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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To let my DD play in the mud?

38 replies

Lawabidingmama · 06/08/2012 19:38

DD is 2.5 she loves messy play. We got her a new pair of wellies yesterday and she was dying to go jump in puddles so as soon as it cleared up today we headed out to find some. We went to a local school field which had a giant muddy puddle she was on her element. She was covered mind. Next minute she fell forward and landed on her hands and knees I had my phone out as while she was splashing I was talking to my mum I dashed to rescue her but she was laughing her head off so I went to take a photo ( maybe I was being a bad mum and should have picked her up) anyway at that moment a yellow van drove past the entrance to the field probably about 30 ft away from us and the occupants shouted 'she's drinking the water' ( she wasn't) 'that's sick that's sick' very aggresively.

I was quite shaken and a little upset and now feel like I've done something wrong :(

OP posts:
BonkeyHasGOLDMollocks · 06/08/2012 19:39

You did nothing wrong.

Your child was having a great time and you wanted to capture it. Its good for kids to get messy and dirty, its part of being a child.

Now, if she was crying then it would have been another story....

Next time give him the finger Wink

alphabite · 06/08/2012 19:40

It's fine for children to play in mud. I have dozens of photos of my brothers, sisters and me playing in the mud.

SkiBumMum · 06/08/2012 19:41

No! Brilliant fun!

ToujoursPur · 06/08/2012 19:41

YANBU, ds loves helping dh do the gardening. You wouldn't believe the colour of the bathwater when he's finished!

Rhubarbgarden · 06/08/2012 19:43

Ignore the weirdos in the van. More people should let their kids get muddy imo. Puddles=joy

EcoLady · 06/08/2012 19:44

Sounds like she was having a wonderful time and you are clearly a brilliant mum! Smile

HecateHarshPants · 06/08/2012 19:45

Of course you did nothing wrong. Children LOVE mud and it's a bloody sorry state of affairs when we prevent them from doing those things that are just made to enjoy in childhood!

If you want disgusting - mine ate the mud! Grin

And a snail (my eldest) and a slug (my youngest)

you haven't lived till you've prised open a toddler's mouth to fish out such a tasty treat

WelshMaenad · 06/08/2012 19:46

Christ on s bike, no, YANBITLBU.

Children who cone home from the park clean have not had enough fun IMO.

Handsfullandrunningforgold · 06/08/2012 19:46

Sounds like great fun.

sue52 · 06/08/2012 19:46

My DDs loved playing in the mud, making mud pies and getting grubby. It's an essential part of childhood. Very odd people in the van.

BonkeyHasGOLDMollocks · 06/08/2012 19:47

Thats nothing Hecate my ds ate sheep poo Shock

DoIgetastickerforthat · 06/08/2012 19:48

What idiots! Thankfully, last week, when I let 2yr old DS run through and then sit in a huge puddle wearing only his nappy, a vest and his crocs the only comment I got was a bloke who said "you know what? That was my only dream, to be able to do that as a kid."

If you can't get soaked to the skin whilst jumping in puddles when your a toddler, then frankly, I can't see the point to life.

Pickles77 · 06/08/2012 19:49

Wow you sound a great mum, I was never allowed to jump in the mud Envy

hermionestranger · 06/08/2012 19:50

YANBU. My two are constantly playing with mud/water etc. They love it!Grin

Original poster
Lawabidingmama · 06/08/2012 19:51

Thanks everyone I don't even know how the van folk could think they saw her drinking it as they were quite far and she had her back to them? I would certainly not have been letting her fo that and I would obviously have picked her straight up had she been upset but she thought it was grand! Bit :( that they kinda ruined out fun especially as we have baby DD who is a total pram hater and had slept the whole trip letting us have plenty of time to splash. I will peg it up one of those moments total strangers feel they can say what they want to people with kids

OP posts:
SirBoobAlot · 06/08/2012 19:51

My DS stands at the window cheering the second it starts to rain - because there are some awesome puddle spots around here Grin I have many faults as a parents, but don't consider the puddle and mud jumping to be one of them.

You DD was smiling and laughing. She wasn't in danger. And that photo will be wonderful for her 18th.

Screw the van driver!

doinmummy · 06/08/2012 19:56

My Dad says you've got to eat a pound of dirt before you die, so she's just following the rules.

I love to see children getting mucky, they love it. Good for you for letting her enjoy herself.

I used to put my mouth over the hose from my old Mum's top loading washing machine as it was emptying and drink the dirty washing water . It tasted lovely Grin

FredFredGeorge · 06/08/2012 20:28

Why would you go and pick her up if she was laughing? you should've been videoing/photographing her so others in your family and friends can enjoy her fun.

There's nothing wrong with mud.

KellyElly · 06/08/2012 20:42

Muddy puddles - are you peppa pigs mum? My DD would LOVE you. I'm a bit 'no don't jump in that puddle you'll get dirty'. Mind you we live in London and most puddles are full of chewing gum and fag buts.

ILiveInAPineapple · 06/08/2012 20:44

They are obviously morons.
When my DS was at nursery, the nursery manager used to apologise when I picked him up dirty - apparently other parents complained! I am of the view that the more dirty they are, the more fun they seem to have had! And it all washes off....

eurochick · 06/08/2012 20:45

YADNBU.

I bet the van folk have prissy children with tons of allergies.

squeakytoy · 06/08/2012 20:50

YANBU

My friends little boy is 2.6 and went on the bouncy castle on his own for the first time yesterday. (He was always too afraid before).

Thanks to the rain, where you got off (fell off) was a big thick muddy puddle..

That child started the day in lovely clean clothes, and by teatime was like a something out of a swamp, but he had so much fun and it was absolutely lovely to watch him enjoying himself so much.

redexpat · 06/08/2012 20:51

Apparently there's nothing quite like it for cooling the blood!

flow4 · 06/08/2012 22:05

Mud is GREAT! Muddy kids are happy kids... And >whispers< if you ask me, more adults should play in mud, too!

RantyMcRantpants · 06/08/2012 22:29

Ah! We love muddy puddles here. As soon as it starts raining then on go the wellies, raincoats and hoods go up. Out the door we go for fun and laughter in the rain along the cycle path and down to the field, then back up through the estate to home. By then the hoods are usually down, they are covered in mud and wet through from jumping in muddy puddles and rain. In they go to the kitchen and strip off, up to the shower and warm towels, dress and down to lots of yummy hot chocolate.

Possibly the best free entertainment ever.