and eat it in front of you' to which we thought was unfair.

Of course we said nothing, and she said told them to go in and look around, and they would come back. Which i am sure you can work out they didn't.

Now the fact the mum didn't want them to get face painted is here nor there, what bothers me is that she said they could and then when she decided not and then was so mean to them to get them to agree with her.

So was she being mean, or am i crazy in thinking she was?

OP posts:
macdoodle · 22/05/2011 10:42

huh??

squeakytoy · 22/05/2011 10:43

Was it free? if not then perhaps she realised she didnt have enough money for both things perhaps?

ChippingIn · 22/05/2011 10:45

Yes - she was mean saying they could then changing her mind, but then to say what she said about the ice cream, that was just nasty. You really have to wonder about some parents :(

WhoAteMySnickers · 22/05/2011 10:47

Maybe they asked for ice cream and the mum only had money for one thing or the other.

Tbh it's a tactic I employ lots with my DS... "we'll come back and do it later", by which time he's forgotten all about it.

ChippingIn · 22/05/2011 10:48

Squeaky - that would be fine if she'd said - sorry girls, I've just realised I don't have enough money for face painting and ice cream, which would you rather have? and when he daughter couldn't choose help her make her mind up - but to say 'I'm going to have ice cream and eat it in front of you!' is totally uncalled for and frankly, I'd go without icecream if it meant they could have both after being told they could.

lesley33 · 22/05/2011 10:51

Yes she was mean. If she couldn't afford both after all she should have bdeen honest. But the comment about the ice cream makes me think that it was more likely her being mean than suddenly realising she couldn't afford both after all.

Original poster
cookielove · 22/05/2011 10:53

No it wasn't free, it was 50p each for the tattoos, then 50p - £2.50 depending what they get, ice - cream was £1 i believe, but can't be sure of.

Yes i do think if she didn't have enough money then she could have explained it as they were definitely old enough to understand, it was her saying that she would eat the ice cream in front of them which i thought was plain mean.

OP posts:
Original poster
cookielove · 22/05/2011 10:54

macdoodle what don't you understand?

OP posts:
macdoodle · 22/05/2011 10:56

any of it? Confused

Original poster
cookielove · 22/05/2011 11:01

the mum said they could have their face painted, then changed her mind for what ever reason, and instead of explaining it to them, she told them she would buy ice cream and eat it in front of them, she also said it in a bragging kind of manner.

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 22/05/2011 11:03

Well maybe she knew her daughters would still moan about wanting an ice-cream even if they chose the face painting option, so it was her tactic...

It does sound a bit mean, but maybe she was a bit embarassed about admitting she couldnt afford both in front of you.

lesley33 · 22/05/2011 11:10

But she wouldn't be embarassed about appearing mean in front of the OP? I think you are being too nice squeakytoy.

Original poster
cookielove · 22/05/2011 11:59

She didn't appear to be embarrassed, and although i was listening to what she was saying, i was busy face painting so i wasn't sitting there gawping at her. Grin

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MumblingRagDoll · 22/05/2011 12:04

I don't think it sounds mean...it soundslike she ad miscalulated. Maaybe she han't realised how much face painting was...or misread the sign.

LRDTheFeministDragon · 22/05/2011 12:51

She knows her own child, though... isn't it possible she knew her daughter would ask for the face paint because it was right in front of her, then be upset watching her little sister eat ice cream, so she said this to make her daughter realize which one she really wanted?

Without knowing the family, I don't see how you could know.

Original poster
cookielove · 22/05/2011 17:21

Both the girls wanted there face painted, and she intially had said yes to both of them.

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