To have reported this mum to the head teacher this morning?

[shagmundfreud]

I was dropping ds and friend's dd to infants this morning and as I walked through the gate to the playground realised that the loud and hectoring voice I could hear was coming from a parent walking about 10 feet behind me having conversation on her mobile. Between coming through the gate and reaching the classroom she swore five times at least ('he's fucking useless', 'I'm not fucking having him break his promises to her! Etc) in such a loud voice that both the children with me turned and looked at me in alarm and asked why she was swearing. Was I unreasonable to phone the head when I got home and ask her to say something to this mum? Or should I have quietly said something myself (and risk getting slapped - she's much younger and tougher than me .

On a slightly separate note - feel sad for her kids that their mum is having angry public conversations about their dad (several other things she said point to this being what she was probably talking about).

You should have said "Stop fucking swearing, fucking kids present, ok?"

Bupcakes, you are funny today

Thing is, we all get stressesd and most of us will swear, but this sounds like it was part of her normal conversation. And even if she was stressed, saying fuck five times in as many minutes!

I judge people that swear openly in public, especially in front of children!

FUCKERS

YANBU - she was on school premises, whith school children around who could hear what she was saying. Unacceptable behaviour so I think you did the right thing. Rather that than confront her and the situation escalates (sp) for whatever reason.

Hilarious jokes about being given lines btw....where do you think 'em up?!

YABU

It's got got nothing at all to do with the head, well done for putting her / him in an unenviable position.

It's not illegal to swear. It may be offensive and wrong around kids but be a grown up and if you have anything about you, and it really annoyed you that much speak to the offending woman. Or are you wanting the head to fight that battle? Snitch and run.... "Miss Miss Johnny was swearing and and and..."

If you don't think kids hear that language elsewhere you are sadly mistaken. It's sad but a fact.

I'm funny every day, dahlink.

Step it's not illegal. Neither is littering or smoking around children but all these things are against school rules for parents and children and therefor - if they happen IN SCHOOL (as this did) the business of the HT.

I think it was fine to tell the head. And I think the Head of my kids' school would have wanted to know ... and would also have been quite happy to have a word with the parent in question. I think she would probably also put something in the weekly newsletter, reminding parents about setting an example to the children.

The school is a community and parents are part of it.

Would you all quit calling the op a loon . It's just the same as smoking, having a staffie on a lead, etc, on school premises - certain behaviours are expected from both the kids themselves and the parents, surely this kind of crap can be saved till you're outside?

It's just the same as smoking, having a staffie on a lead, etc, on school premises - certain behaviours are expected from both the kids themselves and the parents, surely this kind of crap can be saved till you're outside

Why mention a "staffie"... why not just say "dog" ?

Although how the hell being near a dog on a lead is in anyway comparable to passive smoking I have no fecking idea

A dog shit once on our school premises. The owner had tied it to the gate post and it had managed to walk into the grassy bit and shit on the corner.
It was too bad really, one of those things and the owner was mortified and cleaned it up but did get a big telling off. Letter came out saying not dogs on, or tied so school premises!

I loves staffies I do, rather be near a staffie than a smoker any day

Just things which are inappropriate in a school playground, Sqeakytoy...

Why is a dog on a lead "inappropriate"... I just do not get that... at all.

Because...they...shit...

And dog shit is dangerous carries dangerous bacteria...

well my DC are going to hear all sorts of langagues,from tesco, school yard, restrantsect... it is my responsiblity to ensure that my DC do not use swear word....so imo i really do not care if other adults are swearing, if i catch my son swearing or he is swearing in school he will be punished for doing it.

Owners should pick. .... up.... the... shit.... then.

Do guide dogs not shit?

What did the Head say when you phoned HER - that's HER people, the Head is a female, please stop calling her him.

So what did she say OP?

Squeaky I love dogs, all kinds, but they can and do shit at any time and so as a dog lover, I agree with the rule that they shouldn't be on the school playground.

A dog shitting will also draw attention, some dogs can get excited, agitate, some kids are scared of dogs etc...

There is no place for a dog on a school playground

Although how the hell being near a dog on a lead is in anyway comparable to passive smoking I have no fecking idea

Because Staffies are employed by the Daily Mail to smoke 20 Mayfair a day of course!

Some parents could do with tying up too. Keep the dirty fuckers on leads! It really is the only way to stop mothers from smacking other mothers and fathers from threatening anyone who dares to look at them funny. Then you wan walk your kids past the line of tied up parents and tell them "That's what happens when you don't eat your 5-a-day and work hard at school".

Another good one for the OP's scenario is to say to the kids in a loud voice, "See how swearing makes you look like an idiot?" The mother wouldn't have heard anyway and it does teach kids that potty-mouthed adults who can't say a sentence without a swear word in it, look like ignorant thickos. So swearing is definitely NOT cool when put in that context.

Rhubarb