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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have screamed like a fishwife in the middle of a packed high street?

153 replies

staylucky · 29/10/2011 23:28

Walking through town today, busy saturday afternoon full of shoppers. Dp and I hadn't taken the pushchairs for DS as I'm trying to get him into the habit of walking more. Toddler DS ran in front of some guy, DP immediatly apologised and picked up our DS. Chap then does this huge 'comedy' kick and laughs to his Gf like he's the funniest
man alive.

Ok so I'm 5 months pregnant, hormonal and perhaps I was being a bit precious but I just saw red Blush and said to the guy "as if you just did that right in front of me" this quickly turned into a huge slanting match in the middle of the street. I know he was joking I never thought for a minute he was going to kick my son but why would you even joke about something like that???!! If an old lady had stumbled in front of him would he have done the same? TO HER FACE?!

He told me to get a grip Grin

I await more of the same... No but honestly would you have let that go?

OP posts:
lovingthecoast · 30/10/2011 00:18

I'm sure the OP knows she over reacted. Toddlers get in people's way all the time though. It's a fact of life.

The bloke wasn't at all funny and the fact that he turned to his girlfriend to pretend kick shows what an arse he was. Of course he wouldn't have kicked him but he sounds a little bit of a plank.

I'd have just looked at him like he was ridiculous and said 'tosser' and walked off.

LineRunnerWitchyMother · 30/10/2011 00:19

Oh, I was getting all ready to comment on 'huge slanging match,' and then you say it was a 'snide comment within earshot.'

Sevenfoldedbloodybodies · 30/10/2011 00:19

ok just had a think
ds is 19 now so had to think way back.
but if some random bloke had comedy kicked ds when he was diddy...
I think....dh would have ripped his head of. and as for me......
blood would have been spilled..
so forget my other post

lovingthecoast · 30/10/2011 00:19

btw, I don't think this has any parallel with violence towards children; or anyone for that matter. I just think it was a cringey, unfunny thing for him to do.

rosyvalentine · 30/10/2011 00:20

YANBU OP. The guy was being a twat.

TheSecondComing · 30/10/2011 00:22

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
staylucky · 30/10/2011 00:23

^oh pumpkin Grin that did make me laugh.

Ok I know absolutely I was BU. Shouting in the street is never ok. My DS did not see the kick aimed at him as DP had scooped him up and walked ahead but not did he see me getting all angry Anderson at a random stranger.
All I can say is at the point it happened my sense of humour switch was set to zero, all I could think about was him actually kicking my gorgeous little boy and it sent me over the edge.

My DP thought it was hilarious and has spent the whole day taking the piss out me Grin

Practically he refuses to walk on reigns or holding hands (apart from roads obv) and I'm worrying about whether he'll be sensible enough to walk independently by the end of feb (when baby is due).

OP posts:
PumpkinSizedEmmaRoyd · 30/10/2011 00:24

BTW when I say you will look back and laugh, I mean at your reaction, not at the 'comedy' kick. sorry but YABU to scream like a fish wife.

EllaDee · 30/10/2011 00:25

stay - I'm really glad your DS didn't see it and wasn't upset, and glad you're feeling better now too. Smile

LeBOOOf · 30/10/2011 00:25

Shrieking in the street is just awful. Even if it was a shit joke.

Original poster
staylucky · 30/10/2011 00:26

^line runner, no I likened his actions to a snidey comment. It was a huge slanging match. I swore at him like a sailor Blush

OP posts:
AgentZigzag · 30/10/2011 00:26

I can see where you're coming from OP, you go out of your way to make sure nothing happens to them when they're toddling and learning to walk, I wouldn't have thought it funny either.

I didn't when a lad at DDs school pretended to aim and fire a gun at DD2s head when she was a baby.

(Not sure about the slanging match in the street, it'd depend Grin)

What he did was inappropriate to do to a strangers DC.

I've got to ask though rhonda, why is it BU 'to have let him out in public without reins or a wrist strap.'?

Is this an unwritten rule I've missed somewhere along the way?

cantspel · 30/10/2011 00:27

If he refuses to walk on reigns then put him in the buggy. he will soon learn that if he wants to walk then he has to wear the reigns.

Let him tantrum and stropp as much as he likes but put the reigns on him. It only takes seconds for a child to dash out in front of a car.

LineRunnerWitchyMother · 30/10/2011 00:31

Oh well, I'd just regard it as a comedy slanging match, and forget it.

Unless the guy ever ends up interviewing you or something. In which case you stress your lioness skills. And possibly maul him.

jamandposterpaint · 30/10/2011 00:50

Oh dear.

Yabu.

T'was just a joke, as well you know.

Ella, way OTT. But I'm sure you know that now too.

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 00:55

Practically he refuses to walk on reigns or holding hands (apart from roads obv)

Oxymoron there OP

He's too young to know he 'obv' has to hold your hand at roads

If he 'refuses' to hold it except at roads...sorry but that's yours and his Dad's doing.

You are the adults..if you want him to hold your hand then he holds it and that's that.

ChippingInAutumnLover · 30/10/2011 01:53

Oh for the love of cheese... the tot ran in front of someone so he should be on reins... ?? What do you propose for all of the adults, teenagers, people on mobility scooters, those in wheelchairs who cross your path while you are out shopping?

OldRaver - why shouldn't he be walking around on a Saturday? I bet you are one of the first people to say that kids are too lazy these days and don't walk anywhere blah blah blah - the OP is trying to get her DS used to walking instead of being in the buggy all the time and people still complain???

StayLucky - I'm not sure how I'd have reacted, it would have depended entirely on my hormones his attitude/demeanour - it could have gone either way!!

ColdTruth · 30/10/2011 01:15

YABU it was a joke and a harmless one at that.

Goldenbear · 30/10/2011 06:46

YANBU. To those of you arguing that there is some kind of humour to this display of violence towards a baby- I cannot believe my eyes if I am reading this correctly. I realise in not believing this to be atall funny I am a victim of the 'PC' brigade but I can live with that!

Oh and OP don't listen to the hysterical advice regarding the reins- I'm sure he'll learn to walk in a straight line without them , like most children do!

Georgimama · 30/10/2011 06:59

Clearly it is very important that twattish men are able to walk around shopping centres unimpeded by inconvenient children and pregnant women, and if one is unfortunate enough to get in alpha male's way we must all stand and laugh while he pretends to kick the child, because that is of course a "joke" and a highly amusing one.

FFS. The man was a complete tool.

Some people on this thread need to have a word with themselves.

DoingTheBestICan · 30/10/2011 07:43

YABU,tbh i would be more concerned at the toddler ds hearing his dm shouting profanities like a fishwife down the high street than a comedy kick that he didnt actually see.

Buy some reins.

Everlong · 30/10/2011 07:58

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TandB · 30/10/2011 08:02

I think you overreacted. Yes, he was a twat, but your DS didn't see it and it was clearly for his GF's benefit, not yours. I would probably have made some audible comment about his childishness and kept walking.

On the subject of hand-holding, however, I think this is a battle worth fighting. DS did NOT like hand-holding. I spent many a happy moment standing in public places while he rolled and thrashed on the floor. I did not let go of his hand under any circumstances. People stared and tutted and made comments. I still did not let go of his hand. Now he walks holding my hand.

RustyBear · 30/10/2011 08:06

Actually the most shocking thing I've seen on this thread is that somebody has never heard of The Sooty Show... [hgrin]

exoticfruits · 30/10/2011 08:13

You need to set a good example to DCs and yelling in the street isn't a good one. I think that anyone around would be thinking the same 'get a grip'.

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