To put DS on my shoulders at the jubilee pageant.??

[thereinmadnesslies]

I took the DC into London to watch the flotilla. Got there by 12.30, hoping to find a spot where we could see the action. Expected it to be busy but OMG it was carnage. Security just seemed to be herding people into enclosures without exits. No information on where to go.

Finally found a spot where we could see a big screen, just as the queen started boarding. Only for some woman to have a go at me for blocking her view by putting DS, age 3, on my shoulders. As if he could see any other way ?!?! So we left, and I had a bit of a sob on the tube.

Surely having a small child on my shoulders (I'm 5 ft 5, so hardly a giant) is not unreasonable?

I think it's tempting but unreasonable to put your child on your shoulders and block the view of the people behind. Sorry.

Well it is unreasonable if it blocked her view.

Was there no way she could see round him at all?

No I don't think that's unreasonable. Surely she could have shifted round a bit?! I had a woman have a go at me at an open air concert last summer because I was standing in front of her (she was short, I'm 5'10). I turned around and said unless you can show me where it says on your ticket that you've reserved a view from this spot to the stage, you you should pipe down. Which she did (in a grumbly fashion).

I don't think YABU

DS is mini - 92cm so even with him in my shoulders we were no taller than 6ft - so average man height. People were pretty well packed together but there was room for her to step a little to the side and see around us.
If children cant go on shoulders then basically the whole event should be designated adult only

It's a bit different being tall Panda there's not much you can do about that

But to block someone's view by effectively saying your child's view is more important, is a bit rude imo.

I would have held mine so his head was about the same height as everyone else's.

Putting a three year old on your shoulders s most definitely nu and I am really sorry you left, poor little poppet, and poor you.

Depends if she actually had a go at you, or simply asked if you wouldnt take your DS off your shoulders?

Why didn't you just hold him? I realise this does get tiring after a while btw, but you can't really obscure someone elses view.

The other alternative would've been to offer her your spot and stand at the back.

If she could step to the side and see around you, why did you leave in tears?

Seems like a bit of a waste of a day.

In fact, why didn't you just step into the space yourself?

wouldnt would

I'm not saying my child is more important, but she had the option of moving slightly to the left and being able to see. If I left DS on the floor he wouldn't see a thing and would get trampled on by the crowd

Hang on worra - a three year old has no way of seeing past a bunch of adults no matter where he moves though - who said her view was more important than his? Especially as she had the choice to move or look round, which from waist height he couldn't.

She should have peered round you...but ths is why I never go to these huge events...DD2 is far too small. It's not a pleasure in the end.

Then why didn't you smile sweetly and point her in the direction of her left?

Yes, you are being unreasonable. Very unreasonable. Other people exist.

YANBU, She should have got there earlier and got a better view. He is 3 fgs! He'd probably get trampled if you left him on the floor anyway!

Now selfish idiots who put their girlfriends on their shoulders at events/concerts are an entirely different matter!

I wouldn't have left though, I'd have stepped backwards, and I'd be wearing stilettos.

Hang on worra - a three year old has no way of seeing past a bunch of adults no matter where he moves though - who said her view was more important than his? Especially as she had the choice to move or look round, which from waist height he couldn't

Because the OP could surely have carried her child?

Or stepped into the space that she said was free.

Tbh I'm confused as to why neither of them did.

Yabu. I hate it when people do this.

To assume that your child is more important than any other human being, simply because he's your child invokes all sorts of cross feelings in me!

I think she expected me to crouch. Or maybe stand at the back :( The strangest thing was that she was with a guy who was taller than me so I don't know what she thought the shorter people behind them were expected to do

Actually I guess that it is just something you have to take into account if taking a small child. Could you not have hoisted him up on your hip for a bit so he could see some of it?

I asked her if it would help if I moved to one side, as well as I could in the crush She said wherever I stood DS would be in the way. Then she mutter bitch at me.

To be honest it has been a total waste of a day. Stupid me for thinking it was a family day out.

(Too late now obviously) but could you not have swapped places with the complaining woman?

And this is why we are known as such a nation of child lovers