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.

It's manners to let an older person have a seat, gosh everybody for themselves. I was was taught to give my seat to an Oder oerson

Nelly, you're talking about being on a bus.

I am so glad you didn't ask my pre schooler to move. She would have been devestated. And she would be banging on about it to me for weeks to come...! Asking me 'why did that lady...' about a giziliion times!

I have a history of poor health and very good manners. I would rather collapse on the floor of a pharmacy than ask a small child to move.

Some great responses on this thread!

It's a generational thing. I was taught to offer seat to adults and I tell my children that's the way to go. But I am pretty old.

well whatever, bus, pharmacy, same principle innit although more about safety on the bus, the nasty old lady brigade do not see the difference.
I have taught my children to give up their seats if necessary from a v young age, when they were tiny they would sit on my lap rather than take up a seat themselves ....
still a young to middle aged mum with no particular reason other than to make a point would get right up my nose.

My bones are older than you jin

Get off me crisis.

Like TheMobsters, I have a string of medical conditions that make it difficult to stand for any period and I wouldn't have asked either.

I was taught to offer a seat as well (within reason) but times have moved on and children are no longer usually seen as second class citizens. If you wouldn't ask an able adult to move, then you shouldn't ask a child either.

I remember always being told to respect my elders, I always got confused about that. Why? Respect goes both ways and you should have to earn it, regardless of your age.

I'm pregnant! Forgot! Winner!

PickledFanjoCat you're lucky there as I was just about to list my ailments and show you my birth certificate. Pregnancy definitely trumps it though

And I don't know if this has been brought up already but it is a point that should be made.

How do you suppose, in a time where we are told to drill "stranger danger" into our kids, that telling them to respect all of their elders will help with that? Very confusing.

"No, you musn't speak to strangers but you must respect them and do as you are told if they tell you to stand". That would be giving the message that any adult has authority over them and would be quite confusing.

Good point Schro

YABU.

oh ffs standing for someone frailer doesn't mean they are about to be abducted.
Please, a sense of proportion?

Did I say that? And I am not talking about standing for someone frailer.

More random, able bodied adults telling them to stand because they want a seat.

I also didn't say that they would abduct them, I said that telling them to respect all of their elders and to do as they are told, would be confusing while also trying to tell them not to immediately trust every adult and not to speak to strangers.

Thermo that is quite an overreaction from your dd then. Yes if I were in your position and had health priblems tbat meant imwas not able to stand for long periods, i would ask someone child or adult fo their seat.

Some people have got very little sense of proportion

Just so this is clear. I am not talking about kids (or able bodied adults) taking priority over the elderly or disabled.

well as I said I would be a bit WHAAT if some old bat demanded the children's seats, so you do have a point....

FFS Fanjo, you're only pregnant, not ill or missing limbs. It was your decision to get yourself knocked up, why should the rest of us suffer for it.

:o

Wot about my swollen vagina? I`ll teach the baby to jump up and salute you at all times if that helps.

No to be honest even with my preggers-ness and creaky bones I wouldnt dream of asking a nipper to stand up.

I might look sad and hobble about a bit in the hope someone would offer tho. Must confess. Old bump rub.

Id sit down, clutch both sweet little angels to my bosom and sing some christmas songs.

Then there would be a seat for the mum too and we would all have a rip-roaring time waiting for our medicine.

Thermo you would rather collapsing on the floor than ask for a seat [seat]. What if your dd witnessed you collapsing I can imagine tat would be more devastating for her than being asked for a seat!

"I would rather collapse on the floor of a pharmacy than ask a small child to move."

That has utterly made my day. Bless you, but I hope you don't live near me.

yes but I bet she wouldnt demand an adult stand up for her!!! just some poor little tired child (awww)
Actually it's amazing the reaction you get when you do demand, i was preggers and standing on the tube (wearing a big jacket) and realised i was about to faint, and kind of squeaked 'I need to sit down' and about 6 people (adults mind!) jumped up all at once....

i have been in the mum's position
sat my 2yr old ds on only empty chair while i tried to calm crying baby in pram.
a healthy looking woman 40s asked ds to move as she wanted to sit.
when he didn't jump up she then asked me to 'move him' as 'children don't get to sit when an adult has to stand'!!!
so i said 'yes your quite right' then wheeled the pram closer picked ds up sat down myself with ds on my knee....
the look on her face was classic!
YABU!