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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

About this woman

22 replies

Summerblaze · 23/07/2014 16:02

I took my DS (2.3 yrs) to the health centre today for an ear appt. He sat next to me for a bit and then started to fidget. I was trying to engage him in looking at things but those waiting areas are so boring. After a few very quiet "round and round the garden" type songs, he tried to move off the chair.

I got out my phone and tried to distract him with a cbeebies app that my older dc's had in there.

As soon as i passed him it, a woman sat on the opposite side of the room said very loudly that it was awful how people rely on "those things" and if we didnt have them, i would have to actually talk to him.

I didnt just let him get on with it. He doesnt really understand it so i was pointing to things and getting him to point things out and say them.

I was really embarrassed as the room was full but i was just trying to occupy him. Was the lady U or should i have just let him run around the room.

OP posts:

Coldlightofday · 23/07/2014 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MintyChops · 23/07/2014 16:07

Rude woman. Should have told her to mind her own business.

runningonwillpower · 23/07/2014 16:08

It's dead easy to be an expert when it's someone else's child. And it's dead easy to make superficial judgements - but it's neither clever nor wise.

She was unreasonable, rude and silly.

StillStayingClassySanDiego · 23/07/2014 16:08

She was being rude and a bit of a tit, it was sod all to do with her.

Joysmum · 23/07/2014 16:10

She's being a twat, she'd have been the first to loudly complain if you'd not had that to carry on the distraction techniques and he'd have got more active!

There was an incident in our doctors waiting room where somebody kicked off about kids in much the same way. The mum was clearly embarrassed and then a number of other people told the aggressor they were being a twat. The receptionist came back out to see what all the fuss was about and asked that person to either shut up or leave!

The mum and child got a number of positive uplifting compliments when they walked back through the waiting room after their appointment whilst aggressor man's expression looked like he'd just eaten dog shit!

Don't let the twats spoil your day. It's them with the problem, not you

emotionsecho · 23/07/2014 16:16

Last time I was at the Drs a lovely little girl asked me to read a book to her, we got through two before I was called in and when I came out someone else had been chosen for the honour of reading to her.

Point being, Drs waiting rooms are boring, I get bored never mind children, can't people just accept that and interact/help instead of making snarky comments?

FishRabbit · 23/07/2014 16:20

yanbu she sounds like a vile cunt

SlicedAndDiced · 23/07/2014 16:20

She's a rude cow, forget about her.

I actually had the chance to put one in her place today.

Was stood at a friends barbecue with bottle in hand, big bump showing and one year old dd toddling around.

At which point a bitchy friend of a friend starts up with how women who drink while pregnant are fucking disgusting and I should be ashamed of myself and poor dd blah blah blah.

As she was ranting I casually turned the bottle to point at the 'alcohol free' bit under the necks and stuck my fingers up at her.

That shut her up

MorphineDreams · 23/07/2014 16:21

She was bloody rude.

What did she want you to do, pull a stick and hoop out. Some people just don't want to accept that times move on and, shock horror, kids can utilise technology.

ThatBloodyWoman · 23/07/2014 16:23

I wouldn't say anything in front of my dc if I had been you.

I'd sidle up, and whisper 'mind yer own feckin business' quietly in her ear, then sit back, and at least know why she's muttering....

MamaLazarou · 23/07/2014 16:25

Judgmental twat, take no notice! You sound like a lovely mum.

bonzo77 · 23/07/2014 16:26

And what's more you do your children a disservice if you don't teach them to use technology. It'd be like refusing to teach them to use a washing machine as they'd be reliant on it, and getting out the wash board and mangel.

splendidpup · 23/07/2014 16:38

I hate seeing kids out and about stuck on phone/tablet games - when there are other things for them to do. As I do feel they are missing out on fun/some important lessons on how to behave socially.

Sitting in a doctor's waiting room? An activity that bores everyone sick and it's impossible to do much without disturbing other people? Anything that keeps a pre-schooler quiet and happy is great!

Fanfeckintastic · 23/07/2014 16:42

She sounds like me when I was pregnant , though I'd NEVER have been so rude!

Everyone's an expert aren't they!

IntellectualLlama · 23/07/2014 17:02

Who are these people who see fit to comment on what complete strangers are doing? Perhaps their own parents should have spent some time teaching them some manners.

QisforQcumber · 23/07/2014 17:10

I had this in similar circumstances actually, I whispered in DS' ear that "that lady over there wants to hear alllllllll about Thomas and his troublesome trucks". Worked like an absolute charm. DS was is very vocal and could chatter for England. By the end of his 15 minute soliloquy when we were called in, the mardy cow looked like she wished she had never opened her mouth.

whitepuddingsupper · 23/07/2014 17:12

I had this same discussion with a friend on facebook, she posted a judgmental post about the exact same thing, how awful it was to see a child on a phone in a hospital waiting room and in her day it would have been crayons and paper. I pointed out that times have changed, my phone has a drawing app, jigsaw games and the above mentioned cbeebies app and I happily let DD play on it in waiting room scenarios. Quiet, occupied child = no annoyance to other patients, everyone wins.

Original poster

Summerblaze · 23/07/2014 17:25

I'm glad that i didn't get lots of posts about how i was a lazy mother.

He has never been on my phone before but i assumed that people dont like it when kids are running around a waiting room so i thought it was a good idea.

I never had any negative comments about my other dc's. Fortunately DD was very calm as a toddler and sat with a book or drawing but DS1 has learning difficulties plus hyperlaxity in his joints. Due to this the phone apps were all that would keep seated.

OP posts:

CaptainTrollolololol · 23/07/2014 17:29

She was rude, you can't win with these types. If you hadn't got the cbeebies out, she'd have whinged about something else. Some of them wait eagerly for children to arrive so they have something to bitch about I think. I overheard a man complaining that a child walked past clutching a teddy bear. She was too old apparently (must have been about six). A poorly child clutching a comforter, who'd have thought it eh!

ithoughtofitfirst · 23/07/2014 17:37

What a smug twat

Nanny0gg · 23/07/2014 17:38

2.3 and never been on your phone before!

I think that's pretty amazing! Only thing that kept some of my DGC remotely quiet in waiting room situations!

Stupid woman. Ignore.

borisgudanov · 23/07/2014 17:53

Stupid cow. None of her bloody business. I would have told her precisely where she got off.

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