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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have put my child in a high vis jacket at the park ?

141 replies

Shinyshoes1 · 07/05/2013 07:45

We went to the park yesterday it gets pretty packed . There's a closed off area with all the swings , slides etc in and there must have been about 50 children in there .

My friend came with her children and the little ones went and played we sat and had a picnic

The little ones were in the play area with my friends 12 yo daughter but after a while all the children blend into one another and I get panicky if I can't see my daughter straight away do I put a hi vis bib on her .
Straight way I could pick her out from the crowd

My friend thought this terrible , even saying it was cruel as she's " never ever in her life seen a child in a high vis bib before at the park"

My dd is in a school trip today and I'm thinking of putting the bib on her today , just so she stands out and is visible to the teachers amongst 30 other children
She is 5 yo

AIBU and OTT !???

OP posts:
loofet · 07/05/2013 14:28

Grin this has made my day, sooo funny. Yabu btw but very amusing all the same.

Booyhoo · 07/05/2013 14:29

i've just had a funny thought. a few posters have mentioned that the put bright orange or green tops on their dcs. lets hope that idea doesn't take off otherwise we'll have parks full of orange and green t-shirts and people will stil not be able to recognise tehir dcs at a glance Grin

pigsinmud · 07/05/2013 14:33

I knew my dc's ginger hair had a use. It's like a ready made built in hi vis hat.

whatsleep · 07/05/2013 14:45

Years ago when i wS a nanny, I remember taking my charges to an extremely busy theme park one summer, I picked out bright red tops for them both so they would be easy to spot only to be faced with 90% of the children at said park in their red football tops!!

DreamsTurnToGoldDust · 07/05/2013 14:51

I put ds in a bright pink tee for the park if I know its going to be busy, with his white mop for hair I can spot him anywhere, but it sounds as though lots of people have the same idea, so I`m thinking perhaps I should just dye his hair a bright colour instead Grin

Scaredycat3000 · 07/05/2013 14:53

schilke but that's not going to work for me! My redhead DS1 insists on wearing hats all year round Grin and DS2 is doing the same now.
All children looking the same on a school trip is helpful. I used to easily put a lost child back with it's group when they all looked the same, much harder when they were different.

UniS · 07/05/2013 14:58

Peacocks ( shop) have some flouro yellow, orange or green T-shirts on sale....

pigsinmud · 07/05/2013 14:59

Oh no scaredycat3000 that's just not helpful of him!

Original poster
Shinyshoes1 · 07/05/2013 16:31

Ok ladies thanks for the rational responses .... I kinda get I may have been a leetle OTT . I ditched the high vis jacket ( for today ) and opted for a stripy top and stripy leggings

I wasn't like this with my boys , I don't know why although I never let them out of my sight they were always on a wrist strap

She's a feisty madam that would in no way wear a wrist strap so I opted for a high vis jacket.

I can't say I won't ever use it again but on this occasion I took all comments on board and decided to ditch it.

I'm not trying to humiliate her or embarrass her in front of her peers I just don't want her ... I don't know ...I can't articulate my feeling. I don't know it not like I fear paedophiles , or course I do but I'm not neurotic about it I just want to keep her safe and within my sight .

She's my only daughter . Of course I adore my boys but my dd is so independent nothing like my boys were perhaps it's my insecurity.

Thanks all I appreciate not getting a flaming Smile

Btw she's come home happy from her trip

OP posts:
Original poster
Shinyshoes1 · 07/05/2013 16:33

At the end of the day my anxiety is on overdrive and I don't know why . You'd think with your third youd be so relaxed your almost horizontal

OP posts:
peeriebear · 07/05/2013 16:35

It's understandable to want to in a busy park. We went to our local park yesterday to the paddling pool. As expected the park was rammed, hundreds of people sitting all over the grass and the pool teeming with kids. DD2 (6) kept vanishing from sight as she was wearing pale pink- she blended in with all the bodies!
When we went to a busy wedding reception when she was 3, I tied a helium balloon to her dress sash- she was always easy to find :)

mrsjay · 07/05/2013 16:44

At the end of the day my anxiety is on overdrive and I don't know why . You'd think with your third youd be so relaxed your almost horizontal

I think with the last baby you forget their age I did baby dd2 for much longer than I should have Blush glad she had a nice time on her trip and try and relax

Floggingmolly · 07/05/2013 16:53

She's five, op. She doesn't need a wrist strap either... Hmm

KatieScarlett2833 · 07/05/2013 16:57

I'm blind as a bat so if I'd thought of your idea for the park in the year 2000 I probably would have thought that was a good idea.
As for school trips? My DC would have run away from home before they would wear any questionable outfit mum dreamed up at School.

MrsHoarder · 07/05/2013 17:03

OP just a quick thought, have you had your eyes checked recently? If not it might be worth going because it would be a shame if your DD's freedom is limited due to your eyesight being less good than it was when you had your DSs

ChippyMinton · 07/05/2013 17:04

Your DD your decision. Maybe stock up on some neon t-shirts instead though.

And write your phone no. on her arm with a pen in case she strays.

grubbybrat · 07/05/2013 17:21

But the OP hasn't said her kid's a wanderer! That would make it a bit more reasonable, but this is just so she can see the kid more easily. OTOH: OP - are you shortsighted? I can see how that would mean you couldn't easily tell your child apart from others. Or do you suffer from prosopagnosia?

TallGiraffe · 07/05/2013 17:24

There's a market stall in Skipton that sells a vast selection of high vis vests for children with phrases on the back "Grandad's Little Helper" etc. There must be lots of Yorkshire children with them to keep him in business Grin

Shellington · 07/05/2013 17:28

Try a shopping trip. Doesn't have to be expensive -
ASDA have this
Tesco have this
H&M have this

The hi-vis makes her stand out for all the wrong reasons - and could be taken off actually when she thinks sod this mum, I've had enough as opposed to her actual clothing / top layer. Making a conscious decision to dress your child in something from the wardrobe that is eyecatching when in a busy place / day out is normal, hi-vis isn't.

StayAwayFromTheEdge · 07/05/2013 17:45

A wrist strap at 5 - seriously why would you need one?

hobnobsaremyfavourite · 07/05/2013 18:03

Why on earth does she need a wrist strap?

EhricLovesTeamQhuay · 07/05/2013 18:07

A wrist strap? Shock
Seriously OP that is in the realms of madness. My DS is 4 and I just can't imagine trying to keep him tied to me! It's insane. You really kept your 5 year olds attached to you by a strap in the park? I'm actually worried for you and your children because you are stifling them. That is no way for them to learn and develop confidence. You are teaching them that the world is scary and full of danger. They will grow up timid and restricted with no confidence :(

somewhereaclockisticking · 07/05/2013 18:15

abit OTT maybe but hardly cruel. You're anxious - if it makes you feel better then why not. Ignore the other stares.

likeitorlumpit · 07/05/2013 18:19

i think this is a wind up , you never got the response you were hoping for ,so the wrist strap is another way to get everyone going again .

Fuckwittery · 07/05/2013 18:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.