To have asked a 4 year old and 2 year old to let me sit down in the Doctors pharmacy?

[CandyLoo]

At a small, tightly packed, busy pharmacy opposite Doctors surgery.
3 chairs (barely any standing room).
A lady, and the 2 children taking up the 3 chairs.
2 children not ill, in there with their Mum collecting a prescription.
No free chairs, I asked if I could sit in one of the chairs.
Mum moved one of her children, the other moved to stand with her sister.
Mutterings from the lady next to me, and when she left, said rather pointedly to the child, 'Here you are love, sit in my seat'. They left soon after.
By this stage, the pharmacy was very busy, I have no qualms giving up my seat to anyone older than me or simply if anyone needs it.
AIBU? The lady sitting next to me obviously thought I was, rude comments about me to her husband when she was outside.

I personally have not asked anyone for a seat as I am healthy, but if I was nt and needed it due to health problems than I might

Schro ha fair enough!

I have honestly never heard of respecting your elders also including small children standing up for any and all adults. When I was young I was taught to offer my seat to elderly people,pregnant ladies and disabled people. Not "any grown up who fancies a seat". My good manners were often commented on when I was young so I don't think I was taught incorrectly.

YABU
I wouldn't have asked or expected the seat for myself because I have the good manners not to feel entitled.

However, I would have moved my children before you had asked. In fact I probably would have stood up myself and allowed my children to share one chair, because I usually prefer to stand in these situations anyway.

Virginia But why should the Mother justify that childs needs to you because you want a seat and they were there first. Seems ridiculous that everyone should be justifying their medical issues and their childrens to the able bodied who can't be arsed to keep their seats!

i can't believe you think you have more right to sit down than a 2 year old and a 4 year old. let the little kids have the seats!! why did you want to sit anyway? they were there first. there is no way i'd turf a child out of a seat.

Alis I think it's just because I grew up with my GPS who in their day it was the done thing, you just stand up for any adult.

The mother was already standing Humble. She also moved her child without issue. Not sure why the OP thinks they were so rude tbh but not really sure why the OP thinks she deserves respect either

You aren't allowed to stand on a plane - though I'm sure Ryan Air are working on it - but when you have small ones on a busy train, yes, I'd fit the three of us into two seats. Just as I'd fold up a pushchair to give people more room. It's common courtesy. It's not like I'd fold them into the luggage rack! And on shorter journeys I'd expect older DC to stand for adults - I did from 11 to 18 at least twice a week on the way home from secondary school.

Well the elderly don't expect children to stand and the younger 20 somethings don't expect children to stand...

Totally agree OP.

I always stand to let someone older/disabled/pregnant etc sit down and i always made my DC stand or sit on my knee for the same people.

Just manners innit?

I wonder, OP, how you would have posted after your trip to the pharmacy, where there were two small children, wondering around the shop, touching things and generally getting in the way, because there were no free seats for them?

Hmm?

It's simple good manners. Seemed to work well enough for generations, can't see why the need to change now. Respect your elders, they've been around longer, know more, and work harder. Give them your pampered childs seat!

"why did you want to sit anyway? they were there first. there is no way i'd turf a child out of a seat."

I doubt that OP was really that bothered about sitting. I reckon she saw two kids taking up seats, felt a monumental sense of social injustice and piped up.

AmI right, OP?

InNeed That is very true. The only times anyone has offered me a seat, it has been late teens or the elderly. I normally always refuse.

I got a right shouting at once on a bus when I didn't get up from my seat from a junkie, I was in pain and had been working all day (I was about 17, she was in her 30's). She didn't believe me when I told her what I had and nearly attacked me!

Looking back, I can see why I don't ask for seats! :o

It was never universal! The school I went to instructed us to stand for adults on public transport. None of the other schools bothered!

Bupcakes, I think that's exactly what it is.

can't see why the need to change now is what they said about slavery/racism/women to vote/child labour/ that is not a valid agreement.

I'm a 20 something. I do expect children to offer to stand. For the elderly,pregnant,disabled or just generally unwell. This actually covers a large swathe of the population.

I do not expect a child to stand for me or any other perfectly heathy adult.

But then,I expect adults to offer as well, not just children.

Narked That was the same with mines too. My school was big on it.

You didn't have a condition or reason to sit down, just fancied it. So I think you were quite rude.

Or even 'wandering'

Schro I hate to say it and I'm sorry scots but thats why I wouldn't move to scotland, I would not like a glasgow kiss!

I really can't abide with this attitude that if people are older they are therefore wiser/have contributed more to the world.

My granny was a right old bastard. Never worked a day in her life, hit kids with her walking stick and gave me a fag aged 7. I wouldn't give up my seat for her.

We're all angry bastards. :o