To let my toddler sit in the window with me while it's thunder and lightning outside?

[Whothefuckfarted]

Was sat at the living room window with my toddler watching the pouring rain bouncing off the road outside and listening to the thunder overhead. Saw a flash of lightning too.

My DH had a right go at me, said to take her away from the window in case she got struck by lightning through it.

I thought it was a silly thing to say. I got a bit pissed off... she was enjoying watching the rain..

He said it's dangerous, and to ask mumsnet their opinion

AIBU?

As long as your windows are not metal...unless he was talking about Windows 8 on a plugged in laptop?
we were struck last year, melted phone lines, blew up modem. No electricity and water (pumped) and my shoulder length hair stood on end! I thought that only happened in cartoons!
I am now a little nervous of storms but still sat in the window with dd yesterday, just didn't let her touch the metal handles on windows or radiators.

iPad is fine to use if not plugged in surely? And what's up with people covering mirrors?

Is glass a particularly good conductor of electricity?

Nope, that's why it was used in valves, the things used before transistors to make radios.

LEMis
Yes he's seen this He's still of the opinion that it can happen, although it's super rare so to sit away from the window as it's not worth the risk. I've looked at 'storm advice bla bla' it does say to sit away from the window...

tweasels
My thoughts exactly

He's heard of lots of stories about people getting hit while at the kitchen sink. I pointed out that's probably because of the water if they were doing the washing up.

Neither of us can stand being wrong!

Is it right that you shouldn't swim in a storm? I made ds get out of the pool (on holiday - sadly not in back garden) yesterday when a storm kicked off. Anyone know?

Generally pretty safe. Only issue would be if the house was struck directly and the windows smashed as a result of the 'bang'. Very unlikely, and I love watching lightning storms.

I've been overseas when storms have been on and the local TV station advised keeping away from windows, but there were something like 20,000 confirmed strikes in 1 hour, way more than a couple of rumbles every minute or so we have in the UK.

More likely the glass may smash !

As for swimming in an open pool, yes advisable you get out. Disney do this at the water parks if a storm comes over in Florida.

Fgs as lovely as I'm sure your DH is please sort him out on this one! We're still dealing with the afteraffects of MIL going totally hysterical at me for letting Dd1 and Ds watch a thunderstorm at hers and that was 3 years ago!! She started to scream at me to get them away from the window before they get killed crying, shaking etc. In front of them both. Didn't bother Ds but Dd goes totally gibbery when a storm hits now...

I had some sympathy for your Dh (despite him being wrong) until he said car travel was an unavoidable risk Of course it is! Don't get in a car-you don't have to. You choose to-even if your job is far away etc etc you could get a job closer to home.

I also think it's a very good thing for you to be teaching DD not to be scared. I find it really strange the amount of adults there are who are scared of thunder and lightning.

One of my earliest memories of my dad is him taking me outside to watch the lightening. Sadly it is also one of my only, because he died when I was 6. YANBU

LTB

no, really, if the window was open then I think he's being a little bit reasonable - why take an unnecessary risk?

idocrazythings sorry to hear about your dad, but great that you have a memory of him that has stuck with you, I don't think I remember being 6 at all!

cafecito That's his opinion too, why take the risk? I just didn't think it a risk at all. Didn't even enter my head!