please, I truly need to now if it's me being unreasonable here.

[mosp]

I have never posted on aibu before, and I am actually sweating a little here. However, I feel that I need to know whether this lady is right or wrong:

My dd1 goes to ballet on Tuesday evenings. We walk there (45 minutes each way) and when we arrive at the Methodist church where it is held, I feel the need to rest my aching feet (Tuesdays are busy physically for me).

The place where mums wait is the lobby of the church, and there are only about 5 chairs available. When I arrive, there is always one chair free. Well, at least, until today I thought it was free. It turns out that one of the mums wants to reserve it for her 4 or 5 year old son. She places a coat over the back of the chair every week. I hadn't really clocked this before (I'm not very quick at picking up cues) so I have just politely asked if she minded if I place the coat on the side so that I can sit. I honestly didn't realise that this might be a problem. (Now I think about it, she never looked very happy about moving the coat)

The boy is NEVER sitting in the chair when I arrive and he never shows any signs of wishing to sit down the whole time they are there. He's happily scampering around with his sister.

So, I was kind of taken aback today when she told me that the chair was actually where her son was sitting and would I please find somewhere else to sit next time. I didn't know what to say to that! I didn't realise at all. On reflection, I can't see why she needs to lay claim to the chair. Her son clearly doesn't want it and I don't want to have to sit on the floor or stand when there is a vacant chair.

Today, as if to prove her point, she beckoned her son to her and tried to sit him on her knee, telling him loudly that he hasn't got a chair any more. He didn't want to sit on her knee, and wriggled off to play again.

So, am I right in thinking she's being a bit bizarre? Or is it me? And next week, should I just sit on the floor? Bear in mind, I hate hate hate confrontation. I also hate having any attention drawn to myself, which would happen if I do sit on the floor, I feel.

Oh, I don't know. I know it is petty, but it has shaken me up a bit and made me doubt something that I had no idea was an issue...

YANBU, her son doesn't need to sit does he, she is being a pain for the sake of it.

Here we are

Oh my GOD sarahandfuck that is so funny!!!,

Seriously. Suggest you sit on her knee. Mad woman.

When is the next class? I need to know what happens

There are somethings in this world you don't need to ask permission to do...can I bf my baby?...can I ring for an ambulance?..can I SIT ON A CHAIR A 5 YR OLD ISN'T USING!

She is a rude, ignorant and entitled woman...sit your bottom down and ignore the passive/aggressive comments. This problem is all of her own making.

Are there only 5 chairs in the methodist hall?

Could you not just phone the caretaker or someone beforehand, explain the problem and ask them to lay out an extra chair each week?

Then next week you can go there, sit in the extra chair and turn to her and say "since you wanted to keep this chair free in case your son playing over there ever actually feels like sitting down, I just phoned X and sorted this out. There. That was easy, wasn't it."

Since she already hates you, you may as well unleash your inner bitch

I still can't quite believe it was me Checkpoint, normally I would have stood at the back and seethed quietly.

But if I can sit in the arms of an angry stranger, the OP can sit next to this woman. You can do it OP!

I like piprabbits idea of snow angels. Sprinkle loads of talc on the floor an snow angel away!

We have a rule in my family and its 'unless your 18 you aren't entitled to a chair unless one is free but you move if an adult wants it'

I have a chair story.....we went camping to a holiday park and every night some families kept reserving the tables nearest the dance floor with a bag but wouldn't use them until about 2130. We got there at 1900 and sat at one of the tables and then when they came in at 2100 we refused to move and they kicked off but we still refused to move. The security came over and said that they were here for the season and that it was there table which got a response form us 'oh could you show us where the reserved sign was and your policy on season holders being able to reserve tables that they then don't use for 2-3 hours??'

We never moved and we were congratulated by many other families who were equally pissed off with them.

Could you ask one of the other mums to bag you a seat?

I don't know why you don't just ask the vicar for more chairs, though!

Another YANBU here... I completely agree that children are behind adults in the pecking order when it comes to physical comfort. The only time I may make an exception is on public transport, if they can't easily sit on my lap and it would be a danger to have them try to hold on.

I can't believe she said 'Why should my child have to sit on the floor?' I really cannot. No wonder so many children lack respect for elders and those in authority these days.

forgetting adults v children for a moment, someone who wants a seat takes preference over someone who has absolutely no interest whatsoever in having a seat.

YANBU.

Am curious, what are the people in the other 3 seats doing?

being careful to turn up 3/4 hour early to make sure they arrive before stroppy bollocks?

We were always taught to give up our seat for an adult. I teach my children the same. What are we coming to?

You are not being out of order at all, whatever happened to children sitting on floors? they love to be running around, crawling.. anything but sitting still. You shouldn't be allowed to reserve chairs definitely when there is so few! so no you are well withing your right to sit on that chair unless she bought it in herself

She's not being a 'bit bizzare', she's being a lot bizarre.

Maybe you can carry a light camping chair with you next time and ostentatiously unfold and sit on it? Perhaps accompanied with a loud sigh and saying "So nice to sit down!".

Go early next week and take some towels.You can be saving them for your imaginary friends....and pretend you are on holiday at the same time...

Ha ha! Thank you for all the replies! Sarah, your chair story is hilarious!!!! And yes, it gives me the impetus to just carry on sitting next to her. I would love to fart in her general direction, but sadly I can't muster them up at will!

Dear God. YANBU. !!!!

This would make me want to buy a voodoo doll and stick pins in it! :)

i swear if you are anywhere in NI, i will pick you up and make sure you arrive super duper early!

cheeky mare!

Has someone invented a 5 year-old who will actually sit on a chair for more than 3 seconds at a time?

If so, can I reserve one for next year, when ants-in-his-pants DS turns 5?

Next time she challenges you, why not go absolutely insane, and pick up said chair, roaring like a mad creature, and run about with it held over your head before opening the door and hurling it out.

Then smile sweetly and say "There. Just needed to get that out of my system."

Can I just echo Titanic's kind offer. If you are in/ near Glasgow I will collect you both.