to be confused why children cannot go for 35 minutes without food

[PrincessScrumpy]

I left dtds at home with dh and took dd1 for a treat to the theatre - Charlie and Lola. She loved it and each side if the interval was about 35mins. From start to finish, the 2 families in front of us passed sweets up and down the row. I just don't get it - the theatre isn't the cinema with popcorn, but I understand some dc may need the odd chocolate button as a bribe, but my dd sat and watched the show, then had ice cream in the interval. tbh I think the kids infront would have been fine without food but their mothers insisted on them having it. I just think it's unnecessary and bad etiquette but I'm probably a grumpy old woman.

YABU and grumpy
I don't personally think sweets constitute food.

My kids want to eat every 35mins at home but honestly, why are you worried so m uh about it? Hardly the end of the world if someone chooses to give their kids extra treats whilst having(I assume) a treat at the theatre? It was a kids show, I would have expected it. Certainly wouldn't have judged or cared if anyone was eating. So YABU

M uh?? No idea how I did that

Why is this bothering you so much?

YABU.

No big deal is it? I don't suppose having an ice cream in the interval is any more "necessary" than eating sweets during the show. Both are treats.

I bet you're fun at parties.

The sweets are a treat, to have at the theatre for, y'know, FUN!

Sorry but I think YABU, nobody needs sweets, but they are nice. I can see how it could have been irritating though if there was constant rustling of wrappers etc!

Yabu

Did they rustle? That would certainly be bad etiquette, if they'd brought wrapped sweeties they should have kept them till the interval.

Of course its unecessary to eat during a performance; if it adds to your enjoyment of the event to do so that's fine but not if it annoys other people.

Not concerned about it being sweets, it was disruptive - the constant "Alfie, here have a sweetie" followed by the rustling as it was passed along by 3 other kids, then one saying "no, I want malteasers, I don't want buttons."

Okay, I'm fuddy duddy but I just don't agree that the theatre is the place to eat.

I think your unreasonableness or otherwise depends on whether these sweets were noisy or distracting in some way, e.g. a lot of annoying crackling as they unwrapped them.

If so, then YANBU

If not, then I can't see why it would bother you

Ah - xposts!

In which case YANBU IMO

Actually I'm with you OP - a few sweets to enjoy as a treat while the show's on is one thing, passing them up and down with the accompanying rustling and fidgeting would drive me mental!

YAB a bit U to go and see the C&L stage show though because I thought it was bloody awful

That would annoy me actually, if it was noisy and disruptive eating of sweets. Maybe YAB a little less U...

Maybe the whole thing was just a treat for them and i dont think seeing Charlie and Lola is something different than going to the cinema. Its a kids show not King Lear

If the theatre isn't the place to eat, did you make DD eat her ice cream in the car park?

i agree op
but then I don't really like seeing children just wolfing down sweets or chocolate

cos they melt? Or is that rain? No child can manage cinema/supermarket/theatre/walk in park/etc without food. Tis known

When I was a child in the 60/70's we had breakfast, lunch and supper - no food in between.

i can remember the finger of fudge advert which indicated it was ideal to eat between meals as it would ruin our appetite. Sweets we had on a sayurday but never about two hours before a meal incase it ruined our supper

Things have changed and now we eat about 6 snacks per day n average and we wonder why there are health implication

It was a treat for the OP's DD too - they wanted to watch a show not listen to Alfie being asked if he wanted sweeties. Quiet sweetie sucking is fine; chatting and rustling during a performance is simply inconsiderate.

It's a children's show, it's 100% to be expected. Different matter if it was the RSC

I am with you OP (and will go one step further and say that I feel it is the height of rudeness to munch, crunch, chew and suck your way through a live performance.
We took the dc to the theatre last Easter. The family behind us were making so much noise with their wrappers it sounded as if they had come dressed head to toe in cellophane.
Even people 4 rows in front of us were turning round and staring at them as did one of the actors on stage!!

It is my main bugbear, GRRRRR!

And those who say it adds to the fun - why should it? Surely watching the performance is the fun part? If you need food to have fun go to McDonalds, not the theatre!
And as for the party analogy - food is expected at parties. It is pretty much one of the main events. A theatre is not (imo)!

So its not about kids not being able to go 35 minutes without eating, but about the disruption? YANBU about that, it really annoys me when people disrupt others comfort/viewing/enjoyment for no good reason.

However, YABU to whinge about kids having a few sweets whilst they watch a kids show. As cant said, its hardly bloody Shakespear!

OH you are being a grump sweetie are the law if you go to the cinema or a show , and its a treat not food