to think if you want to work in silence, don't go to a coffee shop

[whimsicalname]

I was in a chain coffee shop this morning, across the road from our city museum, waiting with my 2 year old for it to open.

I was drinking my coffee, he sat opposite me eating raisins. Other people were working, or chatting, or reading the paper. You know, doing normal coffee shop stuff.

After a while, the boy gets up to wander around. He's not running, he's not sticky, he's just mingling. He walked towards a man with a laptop. Stood nearby him, and then said hello. Man looked up at me, and said 'do you mind, I'm concentrating here' in a really unpleasant way.

If I'd been with a couple of friends chatting we'd have made a lot more noise but I can't help but feel he probably wouldn't have told us off!

We were across the road from the university library (which has some open access areas) and all of 200m away from the city central library, so plenty of options for quiet. Blimey, he could even have sat in the cathedral for some quiet contemplation.

AIBU or was he?

I have never had to tie my 2 year old down to keep him happily sat on his seat in a cafe - colouring, toys and conversation seems to do it pretty well. There are plenty of times when he can run around and explore but in a cafe isn't one of them.

Oh ffs

I'm off too.

Who said "tied down"? Get a grip, usualsuspect

And DO stop name-calling:deal with the argument.

But let us not forget, this is a coffee shop. People carrying hot coffees round, waitresses with piles of used dishes etc. Its simply not appropriate for children to be free range in this environment.

Its sad that you have to say that mama it really is. Its damn sad that an adult cant be friendly to a child. Everyone thinking it's ok to ignore and be rude.

Let your child wander around saying hello. But don't be shocked, stunned and dismayed when someone doesn't find your child as adorable as you do, and speaks to them in a manner that you might not like

Don't go princess

I never said get a grip, or called anyone a name

so ner

Strangely enough I don't have to tie my 2 yr old down either. They sit there because it's safer for them to do that.

There is no argument, I'm right and you are wrong

Hang on, I agree with usual, princess, missfav etc!! I'm off too. Sorry op yadefnbu

Just because you choose not to teach your child to behave appropriately in these situations Domestic and I do, does not make me a victorian rod wielding harridan. Just a good mother.

I take it that you are perfectly happy for me to be sociable with your wandering toddler then Popcornia, and pick them up, sit them down next to me and chat?

missf I was parodying what someone else said about the man being put on the spot, but it's been lost in all the uncharitable sentiments clogging up this thread.

Ok then Gnocchi. If we have to talk about elf and safety, someone bigger could knock into the waitress or isnt that going to happen due to waitresses only having vision at a certain level. Kids are allowed in coffee shops or would you like them barred then so there is nowhere to go except the park?

But you said what I said was worthy of the miserable sod label, or are you attempting some "clever" semantic gymnastics here?

I told YOU to get a grip - read the post.

Oh, the "ner" sort of says it all.:o

I think I mentioned joyless and miserable earlier

What's with all the flouncing?

Yes children should be seen and not heard. In fact they shouldn't even be seen. Leave them in a cupboard until they are 18 and officially adults.

In a coffee shop my cup of extra hot coffee is on the table within easy reach of roaming toddlers. I should not have to police it, I will because I know that scalds are very painful, but I should not have to.
I will also say hello pleasantly to your child but I do not want to prolong the interaction. Men IME are a little more honest and say what they feel.

All you anti kids need to take a right look at yourselves and remember you were that age once.

What a selfish world we live in.

Where did I say that?

Were you the miserable sod man?

YANBU. fucking miserable...

my 2yo does that, i love it mostly, occasionally have to side track him before he engages with a Thomas the Tank Engine conversation.