to be annoyed at my mothers comments?

[choceyes]

Took DCs, 22 months and 3.6yr to Eureka last week and while playing the 3.6yr old wandered off while I was chasing after the 22 month old so I lost him for a few minutes in there. I was carrying the baby around shouting out his name and looking for him. After about 5 minutes I heard over the speakers that DS is now at the front counter and for me to come and pick him up. He was a bit upset and was really upset and burst into tears when I picked him up. It is scarey. The first time I have lost sigh of him like that. He is responsible boy though and had told them his name and age.

Mentioned this to my mum what happened and she tells me this morning that I should take more care and he could have been taken away by a stranger or a peodophile . That I should explained to DS that he should stick by me always and should have put the 22 month in reins...in a play museum. I just hate the way she assumes that I haven't taken precautions or I didn't take enough care and that is OK to lecture me on how to look after my kids. She had only me to take care of as I was an only child and she has no idea what it is like when one child runs one way and the other one another way and how difficult it is, especially this age. I'd rather follow the little one as she can't talk and explain she is lost, but the 3.6yr is more than capable of doing so. And I am certainly not scared of peodophile and told her that there are no more peodophiles now than there were 50 years ago and it is a ridiculour suggestion.

AIBU??

meant to say I was upset when I picked him up, he was fine by then.

YABU. It was one of those things by the sound of it. Not ideal, but many people have lost sight of one child whilst chasing after another. Perhaps she's even done it but has forgotten or has her Rose tinted specs on?

You only have one pair of hands and no harm done. Don't let her upset you.

YANBU I meant to say. Sorry!

Poor you, those comments are not helpful in any way. Your little boy was found and taken to the front desk, or made his own way there and you picked him up after 5 minutes. Find me a parent of 2 or more kids who hasn't lost sight of one of their children in a setting like this. We lost DD in Ikea when she was 5, but a lovely staff member found her and took her to the front desk, just like your little boy.

And you've all lived to tell the tale, so there is no harm done is there? It stings when someone criticises your parenting, but brush it off and maybe next time she can offer to come with you and help keep an eye on the kids for you.

I have lost my son twice: once in a museum, and once at a point-to-point. It happens and will always happen, unless you tie your children to your apron strings until they're 25.

mothers eh?! These things happen, a lot, we are only human! Take no notice of wonder-mum

thanks everybody! I was so worried at the time. But it was only 5min although it seemed like forever.

My mum suggests that another parent could have taken him home with them? I'm like...why???? why on earth would anyone take an additional child home with them?!

Are you sure you aren't my secret sister? Sounds exactly what my mum would say She was shocked that when I pay in Sainsbury's I let DD3 go and look at the £1 toy machines near the tills - "anyone could take her" - err, no, the machines are within my eyeline, she always does this and doesn't move from the machines (no, she doesn't get anything from them, I'm mean like that when it comes to paying for tat!) except to come back to tell me what's in them if it's something new.

But then, I don't think anything I do will ever please my mother...

Sounds like she was making some helpful suggestions to me.

Perhaps it was her tone of voice that upset you?

I lost nearly 3 year old DS in a maize maze! Now that was scary. Couldn't find him, or the way out, and obv couldn't see where he was. Horrible! He'd been with a friends DD, who'd left him. Luckily some people at the bridge held onto him so he'd stop wandering, and I found him after about 10 mins. Faker like forever though!

YANBU, your mum is being unhelpful. No harm was done in the end, and I'm sure you've learnt from it. We are all just learning, noone is a perfect parent from day 1! Your mum has probably just forgotten what it's like. Nod, smile and ignore :)

WorraLiberty My mum means well but sometimes she doesn't think of how I might be feeling. She often does this. The DCs would have a cold or cough and my mum is always telling me to go to the GPs with them to get them some "medicine". She overeacts to situations regarding my DCs, and over protective of them. I was brought up wrapped in cotton wool. She was overprotective of me, and now she has that same attitude towards my DCs. When we are with her, she always tries to get the 3.6yr old to sit in the buggy, won't let him walk because it can be dangerous near the road or his poor legs will be tired. She was horrified when I said he walks home from nursery sometimes, 2 miles from home.

Have you ever been to Eureka WicketyPitch? It is like a massive play area for little ones. They run between activities such as a mini M&S shop, a garage, a mini Halifax, a soft play area etc etc. Having reins or a backpack with parent handles and that kind of thing defeats the purpose of going there. There are no other people there other than other children and their parents. It is not like a busy shopping centre.
I was there another time with a friend and her little ones and she just chatted to me while her kids ran from room to room, whereas I was trying to keep mine in sight and getting frazzled. It's impossible to keep them by your side all the time when there are so many things to explore.

YANBU, but I think this is what Mums do. I think they still have to be in parent mode telling you what you did wrong all the time! I usually don't tell my mum if I've lost one of the DC (and it's happened a few times!) although did have a hard time when DS escaped from a playground without me seeing and the person he ran into was my Mum who I didn't even know was in the area!
By the way Eureka sounds fab - where is it? Sounds like the sort of place my DC would love.

YANBU - my dcs were born escape artists, and my dd managed to slip a wrist strap when out with my dh and rampage through the pic n mix at woolies!

I know it's hard, but don't tell her everything; it's almost an invitation (for some parents) to critisise their grown children.

Yanbu, I'm an only and lost my parents at least once as a kid. It just happens!

Eureka is in Halifax. It is really really good. We spend about 4hrs in there when we go and we still don't do everything, but that is my limit! Well worth a visit if you have young ones, and good for young primary school children too, as I seen loads of school groups as there is a more educational bit upstairs too.