Aibu to judge this mum in Pizza Hut?

[hippo123]

Ok, I admit my judgy pants were pulled very high and maybe I'm being unreasonable about this.

So myself and my kids were in Pizza Hut today at lunchtime. A lady was out with her 3 boys who at a guess were 6,9 and 11. Each of the boys had an iPad mini and played on them throughout, even whilst eating. They had headphones on which I guess is good in terms of noise disturbance but as a result there was no talking between any of them. When the waitress asked if everything was ok they didn't hear so the mum spoke for them.
The mum spent all of her time on her iPhone.
Aibu to think this is a bit sad? And no, I really don't think any of them had special needs, although I accept it is technically possible.

The broken crayons and colouring books are provided . I'm judging the mum as the mum was there. I would be judging the dad as well if he was there. I'm not sure I'm following that point?

I've just spend the first summer holidays ever with DD (she's 9, I've always been working, but retired this year). I am bloody exhausted. I love my DD but Oh My God she NEVER stops talking!

I'd kill for some peace and quiet in Pizza Hut

Well, like others have said, its the end of the hole.

Mine have spent all day playing minecraft doing craft

hole? !! Hols!!

Many people see technology as the modern equivalent of crayons and paper though.

what's the difference?

Have to say that iPad it not I would have made sure mine thanked the waitress. That WAS rude.

Ha, this could have been us recently. We have had a month long road trip holiday. Two adults and two children together 24 hours a day. We'd stop for a coffee and we'd all whip out our phones or kindle to take advantage of the free wi-Fi and take a break from each other. Sure folk looked at us, judging us too - I probably would have judged myself if i wasn't me - if you know what I mean.

its only pizza hut

At the moment sounds like my idea of heaven. Could quite easily cope with then ignoring me and each other if it would stop the constant whining, fighting and general embarrassment that accompanies me when I take my ds's out

After 6 weeks of holidays I'd be glad of the peace and quiet too.

I can barely get more than a vague grunt out of my eldest ds at the best of times, even where there are no nearby gadgets. Conversations between the others usually lead to endless bickering disagreements.

If I had any iPads, I'd happily dole them out.

I'd not give kids that age ipad,but otherwise splendid,and headphone to isolate nose
Thoughtful diner,happy kids and pizza for tea

I can not give a shit about this sort of thing. Really, does it matter? Presumably she talks to them at other times and she wasn't shouting or swearing at them or ignoring them while she tried to get their attention.

Total non-issue of a tiny snap shot of one meal, on one day.

What iK8 said

Do people really need to start threads like this to make themselves feel better about how they parent?

I wouldn't judge them - YABU.

But I do judge your misuse of "myself" in your 2nd sentence. See blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/tomchiversscience/100153530/the-mortal-sin-of-myself-abuse/

(And off to pedants' corner I take myself.)

I'm reeling at the mention of Pizza Hut.

GOD, TAKE ME FROM THIS PLACE

Is that what you wanted to hear, OP?

This far into the holidays I think she's a very smart woman.

OK I often worry that people are judging me and my dd when out in pizza hut for our weekly outing. Dd who is non verbal and has asd always watches her DVD player whilst eating. I do occasionally say things like is that nice dd, do you want some more but she cannot say v much at all. I read on my kindle and enjoy a cappuccino. I haver ecieved some judgemental looks. I would love to take out a chatty dd and enjoy the kind of outing the op had with her kids, but given I have two dc with severe asd this is the best I can hope for. Please please stop judging other people when you know nothing about their circumstances.

Christ this place has people falling over each other to judge non existent parenting failures! There are no points you know. You dont get a badge for joining the rest in the judgy for kicks club.

Yabu to judge.

Really op, how did you think this would go?

Yabu.
I received some very sound advice from a dear friend when my first was tiny, which I will share with you.
You can't tell anyone else how to raise their children.

I'd be judging all of you for being in Pizza Hut tbh.

Personally we have a no iPads/phones at the dinner table rule. That includes in any type of restaurant. I try not to judge others for doing so, but i have to admit I find it hard not to. How hard is it to talk to each other for 30 minutes?

If the dc were so desperate to play on electrical items we might as well stay at home and cook pizza from
Aldi/Iceland/m&s for a third of the price.

Tbh, I'm judging you more for your use - twice in the same sentence! - of the word 'of' instead of 'have', OP.

They were quiet and didn't disturb anyone, least of all you.

And maybe they went out for pizza because Mum really didn't want to do any kind of cooking/cleaning up. That's actually allowed now because it's 2014.

Just about to post what Help has put. Really, how difficult is it to put down your gadgetry for half an hour and talk to each other? No need for it at the table at all.

well, I would judge because one result of all this was that they were extremely rude to the waitress. If you go out to eat and to have someone serve you your food, the very least you can do is be civil to them. These kids weren't, because they couldn't be bothered to.