to think this woman was rude to my DSs and not the other way around??

[songbird33]

I took my DSs (7 and 5) and their friend who is 6 to the local park, and they were really keen to go to McDonalds on the way back so my DS1 shouted 'MCDONALDS' very loudly on the way back to the car. There was a woman, probably in her twenties, sitting in the car reading and she did look up and give DS a strange look (she had the windows open.) This prompted my other DS and their friend to all keep shouting MCDONALDS as I was fumbling around, putting their bags in and so on.

As I was driving off there was quite a long queue of traffic at the lights s we were sort of parallel with this woman's car and my DSs and their friend started shouting MCDONALDS again through the open windows to this woman who had been giving them dirty looks as they were shouting and this time she put her book down and looked at me and said in really terse tones "can't you keep those children under control?"

AIBU to think she was the one being rude? She was parked next to a children's play park and leisure centre and I assumed she was waiting for somebody but if she wanted peace and quiet there were better places to wait? I accept my children shouldn't have been shouting AT her but then they wouldn't have if she hadn't given them a funny look to start with!

Why was the woman looking for peace and quiet and reading a book in a bloody carpark?! I

I'm confused, your DCs were shouting at someone and you didn't do anything?

That sort of behavior would have definitely resulted in no McDonalds and friend going home. Terribly rude. The poor woman probably only commented as you did not (from your OP) even attempt to reprimand them for shouting at a stranger.

sorry, MCDONALDS*

I'm more of a Burger King girl myself

So you ds shouted, she was shocked so them you're children continued to do it just to wind her up?
You didn't do anything and you think she is rude? Really?
Words fail me. Well they don't but it would get deleted and lessen its impact. :)

Plus, it shouldn't matter where you are, even in the noisiest, busiest environment, no one should have to put up with anyone (child or adult) shouting at them.

'This prompted my other DS and their friend to all keep shouting MCDONALDS'

Wow. So it's her fault that they carried on shouting. And when they then went on to shout 'through the open windows to this woman' - at the woman perhaps? - she was 'rude' to ask you to control them?????

You aren't closely in touch with reality are you?

It's only the OP assumes she was looking for peace and quiet.

I doubt she was - she probably just didn't like being yelled at!

Still, I wouldn't say what she said, I think that was wanky and rude.

Your children were rude and you did nothing to stop them when they started shouting. Their behaviour later was beyond rude.

I hope you didn't take them to McDonald's after that, but I suspect you did.

NameChange - she was probably well aware that she wasn't going to find library-like quiet in a car park , but she had every right to expect not to be shouted at repeatedly!!

I might not hae said it to you, but if that happened to me, I'd be thinking that there were two future ASBO brats right there.

I'm depressed that someone even needs to ask if their children screaming something repeatedly at an adult is rude or not. Of course it's rude. Of course you should have told them to be quiet.

Wow, my dc are likely to shout when excited. Me and Op can't be the only people whose dc shout and they were shouting MacDonalds, not swearing or making personal comments. I wouldn't have been happy if mine had carried on shouting, but the comments all seem abit out of proportion. It's hardly ASBO territory shouting MacDonalds at the traffic lights. The woman can't of been that terrified as she had the balls to comment in the first place. I think it is rude to comment on other peoples children, except if they are hurting someone.

Yes I can see that. To be honest my mind was a bit elsewhere and I know it sounds stupid but I thought they were just shouting and being stupid, which I was ignoring as I assumed they were over excited.

Then when she snapped at me at first I thought that she was just being rude but I've pieced it back together now and DS1 admits they were yelling at her "to wind her up" and I've told him off. I'll speak to his brother later, I think his brother was not so much being naughty as copying DS1, I'll still tell him off though.

Thanks for your replies.

fucking hell. So someone can't sit in a car park reading while waiting for someone, unless they accept children screaming at them.
Who says she wanted peace and quiet. She was probably passing sometime reading while waiting. God forbid, someone wants to sit in their car and wait for somebody without being antagonised.
I think she is right, you should control the children in your care.
What they did was very rude.

She was probably startled. She's reading her book and suddenly someone shouts 'Mcdonads', you look up shocked/startled. I fail to see how she was being rude.

Your DS was shouting at you because he wanted to go to Mcdonalds, when he noticed he had startled someone he continued to shout at her, then your other DS and his friend started shouting at her as well. You get in the car and they continue to shout at her. You think she is rude, not your children?

Have you considered a parenting course?

They reacted to her reaction.

Which makes them cheeky in my book.

I don't think this thread will go well for you.

You know they were in the wrong, you should have told them to stop shouting the second time they yelled.

Do you often let your kids yell at random people who may have looked at them?

Your children are rude.

Whilst what she said is bit stroppy, she has every right after being shouted at.

Your kids were very rude to shout directly at her the second time. First time can be put down to childish exuberance but second time they were definitely trying to irritate her. Shouting is very aggressive when directed at an individual. You need to teach them better manners.

She commented at the end! And if she didn't, OP would have thought it was ok behaviour. Now she might think twice if it happens again. Shouting = ok, shouting at someone = not ok. Especially as they did it to annoy. When has that ever been normal behaviour?

Spanky there is a difference in excited shouting and shouting AT someone.
OP maybe you shouldn't be ignoring their behaviour and assuming they are just bring kids.

So where did you go for lunch?

I can't believe that you need to come on here to check whether or not to discipline your children. Especially with something so simple. If you needed to help for something so simple what about any other situations that arise.. Kids need consistency. You need to go off your own gauge.

Really rude. I'd be horrified if my children did that. And if they DID, I would tell them to stop and I'd apologise to whoever was within earshot. And they definitely wouldn't get a McDonalds!

No I appreciate that. I'd never accept them shouting at somebody but my mind was a bit elsewhere this afternoon and in fairness they aren't normally like that, I think DS1 was showing off in front of his friend.

They have been told off quite firmly and DS has had tomorrow's swimming cancelled for his rudeness, I suppose I should have been paying more attention to them really.

Thanks for your replies.

I can understand him showing off - and he's not likely to do it again.