to expect mum at playground to entertain her own child?

[Liketochat1]

In the playground this morning I spent a hot half hour pushing someone else's child round the roundabout and entertaining him with a game of 'train driver'. Now, my dd was there too playing on the roundabout with him and joining in the game, but AIBU to expect the mum/nanny to stop sunbathing/texting and help or acknowledge me (or more importantly the child)?
Am I just grumpy because I'm hot and tired or do I have a point?

True this is. I didn't have any issue with that 'for a while'. But isn't it normal to come over and chat to the mum after a bit, make conversation and all that, check your child isn't causing problems and that sort of thing? That's what I would do and what I think most people seem to do. Anyway, I seem to be wrong!

Do you expect every other child to leave the roundabout then, while you play games with your DD?

"I wouldn't let DS pester a grown up and would call him away."

the child wasn't "pestering a grown up", it was just going on a round about that another child was also going on, every roundabout I've ever seen had space for at least 4 children - its something designed for children to play TOGETHER on, not one child takes one space and plays on it alone while the others wait for it go get off so they can take their turn

Liketochat1 30 mins was taking the pish. If you can see your child/Dc are happily playing then carry on reading/texting/ having your picnic.

If they are in the company of an adult you don't know, I think it is normal to check on your child and/or make sure they are being a nuisance.

What fallen said

"check your child isn't causing problems and that sort of thing"

what problems? the only problems I can imagine would be hitting or biting or pushing, which the mother could see from the bench surely

what problems did she need to ask about? I can't imagine a 2YO causing any problems on a roundabout that couldn't be seen from the park bench

or 3YO rather

Maybe I don't want a random adult hogging the roundabout playing trains so my child can't play on it.

liketochat
It does depend on one major factor.
Would the mother in question have stayed motionless if you had not been there?
Or
Was she only lying about doing nothing because you were there?

If she was relying on you to look after her DC she was a lazy mare.
If she was just letting her kid get on with things and you decided to play with him, you cant really blame her.

if her child was whacking your child on the head and she still didn't move THEN she was UR, but otherwise...

If she had come over to check everything was ok, you would only have reassured her that it was fine/head no trouble/you don't mind! you wouldn't have said, yes he's a pain in the arse/take him away

Silky I said that I wouldn't allow my DS to pester an adult in the park. A quick push on the roundabout is fine, as is a push on the swing or whatever. I haven't said children shouldn't share or play together.

The grown up in question was allowing someone they didn't know to entertain to their 3 year old for 30 mins. I would have called him back after 5-10 mins. I hated extended random toddler tag-alongs.

"The grown up in question was allowing someone they didn't know to entertain to their 3 year old for 30 mins"

she allowed her child to USE THE ROUNDABOUT for 30 mins, which is perfectly reasonable, the OPs child doesn't have a monopoly on the roundabout just because it's mother is on there too!

I still do not understand OP why you would play with someone else's child if you didn't want to

Absolutely correct, I agree the play equipment is for everyone to use. I have no idea if the OP pushed a roundabout for the full 30 mins or if they played on different things.

The OP did this of her own free will, however, I think not checking in for 30 mins is rude.

Maybe in the park was a newly 3 year old who wanted to play with a boy similar age to him. Instead he got a butlins show complete with train ride I might have wanted to play with you if I was 3. I wouldnt of called away my child I would assume you liked playing trains tbh.

what was the mum supposed to check?
her child was playing at the park.... surely she could see if he was doing anything he shouldn't have been?

she didn't need to check in, sounds like she was sufficiently near enought to keep an eye

say I was staying on a campsite and DS wandered over to another families camp area and wanted to play with their toys, I would of course go over, ask if it was okay, and not over stay

but it wasn't the OP's playground so how could other children overstay?

I wouldnt even push my own for 30mins when they were smaller, there usually was older kids on there already and mine would just join in.

those of you saying that 30mins was too long, so its okay for the OP and her LO to monopolise the roundabout for 30 mins, but not okay for other children to use it for 30 mins, how exactly do you figure that?

I take my kids to the park so I dont have to play with them

^^ this

op honestly, get a grip

Oh we weren't just on the roundabout. My dd got off and he followed. That's when train drivers started.
Yes, I did play with him of my own free will. I would rather do that than be unkind and tell him to go away. Anyway, as it happens I like children and I 'was' there anyway. It's the fact she just lay there that irritated really. Anyway, I hope the mum's tan is coming along well. Every time she looks at it she will probably think of me with gratitude.

but still in the playground right? I mean it didn't follow you home and ask for food and help with the toilet?

Why didnt you just let them play together though?

Well I suppose she could have been keeping an eye on things. It was hard to tell as she was lying down behind sunglasses appearing to be asleep in between picking up her mobile.