AIBU?
Playground etiquette, who was rude her or me?
WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 22/06/2013 16:39
Not really sure who was being unreasonable here.
Took dd to the park today (dd is 2.4 park was very busy). One of the swings became available, the one on the end of the row, so I put dd in it and started to push her.
After about 5 minutes a woman and her daughter (would guess 4 year old) came and stood right next to me. Woman started talking to her dd "you can have a go on the swing soon" "this little girl will be finished soon" "it looks like you might have to wait awhile."
Dd did not want to leave the swing so I kept pushing her for another 5 minutes. Eventually the hinting got to me and we abandoned the swing.
So was she being unreasonable or was I taking too long on the swing and should have shifted sooner?
CheeseStrawWars · 22/06/2013 16:49
I'm going to be the voice of dissent and say YABU. Taking turns and sharing is part of park etiquette, if someone's waiting for a turn then 5 mins seems perfectly adequate. I don't think the woman should have said what she did, but I think you were rather selfish/possibly PFB.
Cherriesarelovely · 22/06/2013 16:49
I had a friend who used to do this! If her ds wanted a go on something she would go and stand uncomfortably close to the swing or whatever, staring at the child using it. Of course the child would hop off straight away! I used to ask her not to do it as it was so unpleasant and unfair.
She wasn't being rude, she was keeping her little one happy and calm whilst waiting her turn for the swing.RhinestoneCowgirl · 22/06/2013 16:54
I don't think she was being PA, just trying to explain to her DD that she would have to wait. Really not that strange.
Although if I'm at the swings and it looks like the current swinger (for want of a better word) looks to be installed for a long push, then I will distract and encourage DC to play on something else until a swing comes free.
WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes · 22/06/2013 16:56
Both of you. If someone is clearly waiting in a busy park it is rude to stay on for more than a couple more minutes, children need to learn to be aware when people are waiting and take turns. You have to stand close to the swings because if you stand far away another child always seems to nip in ahead of you. One comment to her DD that she would have to wait till someone was finished would have been fine, several pointed comments is rude.
schooldidi · 22/06/2013 16:56
That sounds like me at the park. It's not designed to get other people off the swing, I say that sort of thing to stop dd2 from going mental. Dd2 is 3 and is going through an "I want it now!" phase so if I don't keep talking to her about waiting her turn she starts screaming.
cantreachmytoes · 22/06/2013 16:57
I'm not sure if you spent too much time on the swing or not (not got to that stage) BUT she was VU and rude! I also don't think it was about entertaining her child and keeping her calm. If so, what would have been wrong with, "We're waiting for our turn, it's not our turn yet. Can you see the bird [or whatever]? Look how high s/he is going!" etc. She was just rude.
WhenSheWasBadSheWasHopeful · 22/06/2013 16:58
rhinestone I do agree partially, the only odd bit was that this was done while stood shoulder to shoulder with me. She wasn't pacifying her kid at all, kid didn't say a word through the whole thing but the mum kept dropping hints.
Daft thing is if she had stood 1/2 metres back and it was clear she wanted the swing is have shifted a lot quicker.
To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.