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 probably wouldnt accept a seat either but i would think what noce well mannered children.
its about consideration for others.

When my parents walk in to my living room my children get up to allow them to sit down usually with "nanny sit here" wouldnt expect them to behave any differently when out.

The children had 2 chairs? Then I would budge them up to sit on one chair. Then if someone else came in make them stand.

I'm with Everlong, wouldn't ask for a child to budge, but would make mine budge and would think a mother that made her childrenbudge was polite, and one that didn't was impolite.

X post pickled! I'm with you!!

LOL at nanny walks in room and children stand up.

No thats the fundamental difference in our opinion i believe it to be just another act of goodd manners (& more practicle better use of chairs).
You dont believe its good manners
maybe i'm old fashioned?

That is ridiculous.

They dont stand up, they usually chuck themselves accross the floor therefore freeing a space! I'm not Victorian

I agree with Ghostship - I don't get that because something is traditional that it must be correct because it always was. Why not challenge old traditions that no longer make any sense?

We are hopefully all able to use our discretion to be sensitive enough to give up a seat when someone else is clearly more in need. But to expect a child to move just because they are a child doesn't make any sense imo and is in no way fair. There is no way it would even cross my mind to expect a child to get up for me. How far could you extend that logic?

if there were enough seats for everyone i'm sure they would remain sprawled across them

Everlong - everyone has to use their discretion for different situations. Like when I was going through customs recently and a man asked if he could go in front of us because he was going to miss his plane, and of course we let him.

But where there is no difference except age, surely the fairest approach is first come, first served.

I am note sure. I don't think a two yr old would grasp the concept of respect - it's too complex at that age. They will probably do as asked but that's it.
As a mum of a 28 month old - his sitting keeps him out of harm, others way, within my reach. I would rather give up my seat to someone who needs it, to set an example, than make my child get up.
I also agree with the fact that they are little does not make them any less important or any stronger.

Max - now your making stuff up!

Come on.

And when I say age I don't include very old people who look like they need to sit down.

Well I'm sure my 9 year old would be able to make that distinction.

Pickledfanjo - What am i making up?

But why wouldn't you put him on your lap MaMattoo? My teenager will perch on my lap to give others seats. I've often balanced two of mine on my knees

Your post at 22:08

matto, why wouldnt you just lift him on to your lap?

It's not a very hard distinction to make is it though?

My nephew can.

I would hope that as she gets older she will have the sense to judge the situation if it was a pregnant/elderly/disabled person etc and until she does I will ask her to move in those circumstances.

But I still don't get why a child should be expected to offer their seat to an adult capable of standing if an adult wouldn't be expected to do the same. If we were all expected to offer our seats it would be like never ending bloody musical chairs. Surely it's just first come first served (barring the obvious exception of people who have difficulty standing)

I think most young children prefer to sit on their mum's lap anyway and I would always try to make room by having a child on my lap if I could. But the OP was a situation different from this.

pickledfanjo, That was a follow on to my post about my dc getting up when their grandparents come in to allow gp's to sit down. If there were enough seats for all then i'm sure the dc would stay sprawled out. But there aren't so they get up to let someone more needy sit down.
Basic good manners, learnt from young age.

Ah I apologise then Max, my error.

Im all for basic good manners me. But I dont get this one.