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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Aibu or a bit pfb?

130 replies

JoannaGlumley · 06/09/2011 16:17

My DP flies a microlight and is really pushing to take my DS who is 2.6 up with him. I am not so keen but he's accusing me of being over cautious and pfb so I am after some opinions.
The microlight is just like a very small plane so is enclosed and he wouldn't need a helmet, he would be strapped in. DS has sat in it lots of times and taxied round with the engine off and hasn't seemed bothered. My main problem is that normally he hates loud noises, I can't use the Hoover, hairdryer, blender when he is in the room. It would only be a short flight but I'd worry that if he started kicking off he would distract DP. There also wouldn't be anyone to comfort him.

I also worry that he doesn't really get that the plane he sits in is the same as the planes in the sky so while he can recite the words 'the plane goes up in the clouds' he doesn't understand and it would be a huge huge shock.

So what do you think as I really am being made to feel like a killjoy? And what age would you let your kids go?

I've name changed so I can show this to DP and he can't see my history!!

OP posts:
SouthernFriedTofu · 06/09/2011 22:37

Arealmanithink is blatantly OP's husband!

SouthernFriedTofu · 06/09/2011 22:39

He has ONLY ever posted on this thread Grin

SmethwickBelle · 06/09/2011 22:42

Toddlers can freak out unexpectedly about things they have never freaked out at before, regardless of what vibes their parents are giving off.

They can also get air sick which you wouldn't know until you'd got them airborne and I'm guessing if you're flying a plane you can't also stop a 2 year old choking on their vomit?

Absolutely no way.

ApocalypseCheeseToastie · 06/09/2011 22:43

Oi lebof, I have a fear of vacuum cleaners I will ave you know, I stay as far away from them as possible Wink

bubby64 · 06/09/2011 22:43

YANBU- No way would I let a toddler in a small, potentially lethal, glorified kite with a motorbike engine on, your DP must be stark raving bonkers!

LadyBeagleEyes · 06/09/2011 22:44

I was a bit suspicious there too, Southern.
I don't know anything any more Confused

Backinthebox · 06/09/2011 22:54

OK, Arealman (Ithink Hmm) let's just say I fly something a bit bigger than a microlight. If we are, say, measuring cajuna size by size of what we fly, mine are about 340 times bigger than your's. And NO WAY would I put my 2 year old child up beside me while I was attempting to negotiate my way through the skies. (I did take my 10 month old up, with husband of course. They sat in Club Grin.)

You need all you attention, especially if you are flying a microlight in uncontrolled airspace. What would you do if your child threw a tantrum, was scared by something, or you had a non-normal situation to deal with? You are daft if you think you can manage a child AND an aircraft of any kind. There is a reasonable chance both child and aircraft would both behave, but not a certainty.

Why don't you learn to fly something bigger, with enough seats for your child and a responsible adult to accompany your child?

toomuchmonthatendofthemoney · 06/09/2011 23:02

arealman, to me a 2.6 year old IS, to many intents and purposes, STILL like a baby - they live in the moment, react instinctively and fully 100% to situations so if distressed cannot easily be calmed or reasoned with, cannot grasp concepts of time "we'll be back down in 10 minutes" is meaningless to a distressed toddler etc etc.......

i remember thinking ds seemed so "grown up" at about 3 when he was verbally articulate and becoming much more sociable - now hes 5.6, i look back and think gosh, he was still very much a toddler with all their emotions.

put your ego on the backburner for a few more years and then you will be able to tell your mates, yes i took 8/9/10 year old DS up and he has said he loves it too!!

Nanny0gg · 06/09/2011 23:14

No.

And is it even legal?

MmeLindor. · 06/09/2011 23:21

Absolutely sodding not.

And Arealman
Get off Mumsnet and go and tell your DW (the OP) that you are a stupid knob, and that everyone on MN agrees with her.

And that your mate is a knob too.

CoffeeRevel · 06/09/2011 23:26

This to me is a safety issue, arealman. It's not about Babying the child (who at 2 is still a baby btw), or stopping them enjoying something cos they might get upset, nor is it about anxiety transference. The child is scared of loud noises, and unable to attach consequences to his behaviour if he panics. The pilot may be really good, but all the skill in the world won't help him deal with a panicking/vomiting child in close quarters at the same time as getting them down safely. I would wait til the child is a bit more able to make an informed decision as to whether he would like to do it.

MortaIWombat · 06/09/2011 23:45

One of these? Shock

Wouldn't the boy just tumble out of an adult-sized harness?

MortaIWombat · 06/09/2011 23:46

Oops, mea culpa - just read ore carefully and saw it's enclosed.
Still wouldn't, though.

MortaIWombat · 06/09/2011 23:46

more. bollocks.

TheyCallMeKipper · 06/09/2011 23:58

Absolutely no way would I allow that. YANBU. Don't let him go.

Wholelottalove · 06/09/2011 23:59

No way! Just asked DH and he said no way too, especially at that age and given your son hates loud noises.

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 07/09/2011 00:08

What exactly have you flown, Arealmanithink? A kite? Hmm

If you've got to think about it, you are unlikely to be a real man.

FTR, real man or not, only a twunt would expose their dc to unnecessary risk.

Againagainagain · 07/09/2011 00:09

Well that thing looks safe your dh is BU and a bit of a nob

FunkyChicken · 07/09/2011 00:15

No way (and I'm not precious). Agree with southmum, whats the point for a child that young? Save it until he's older and it will be a brilliant experience for him.

LineRunner · 07/09/2011 00:22

Fuck no, never. Your DP is a fucking arse for wanting to do it, anyway.

Your child is not a little mascot.

izzywhizzyletsgetbusy · 07/09/2011 00:24

Microlights are mopeds with wings. Hardly the stuff of Those Magnificent Men In Their Flying Machines - more akin to Snoopy and The Red Baron.

EdnaKrabappel · 07/09/2011 17:13

nosy bump as I want to know how the conversation between OP and Arealman her DH went.

jeckadeck · 07/09/2011 17:15

YANBU. I wouldn't let a child of 2.6 years in one of those things if my life depended on it. Don't know what your DH is thinking, to be honest.

rebl · 07/09/2011 17:17

No no no!!!

nannyl · 07/09/2011 17:21

another no way vote here too!

YANBU