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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:
Shodan · 30/10/2011 08:18

I wouldn't have found it remotely funny.

But I wouldn't have screamed/shouted/sworn either. This was a situation for The Look. And possibly raised eyebrows.

I agree with kungfupanda though. Handholding is defintiely a battle worth fighting. DS2 has objected to the buggy since he was 2 and so was always given a choice- either walk holding my hand or go in the buggy.

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 11:33

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.

Exactly that!

Why do people think hand holding is not a battle worth fighting? The more you give in and allow them to dictate when they do/don't hold your hand...the longer it's going to take for the tantrums to stop.

If you never give in, they soon learn it's not an option.

perplexedpirate · 30/10/2011 12:11

What a wanker. Good for you for calling him on it OP. I'd have done the same thing, pregnancy notwithstanding.

Acandlelitshadow · 30/10/2011 12:55

Neither party comes out of this one with any credit.

I expect the spontaneous entertainment brightened up the day for those around you though Grin

TandB · 30/10/2011 13:03

Worral - I didn't think the tantrums were ever going to stop. At one point it was several minutes of thrashing followed by about 3 steps and then another couple of minutes of thrashing and so on. And then one day he clearly decided it wasn't worth the aggro and we haven't had a single tantrum about it for several months.

The battle I did give up on was the Littlelife backpack with reins - I thought he was going to throttle himself as he tried to get it off. We had more success with wrist-strap though,

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 14:34

I know what you mean about the thrashing...they're like a huge fish out of water aren't they? Grin

rubyrubyruby · 30/10/2011 14:56

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 14:57

But pedestrianised areas are still not safe for toddlers to run off in.

demonicma · 30/10/2011 15:02

YABU and precious. Keep your kid out from under people's feet.

meglet · 30/10/2011 15:02

yanbu. If someone had done a 'comedy kick' to my DC I would have been sorely tempted to land a comedy right hook on them.

Totally innapropriate thinking it's funny to kick a small child for scuttling about.

Althoug I could never be bothered letting mine run around and my eldest only came out the buggy / off reins at 4.7.

rubyrubyruby · 30/10/2011 15:05

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Shutupanddrive · 30/10/2011 15:25

One of you should have been holding his hand, or get some reins on him so he can't run in front of random people

squeakyfreakytoy · 30/10/2011 15:28

With the amount of people careering around pedestrianised areas on mobility scooters a pedestrianised area is most definately not child-safe these days.. or safe for anyone who values the backs of their ankles if they dare to get in the way of some pensioners who think they can just barge their way through. Confused

ChippingInAutumnLover · 30/10/2011 15:28

shutupanddrive - why? Really - why? Will the world end if a tot walks in front of you?

squeakyfreakytoy · 30/10/2011 15:30

To be fair Chipping, an elderly person could easily trip over a toddler, and do themselves some serious damage.

It is also a lot more common now for people to be wandering around with a scalding hot Starbucks coffee in their hand.. again not something you want to be poured all over a toddler whose approach may not be seen in a crowd of people.

BOOareHaunting · 30/10/2011 15:43

I have a vision of a guy jokingly pretending to kick the toddler in a 'drop kick' kind of fashion or reversing as if running up to score a goal. I doubt any malice was intended although I can why a parent wouldn't find it funny.

Without being there and seeing what happened I can't comment as to if YABU because it's out of context.

Your reaction though does seem OTT and hormones or not you may need to get a grip!

LineRunnerWitchyMother · 30/10/2011 15:50

Roy Wood from Wizzard does a 'comedy kick' and 'comedy fist shake' at the little kids at the end of the video for I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day.

I dig it out and watch it with my DC every year to 'get us in the mood'. (Sir Cliff's on it as well and Aled running around the welsh hills with a kite.)

I remember thinking recently about the Wizzard video, 'I bet that wouldn't be allowed any more.'

LadyEvilEyes · 30/10/2011 16:11

Oh, that's right LineRunner, he does.
I still put all these Christmas songs on MTV every year.
I hope those poor children managed to get over the trauma.

ChippingInAutumnLover · 30/10/2011 16:19

Squeaky - I know, but people seem to be posting more out of the 'annoyance' of having a tot walking in front of them (like he's not actually a human being) that any actual danger and it winds me up!! I don't actually like to see them wandering around 'unprotected' from big people knocking them over, hot drinks, shopping trolleys either... or the possible 'danger' to the elderly or people not stable on their feet.... it's just the OMG he's 'in the way' that drives me up the pole!

LineRunnerWitchyMother · 30/10/2011 16:27

Little 'uns running or wandering in front of me makes me smile these days - it's such a change to see them 'loose' as opposed to being strapped down and confined.

Mostly they do know to stop at the pavement's edge. If it looks like they don't - and there's a parent screaming and running behind - I'd grab 'em.

We're like that round here. Smile

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 16:35

'Mostly' isn't good enough LineRunner especially if you weren't there to grab 'em.

They shouldn't be running off to the pavement's edge, especially with the way some people drive.

LineRunnerWitchyMother · 30/10/2011 16:39

Shame, isn't it, we have to change our normal behaviours and compromise the learning and physical environments of our children because of a bunch of twat car drivers.

catgirl1976 · 30/10/2011 16:40

My DH DID kick a random child.

We were at the Point-to-Point and walking along the field. DH is tall and walks with a swing in his gait.

Small child runs across DHs path, somehow catches DHs foot just so and DH kicks him - actually PUNTS the child into the air. Child gets in about 2 full cartwheels before he hits the ground.

DH MORTIFIED. Runs to pick up child - parents of child run to STOP HIM screaming "Jonty oh god Jonty....get away from him"

Am ashamed to say I fell to ground crying with laughter. (Knowing chidl was not hurt in anyway. But DHs utter moritifcaiton and horro, the punting (the kid got serious air) and the screams of "Jonty" just finished me off)

Maybe you had to be there Blush

worraliberty · 30/10/2011 16:42

Indeed LineRunner but then we raise our children to survive in the environment they live in...

Oh dear catgirl Blush

BluddyMoFo · 30/10/2011 16:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.