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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think some parents are just idiots

29 replies

Alligatorpie · 08/09/2012 20:25

i was grocery shopping today and wanted to buy apples. There was a kid about 4 standing in front of a large display of apples (- the kind I wanted) touching them, putting his hands all over them, and picking them up and throwing them to the top of the pile. I watched him throw about six apples before I got to the display.
I asked him what he was doing and did he think anyone wanted to buy apples that he has touched and bruised by throwing? He looked at me, stopped and went to his dad, who spoke to him in a language I didn't understand ( for all I know, he told him to ignore me) and then kid went back and continued, with the dad watching.
I told the dad I didn't want to buy them since he son was ruining them all, the dad didn't say anything, so I walked away incredibly frustrated.
I was so irritated that this was going on, and no one seemed to care. A staff member was stocking fruit nearby by didn't say anything. Yes, it's only apples (as dh says and to let it go...) but I just wonder what chance the kid has with a dad like that....
So Aibu to still be annoyed I couldn't get apples today? Would you have bought them?

OP posts:
LadySybildeChocolate · 08/09/2012 20:27

They get handled and knocked about when they are delivered and put out by the staff. Confused You're also supposed to wash them before you eat them. You're being a bit silly to be honest, sorry.

ZZZenAgain · 08/09/2012 20:27

I find it odd that a parent would permit his dc to do that

cheesesarnie · 08/09/2012 20:29

Maybe they didn't understand you.

I agree- just wash them.

TheMonster · 08/09/2012 20:30

They would be all bruised if he was doing that so yanbu.

FalseStartered · 08/09/2012 20:30

maybe the parent didn't understand what you said to him either?

maybe the adult said 'yes, i shall pay for the whole shipment and have them deposited in the nearest receptacle forthwith'

maybe you just have to accept that the little boy was playing with apples...

Jinsei · 08/09/2012 20:31

It's odd that he let his kid chuck the apples around like that, but perhaps neither of them understood what you were saying to them?

modifiedmum · 08/09/2012 20:32

er well the kid was being a bit bratty and the dad should of got him to stop but sorry i put apples out every day at work so my hands are all over them, easily resolved with a run under the tap so you are being slightly unreasonable.

Jinsei · 08/09/2012 20:32

Oops, lots of x posts

LadySybildeChocolate · 08/09/2012 20:32

They get bruised anyway. The pickers/processors/delivery drivers/shop staff are not exactly 'gentle' with them.

beautyguru · 08/09/2012 20:35

No yanbu, its not the washing issue, its the fact that he was being allowed to play with food which other people have to buy that he isn't buying. Shows a complete lack of respect for other peoples property and it would seriously piss me off too. No way would I let my DDs do that and I don't expect other parents to either.

ThisIsMummyPig · 08/09/2012 20:35

I don't think WABU. I grew up in a greengrocers, and we were always gentle with apples "treat them like eggs" went the refrain. Having said that though we also didn't let customers touch the stuff until it was paid for! Family business, still going, still with that attitude.

Mellower · 08/09/2012 20:39

Hmmm I know you are supposed to wash them but sometimes I forget so no YANBU. Bloody apples, does he not have toys at home, actually thats a good point, maybe he has no toys? Confused

Original poster
Alligatorpie · 08/09/2012 20:40

I do wah apples before I eat them, but I also check them for bruises before I buy them. I am very fussy about the apples I eat.
I am frustrated that I spoke to the kid and dad, and they ( as many of you do) thought this behavior was ok. Obviously, I don't.
But as most people think iabu, I will accept that.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 08/09/2012 20:41

He shouldn't have been allowed to play with it, doesn't matter what product it was you don't let your child play with the food in the supermarket.

LadySybildeChocolate · 08/09/2012 20:41

I wouldn't allow my son to play with them, people parent in very different ways though.

blackteaplease · 08/09/2012 20:41

YANBU at all

The pickers don't mishandle them, Dh worked as an apple picker and they weren't allowed to twist or squeeze the apples in case of bruising

JumpingThroughMoreHoops · 08/09/2012 20:42

Other countries, they pick it over, squeeze, grope, bite, prod, poke goods on display. It's only us that thinks things come in ready grown in cellophane wrappers

Original poster
Alligatorpie · 08/09/2012 20:42

Thank you beauty that was what I thought. My dd's don't play with their food, I wouldn't allow them to play with other people's food either!

OP posts:
MrsGoldYamada · 08/09/2012 20:43

YANBU. Apples might get bruised when handled by staff, but that isn't the same as flinging them around for fun.

Original poster
Alligatorpie · 08/09/2012 20:44

Jumping, I live in the 3rd world and shop in the local souk... I am not expecting fruit wrapped in plastic. But today I went to a supermarket and yes, my expectations are higher there.

OP posts:
MrsJamin · 08/09/2012 20:46

YANBU. Unfortunately I get that attitude from parents all the time if I happen to ask a child in the local park not to throw a frisbee at my 2 year old's head when he's on the slide. The parents don't back you up- they just say "ignore the b*h, carry on!". Can't stand that parental viewpoint and worry about the children who result from it.

HolyParalympicGoldBatman · 08/09/2012 20:49

YANBU some people are idiots, some of those people have children.

I once witnessed a mum watching as her 4/5 year old took a bite (hard enough to break the plastic and leave teeth marks) of every piece of cheese in the fridge in sainsburys. Every now and then she'd stop chatting to her friend to say 'don't bite the cheese', 'stop biting the cheese' etc, the child took no notice and the mum went back to her conversation.

conorsrockers · 08/09/2012 20:49

You are absolutely NOT BU. That is totally awful behaviour. I'd find it very hard to walk away. Who do you think ends up paying for all the bruised apples that end up being flogged to the local farmers for swill? I'd blow a stack if my kids did that.

Lolwhut · 08/09/2012 20:51

YANBU. I don't want to buy bruised apples. They are not cheap and my DC's eat mountains of them. I think, I would have asked the DC to stop, in a friendly way and then quietly asked a staff member to sort it out.

Its amazing what some parents will allow their DC's to do in supermarkets.

Pancakeflipper · 08/09/2012 20:54

I don't understand the attitude of let your kids play with food that others will buy. But our grocer merrily ticks off any kid who touches the produce before buying it. Though they also dish out grapes and raisins to the kids too do they aren't just a grumpy grocer.