to feel a bit sorry for the family whose little boy had a huge tantrum for sweets during the 2 min silence

[thehorridestmumintheworld]

Glad I don't have a toddler any more! We were in the leisure centre cafe and a Dad had just got his little lad some sweeties out of the vending machine but they were the wrong ones. An announcement came for the 2 min silence and the boy screamed loudly all through it about getting the wrong ones. How embarrassing why do kids do this kind of thing?

That reminds me of the year I was in the shopping centre with my then 3 year old who loudly announced (1 min in to the 2 min silence) Mummy, mummy I really need to do a Poo - right now!!!!

The parents should have taken some duct tape or a staple gun with them, in case this happened.

I took 2.2yo ds to a parade which ended at our local memorial. His Dad and sister were parading and he was quiet and respectful up until the start of the 2 minute silence when he started chattering. He kept up an entire monologue about why the trumpets had stopped and could he bang the man's drum and where had his sister gone and ooooh look at the poppies. I tried, I seriously tried to shush him, distract him. I moved right to the back and stood to one side. Afterwards 3 of the veterans came over and I was quaking. I was worried he'd ruined it for them. They said he was lovely and exactly the reason why they fought and well done for bringing him along.

Spot on Corlatoes, surely small children and anyone else who would have difficulty being silent for a few minutes would be exempt?

Show that's lovely. I think I have something in my eye.

Gruntfuttock - PMSL!
Not just at your suggestion but also your name - that was one of the things my Dad used to call us as children

Grunt

Knowing toddlers, 'whooshing' him outside would have caused more noise than wanting sweets! And if it is a leisure centre,depending where you are in it, it might well take more than two minutes to get out, especially with a toddler.

I though you were going to say they were at a service, in which case I'd have had less sympathy as I wouldn't take a child that age to the war memorial today as they are just too young to understand and highly likely to be noisy at the wrong moment.
I have taken all three of my dc on church parade for rememberance day since they were babies, if they make a noise I deal with it, but it is not an excuse for me not to go. My youngest dd (just 3) stood quietly throughout the service, she may not understand but if she is never expected to be quiet when will she learn to be?

It is embarrassing if children create, but it's what children do. As a parent you just have to deal with it as best you can and if you are an onlooker just be grateful it's not your dc kicking of for whatever reason!

DD2 started barking at a dog just before the 2 minute silence. Thank God she was in her buggy and we were at the Cenotaph outside, I hoofed the buggy down the road with her growling at a greyhound...

We go to the local barracks everyear and there are always kids playing during the minutes silence,my toddler included. No one bats an eyelid.
They are kids they make scenes at inappropriate times, its what they do.

Really wish my nephew wouldn't of told a veteran he wasnt a good sokider because he had less meadals than his grandad though

Soldier even

why do kids do this kind of thing?

Err, my guess is because they're kids

Wouldn't and haven't batted an eyelid at a child being a child during it. Their parents are observing it and were trying to handle it.

However, the couple who loudly kicked off in Currys a couple of years ago as there was no one to answer their question for a whole 2 minutes could've done with being taken outside.

I have no sympathy for inconsiderate people who can't be arsed to remove their screaming child. Pure selfishness. Kids tantrum, it's the parents responsibility to deal with it.

I don't have a problem with a young child behaving inappropriately and a parent not quite knowing the best way to handle the situation.

I have zero sympathy for the van driver who verbally abused the cadets, brownies and rainbows who were walking in our local Remembrance Parade - because he has to sit and wait for them to pass on their way to the Memorial. He was a grown man and should have been able to control his behaviour (unlike the toddler in the op).

Thank you op and everyone else who showed any sympathy - in this thread and rl. We took 2yo ds to the remembrance service today and, despite our best efforts with quiet toys and books, could not keep him silent. He also made a record breaking sprint to the alter but did at least wait until during a song to loudly announce "poooooo mummy. Mine done a big poo"

We weren't being that judgy at the leisure centre it was all young families and you could see little ones still swimming about in the kiddy pool. Probably feeling glad ours weren't having tantrums but that's all.
But I have thought before at assemblies and things it is strange babies and young children don't instinctively go quiet if all the adults do.

Isn't it wonderful we live in a country where toddlers can tantrum freely.

It's just kids isn't it.

But to answer the actual question YANBU to feel sorry for the parent because from my experience when things like that happen it feels like everyone is staring and judging, even though most are just looking on sympathetically.

With children it's endearing and they just have no concept. I do judge disrespectful adults though. We observed the silence today at work, and just as it started a customer came to the till. Que him huffing and puffing at me loudly because I refused to serve him/talk during the two minutes. Was a shame because everyone else in-store (including the children!)Observed beautifully and it was very poignant.

They are getting huffy at 2yr old having a paddy?!?

Two years running we have been at kids rugby match in different towns on Remembrance Sunday. Two years running I have seen over a hundred kids stop play, link arms and observe the silence with their coaches, refs and managers.
And on both years I have watched & heard the footballers on the pitches next to the different clubs continue playing...

That's disrespect

We were in tesco. My three year old twins, say in a double seat trolley, chattered through the two minutes. They were fairly quiet and controlled by a few shushes and cuddles, but there was no chance of them being silent.

I didn't even think to take them outside to be honest. It was freezing cold, and I think most people would excuse those who are too young to understand the need for silence.

I wouldn't dream of judging about a 2 year old not staying silent (I know the OP isn't btw)

DD is 2 1/4 and what most people would call a well behaved wee girl but not to the point where I could reliably ask her to be completely silent for a prescribed length of time!

That isn't being badly behaved that's being two years old :)

If a tantrum happens well you deal with it no point people scowling. Different if they're older children.