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?

If he was sitting on your shoulders, I expect you would've been much taller than six foot.

But as others have pointed out, it's not just the height, it's the width. A piggy back or being held on your hip would've been better and fairer.

I think you have to bear in mind that half of the people in the park was bloody pissed off and felt conned, having spend time and money to get to what was literally a pig stie with portaloos, ice cream vans, and crowds, and nowhere to see the river.

Worra I left because I didn't trust myself not to say something inappropriate in front of the children, because it would hardly have been fun to stay there with someone muttering bitch behind my back, because I hate confrontation, because I didn't want to cry in front of her.

I guess I'll chalk that one up to experience.

the poor woman probably stood behind you knowing she could see over your head and got understandably upset when you then ruined her view. like someone else said, you could have swapped places with her. to go home in tears over it is a massive overreaction. yes it was a family event but yours was not the only family there

Couldn't you have gone somewhere near one of the big screens? I'd think that would've been better all round.

Anyway we've retreated to the DCs favourite museum and they are having a great time

We have come home again.

Not going to go in for the stuff in the Mall on Tuesday. Have had enough of "celebrations" now!

You're posting from a Museum?

Where are the kids then?

thereinmad - you asked would I just not go to such an event?

No I wouldnt tbh. I think hours of standing in large crowds is not much fun for an adult, far worse for a child. Totally unreasonable to put your child on your shoulders (so he can see) because then whoever is behind you cant - had you stayed at home he would have had a perfect view of your tv screen (if he had wanted too) or gone off to play (which for a 3yo is more fun!)

Tidy - this was for the big screen - all the actual river spaces had long gone

I know by going to the actual event you get to experience the atmosphere - but its surely easier to stay at home and watch the 'big screen' in your lounge at home - much fairer on your children, especially in the rain.

Oh hahaha here we go with the children shouldn't be in museums next!

I think you were silly not to get there earlier and ssilly to go without a plan of exactly where to try for a good spot.

I think YANBU about the shoulders. I would have thought 'get over it love' but would have asked what she thought I should do instead. If she had said something sensible like swop places I would have done. If she carried on moaning I would have pointed out how tall her partner was.

Worra - feeding the DC ice cream in the cafe atm, have I done wrong there as well

It would not be necessary to be standing in the rain from 10 am to grab a good spot, had greedy organizers not sold such an insane amount of tickets!

It was really silly not to realize that this would happen, and to even go there in the first place.

I just wondered where they were...thinking you had another adult with you that you hadn't previously mentioned

Sorry to spoil your fun there RJ

Aswww worra

pink I had a plan of where to stand, near where I work and I'd checked it out earlier in the week. I arrived three hrs before the boats were due to pass that spot. What I hadn't reckoned on was getting herded by security into a barrier cage with no exit and how much of the river bank was closed off.

YANBU, your childs view is just as important as hers. She could have moved slightly, your dc couldn't have seen anything at all by standing.

OP - do you get that the needs of others are not trumped by the fact that you have a small child? You don't seem to have taken any of this on board.

Lapis - I do get that she had an equal right to see. I offered to move as well as I could. But she had options of moving, whereas the only way DS would see a thing ( and not be trampled) is by sitting on my shoulders. And calling me a bitch after I asked if moving to the left or right would help us totally unjusified.

I would only call a total stranger a "bitch" if they'd been rude to me - and even then I get held back by British reserve. I still don't think that you get it: Life is not children first-second-third-fourth and fifth above all others.

If I had been you, I would've put him in my shoulders, and got him to wear a tall hat as well.

Your DS had as much right to see as she does. Also, it must be very scary to be in a crowd, and only be able to see people's legs.

Lapis, I agree that children don't necessarily come first. She was only asking for an equal opportunity for her child to see, that an adult would've had. She wasn't asking for more than an adult would've had.