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?

For me it's about common sense. Anyone looking at a family with young kids should be looking at the intentions if the patents. It's obvious the difference between a family who's adults don't give a shit and disrespecting the will of others in the vin unity, even if they aren't Remembrance Sunday observers themselves, and those trying to observe with misbehaving kids. It's not rocket science. Mind you, there's loads of people who like to make themselves feel better by putting down the efforts of others when things don't go to plan.

i was working at an antiques fair a couple of years ago and just as the 2 minute silence started the art deco clock i had on my stall decided that westminster chimes were just what was wanted, i had forgotten the clock chimed and nearly died of embarasment

Toddlers have tantrums...It IS a normal part of development...People who are judging this parent..The child tantrumed because Dad didn't give in...If he was the kind of parent that gave in this would be one time he definitely would have..
He was in a lesuire centre not a church.

So yes I would of felt sorry for Dad

I don't think people expect small children to be totally silent but just expect their behaviour to be within reason. I think fairly quiet and controlled is fine.

Some years ago I worked in a large high street chemist in a city centre. On more than one occasion we had problems with adults talking loudly despite being reminded of the silence. Even if they don't care about the silence themselves, they could at least show respect and consideration for those who do

I have to admit, I was cross with my 5YO acting up at the war memorial, even thought she was acting up quietly, and it was only obvious to the people immediately by us. Then I realised, on the way home, that I hadn't explained to her the significance of what we were doing, so the blame lays squarely with me . As far as she was concerned, her brother was doing a march which was very exciting because we walked in the road with the police, then we all stood about in the cold, listening to a priest she didn't know and couldn't really follow, singing songs she'd never heard before. Then a few minutes of doing nothing at all.

I get grumpy when I have to wait an extra two minutes for a train. I can't blame her for getting grumpy for having to stand a few metres from a playpark without going inside.

As a toddler, I wouldn't expect better behaviour. There was a girl close by of about 3 who really kicked off, because her dad put her down for a few seconds and she would not be placated. I suppose I felt sorry for him in the sense that it's a tricky stage to get through, but it would definitely be of the sympathetic variety. Been there, done that. Glad I don't have to go through it again. But his thing was because of the age she was going through. Mine was simply poor parenting.

I always think that the very thing the lost soldiers fought and died for was so that future generations kids could have freedom . . . so although I try to keep my DCs quiet, I also quite like it when there is a bit of a kerfuffle from small DCs who are not under rigid control. I think it is rather fitting.

Hideously sentimental I know

You just can't expect a 2 year old to understand about keeping quiet but I think the Dad should have maybe taken him out until the 2 minutes were over.

I remember on the day of Princess Diana's funeral there was to be a two minute silence and we were at the airport with our 2yo DD when it was about to take place. I took her to the toilet just before it was due to start and made sure we were in there until after it was over because I obviously couldn't guarantee to be able to keep her quiet but didn't want to offend anyone.

It's what 2yo's do best & a 2yo is never going to understand the word, silence. Taking him outside may have made the situation worse.
I would feel sorry for the dad, because there was bound to be people that took offence to this, causing the father embarrassment. Fwiw i wouldn't have batted an eyelid

This is why we didn't go out until after 11 this morning, I don't trust my son not to loudly start talking about Minecraft during the 2 minute silence.

you can always rely on young children to embarrass you.
When ds1 was little we were shopping when a funeral procession passed, silently with the mourners walking behind the hearse.
Everyone stopped/paused while it passed & ds1 says loudly, "Is there a dead person in that box"
I just clamped my hand over his mouth!

We were football last year and DD who was 5 months old at the time decided she would cry for the 2 minutes. She stopped as soon as the ref blew his whistle. I walked her about but it didn't help.