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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel sorry for the children of these women?

127 replies

featherbag · 13/03/2012 16:23

Before I start, I know I'm going to get flamed for having my judgypants hoiked up so high they're in danger of choking me, but I just can't help it!

I got on the bus with baby DS - a couple of mahogany women were sitting in the seats in the buggy area, and as the other one was full I had to stand. That's fine, although the rest of the bus was empty and they had no buggy, I know I have no god-given right to sit there, but I wanted to explain how I came to overhear their conversation.

They were on their way to collect their children from the primary school near my house. They were trying out their excuses to the teachers for being late on each other, trying to come up with something believable and not the truth, which was that they'd been 'on the lash' since 10am, and were now shit-faced. They'd gotten the money for this escapade by flogging an iPhone 4S that one of them had stolen the night before. She'd only gotten £140 for it as the local CEX wouldn't take it without ID and she didn't want a criminal record when it was revealed as stolen. The other one said she wished she'd known as she already had a 'long as fuck' record and didn't care about adding to it. She'd sold 2 stolen blackberries last week, which paid for her weekend.

The school called one of them while they were still on the bus - she calmly told them that she'd been to the hospital and had waited ages past her appointment time, and not to ring Kai's mum as she was with her, having accompanied her for moral support. They then decided they'd have to stop at a shop on the way to the school for mints as 'that stupid bitch doesn't let you take the kids if you're pissed'. Kai and his classmate are being dumped on unsuspecting grandparents tonight who will be told mummy is poorly - well, now that they've got a drink in them they're in the mood for getting 'properly hammered', aren't they, and SS get the arse if they find out you've left the kids in on their own?!

OP posts:
JaneMare · 13/03/2012 16:38

you were on the bus ages, OP - did you take notes?

EmptyBotheredPocket · 13/03/2012 16:38

Yanbu.

cheekybarsteward · 13/03/2012 16:38

Couldn't have used their child allowance to pay for the alcohol?

Leverette · 13/03/2012 16:38

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 13/03/2012 16:39

I once heard 2 women in a park discussing how they had stolen £50 from their grandmothers purse and a ring from her jewellery box which they were planning on selling to pay for a holiday to Ibiza Shock so it doesn't surprise me that they were brazenly discussing it on the bus Sad.

MistyMountainHop · 13/03/2012 16:40

lololll at "mahogany" and people thinking op was being racist

featherbag · 13/03/2012 16:40

Indeed I was Jane, it's a good half hour journey. No notes unfortunately, had to write the OP from memory.

OP posts:
KateSpade · 13/03/2012 16:40

You don't happen to live in the north west do you?

I hear stuff like that everyday of my life & that is no exaggeration.

DoomCatsofCognitiveDissonance · 13/03/2012 16:42

Let me guess ... two women dressed in (gasp!) Not Boden saw you looking at them in a judgy way.

Considering, charitably, that you lacked excitement in your life, they spun some stories for your delectation, realizing that a moment's reflection would tell you that, um, if people are actually thieves they usually don't boast about it on local public transport.

Personally I find it heartwarming they went to the effort.

cheekybarsteward · 13/03/2012 16:42

I would love to know what race of people are considered to be 'mahogany'? Dark Red is not a skin colour sported by anyone other that the 'bovared!' generation

ABatInBunkFive · 13/03/2012 16:42

Those who don't believe it to be true obviously live sheltered lives, unfortunately i've heard plenty similar discussions.

Easy to say don't listen kind of hard when they are right next to you and not attempting to be quiet as they are quite proud of themselves. Sad

ViviPru · 13/03/2012 16:43

Glad I live in the arsehole end of the middle of nowhere. Urgh. People

LaurieFairyCake · 13/03/2012 16:43

There are loads of people like this - can't believe anyone would doubt it.

Mrsjay · 13/03/2012 16:43

I was so with you until you said about SS getting arsey for leaving Kids on their own , Did they say that or was that you adding to the story , YANBU if its all true , and i have heard people talk about stealing/ prisons /and visiting orders on the bus , some folk have no shame TBH ,

featherbag · 13/03/2012 16:43

No Kate, in the north but not NW. I haven't exactly led a sheltered life, and come into contact with literally all sorts of people in my job, but this shocked me. Maybe I'm more sensitive to child welfare issues since having DS? I'm guessing the women were possibly more brazen than usual because of the amount they'd had to drink. Or maybe they're like that all the time, who knows?

OP posts:
AmazingBouncingFerret · 13/03/2012 16:45

I believe it. I've heard similar conversations on buses and in my shop. People like that don't give a shit what others think of them.

featherbag · 13/03/2012 16:45

Mrsjay, they did indeed say that. Doomcats, I only saw what they looked like as I got on and off the bus, I spent the rest of the journey with my back to them so doubtful it was for my benefit!

OP posts:
Mrsjay · 13/03/2012 16:46

WOW featherbag Poor kai although parents like this are not rare and are indeed arseholes ,

rebecklet · 13/03/2012 16:47

I'm not surprised - a while ago I heard about how a guy had stabbed another guy in the head - I wasn't entirely sure how you could stab someone in the head, the neck maybe, but through a skull?

grumblinalong · 13/03/2012 16:47

I lived somewhere and was friends with a girl who was like this (in my lost phase Blush). She mouthed in public to all and sundry about her sex life, her thieving, her drug taking but the best bit was when she loudly announced her boyfriend was looking forward to going to back into prison 'because alot of his friends and his brothers are in there.' I was Shock

People like this do exist and alot seem to get off on having an audience. Just look at Jezza Kyle.

YonWhaleFish · 13/03/2012 16:48

I believe you (NW here).

Bellstar · 13/03/2012 16:50

Truly mn is showing its true middle class colours by the posters disbelieving thisGrin

I have over heard many similiar conversations on buses into town-openly talking of stealing,drug taking etc-often they are on the way to court as they speak!

I would also alert school anonymously but sadly they are probably well aware of the situation.

everlong · 13/03/2012 16:52

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Kennyp · 13/03/2012 16:53

There was a big thing on loose women today about listening to other peoples cnversations on busses and public transporrt.

featherbag · 13/03/2012 16:53

Indeed Bellstar, it must be nice to have led such a sheltered life you would automatically assume my OP was made up! I really did leave out some stuff they said as I thought that, even though it was true, it was just too far-fetched!

OP posts: