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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU...to think it's not my parental duty to...

25 replies

footphobic · 10/05/2012 10:25

take my daughter to see Westlife...again!! Have tickets for this Saturday.

DD now nearly 15, and is an early birthday present...this is their last ever tour well I live in hope and by the time they do a comeback reunion tour she will be old enough to go by herself IANU, I've done a good share, I did Olly Murs and JLS last year and I have done Westlife 4 times before!! A parent should not have to sit through that many live versions of 'Flying Without Wings' in their lifetime surely?...AIBU to think that DH could not step up here and take a turn?

But then, she says DH is a bit embarrassing dad and it's lovely mother/daughter bonding...so I know the answer really.

OP posts:
Flisspaps · 10/05/2012 10:26

Can she not find a friend to go with, then DH can take them and wait outside if necessary, then bring them back? You've done your share!

Treblesallround · 10/05/2012 10:30

You are a saint. It's lovely she wants to go with you and isn't embarrassed to be seen with you. Polish your halo and have a good time.

billybeau · 10/05/2012 10:31

Depending on how far it is, she can easily catch a train at 15!

MadameChinLegs · 10/05/2012 10:32

Couldn't she take a friend and be dropped off/collected or take a train as billybeau suggests?

TiddlesTheNaughtyTortoise · 10/05/2012 10:34

Why do you go with her? Surely she'd rather go with a friend her own age?

I was going to gigs with my friends at 13, so at 15 I'm sure she'd be fine!

One of our dads would take us and another pick us up so there was no sitting around waiting but they still knew we'd get home safe.

You sound very nice for buying her the tickets btw!

Mrsjay · 10/05/2012 10:35

tell her to take a friend drop them off and pick them up well done you for enduring it all , saying that i went with my 19 yr old to see STEPS the other week and loved it , dd2 was saying something about THE WANTED touring i was like eekkkk

tudorrose · 10/05/2012 10:37

Ha ha! Have been there with DD1 only it was Hearsay (sp?) They were awful, I was almost crying with boredom. And Five who actually were not as bad as you would think.

DD2 is now asking to see One Direction. She is 6 and I am amazed she even knows who they are. I am not giving in this time.

Mrsjay · 10/05/2012 10:40

I saw hearsay at a radio concert thing they were awful it was when Kym Marsh left and they put Lisa from steps husbands in it just terrible they only did 2 songs though , Took dd1 to see Busted they were alright , I guess im going to have to see THE WANTED sigh

takingiteasy · 10/05/2012 10:52

Another vote for sending her on her own with a mate here!

I was going to gigs on my own. I remember one, Ocean Colour Scene, and my mum and dad were waiting outside for me and my mate. My mum was soooo embarrasing! A sort of fight had broke out, but not really a fight, but there were bottles flying. She stormed through it all, grabbed my by the arm and dragged me to the car! I was 15.

I'm sure they'll be no fighting at Westlife.

Original poster
footphobic · 10/05/2012 10:53

I love my music and enjoy going to concerts so don't have a problem with that as such...just WL are not my taste Grin

She has been going over the years, so first few times she was an age to need a parent to take her. She did go to a concert (saved and bought the ticket herself) with a friend recently, Dh took them and waited outside, but I don't think her friends are too keen on WL and she sees it as a thing we've done together as I have treated her to the tickets on birthdays before, she's very independent so it is nice she wants me to go...

Public transport is def out, we are a good 2.5 hours from the venue, we are rural Suffolk and public transport is minimal, especially at night, I wouldn't consider that, don't mind the travel, it's part and parcel of living where we do to have to travel to do things like this.

One Direction is next on the list...

OP posts:
takingiteasy · 10/05/2012 10:57

I hereby make a vow to only take DS to concerts and gigs that I want to go to! Hopefully there's less risk of a boy wanting to go to pishy boy band gigs.

My mum was like that, she didn't even TRY to get me tickets to see Take That, but a year later spent a Sat AM on the phone to get me tickets for Oasis.

Mrsjay · 10/05/2012 10:58

I think you should just go and sing flying without wings along with everybody else and mop up the tears as its their last concert enjoy , Smile

Original poster
footphobic · 10/05/2012 11:02

There are always many mums at Westlife concerts...they are loved by these women Confused

No fighting takingiteasy but lots of mass waving of lit up mobile phones in the dark was lighters in my teenage days

She did want to come with me to see Stereophonics on their last tour, but could only get 2 tickets and DH asserted his authority and took the other.

Mrsjay may as well just go with it, so that is my plan...

OP posts:
NoMoreMarbles · 10/05/2012 11:04

your mum/DD elationship sounds lovelySmile

i love going to gigs/concerts and i am dying to take DD to oneSmile she is 6 and not really into anyone yet so as soon as she starts showing interest i will take her...anyone but beiber though...i put my foot down at beiber.Grin

NoMoreMarbles · 10/05/2012 11:05

*Relationship...

FizzyLaces · 10/05/2012 11:09

This year I am going to Ed Sheerin & Rizzle Kicks. Glad my wean has decent taste mind you, I am letting another lovely Mum to endure 1D :)

Annunziata · 10/05/2012 11:09

I think it's lovely she wants you to go! You just get to use later on: 'Mum, do I have to go to X?' 'Well, I went to Westlife...'

If you're really lucky you'll get 'You raise meeee up' Grin

Mrsjay · 10/05/2012 11:11

I love Rizzle kicks they are so cute Smile

MissTapestry · 10/05/2012 11:13

I'll take her! I LOVE westlife and I've seen them four times Grin

Original poster
footphobic · 10/05/2012 11:25

After she went to the one recently with her friend, which she did enjoy, she did still say to me she wished I'd gone as we would have had fun together, which was nice. I encouraged her to go with her friend thinking it would be more appropriate, but tbh, at most of these concerts for new boy bands there they are mostly mums with dcs, rather than girl friends together - I think it has moved over more to something mums and dds do together, lots of mums seem to love all these; 1D/JLS/Olly Murs etc...took dd and dts (b/g 11) last summer to JLS/Olly Murs and there were lots of families there, mix of mums, dads, boys, girls...anyway I am glad she doesn't see me as hideously uncool and embarrassing although I'm pretty sure I am

We have got very good seats too, she is really excited.

OP posts:
ItsAPublicForumWhine · 10/05/2012 11:28

YANBU Westlife are awful!

MrsHoarder · 10/05/2012 12:03

YANBU but you have a 15yo DD who looks forward to going to a concert with you. Does it really matter that you have to listen to Flying Without Wings?

Original poster
footphobic · 10/05/2012 12:23

I am very thankful she does MrsHoarder ,the thread is tongue in cheek, obviously...but how many times a parent should be expected to sit through same is questionable and possibly goes beyond reasonable parental duty Wink

OP posts:
takingiteasy · 10/05/2012 14:21

They wave their phones? FFS! Lighters children, equip yourself!

Voidka · 10/05/2012 14:24

I took DS to see The Wanted - it was definitely not in the job description I signed up to!

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