To be annoyed by this?

[ProudAsPunch92]

I don't allow my son to watch any TV as he is only 16 months and I really don't see the point. My brothers kids spend all their time sat in front of the TV and won't do anything else. I have specifically asked my mum not to let ds watch the TV and when I came to pick him up today he is sat goggle eyed to the TV with my brothers youngest.

I am ever so grateful for my mum looking after ds for a couple of hours for me today but AIBU to be annoyed that he was just sat watching TV when I specifically said I don't want him watching cartoons?

Can't see the harm. No point in forbidding TV. Almost every home has one.

OP, I think you're being rather snippy with people simply because everyone isn't jumping to agree with you.

You've asked for opinions, you don't like them - that does not mean you are being 'lynched' ffs.

YABU and a tad hysterical on this thread!

If you want childcare done your way, you pay for it. If people are kind enough to help you, you bend a bit. I am sure he loves playing and exploring but your mum probably just wanted to chill out a bit. As you now know that her care doesn't meet your requirements don't ask her again.

sn00p how many more times - it was not a favour I gave her money. Do people actually read the thread of just jump on their high horse?!

Sorry I posted that before I saw that you pay her.

Well you must decide whether you wish to treat it as 'employing childcare'. Your mum may see it differently.
Eg, I employ a gardener. I say I want that flower bed to be very bright in the spring. Therefore he does not plant autumn flowering shrubs there.
But I 'treat' my MIL for dog sitting when I go abroad. I know darn well she lets those dogs up onto her bed in the morning,which is banned. But I don't complain, as she is much cheaper to treat than the kennels and they are with someone who loves and cares about them.

YANBU, Id be annoyed too.

Op, I'll ask again, what do you think will be the negative effect of a couple of hours (at the most!) TV exposure?

A toddler doesn't need to watch tv, your mother probably wasn't letting him watch tv because she felt he was missing out it was probably just the easy option.

My toddler (who is currently watching mr tumble) is far from a zombie, he's a sociable, advanced, imaginative little boy who likes to watch a bit of TV after a day playing in the park/going for walks/baking. Do you really think that a small amount of TV turns children in zombies?

What Whisk said

You aren't the horse poo and apples poster are you?

So why didn't you plan the activities for your dm and child? Why should she go all out to create some minute by minute roster of activities when doing you a favour by looking after him when you had an appointment.

Priorities op. You're being so precious and if you do confront your mother about it you will offend her and then sit and wonder in a few years shes closer to your nephews than your child.

You hadn't mentioned paying her when I started my response. One of mine won't watch tv... Threads move on too quickly nowadays. When I only had the goggle eyed zombie eldest I was much better at keeping up with these exciting, fast moving threads.

My DC2 watching TV at 4 months. It was the only way I got any peace. Oh that'll be why I caught her trying to eat my brains whilst I slept the other day then!!

I don't allow him to watch it so yes, it is a big deal actually. I don't want a goggle eyed zombie when there is so much else he can be doing. Just because you think it's ok for your kids to watch TV doesn't mean I do! Gosh I forgot how lynched you get on Mumsnet for daring to have an opinion on the way your own child is brought up..!

Sorry, but I did titter at this a bit!
You have asked for an opinion. You have accepted help from your Mum (whether paid or not, it was probably cheaper than a nursery or childminder, and perhaps your Mum could have been busy doing something else and only agreed to look after your child as a favour??)

A short while in front of the TV is not going to do any lasting damage - get a grip!

And as for "I forgot how lynched you get" - chortle - no-one has said anything mean at all. You asked for people's opinions, now accept them. If you have your own opinion on how your child is brought up, why are you asking for anyone else's, if you're not prepared to take them on board?

Yes, YABU. For several reasons -

1. Your mum is doing the childcare - if you don't like the way she's doing it, then pay a professional instead. Are you happy with the way she brought you up?

1. TV isn't the devil. Most of cBeebies is actually quite educational.

1. You're awfully aggressive about this - if you didn't want people's opinions, then why on earth post?

My own daughter was a most dreadful eater. I can remember sitting her in front of "The Jungle Book" in her high chair, because as Mowgli was in the monkey jungle and popped a banana skin on his head, this is when my DD would agree to eat a banana, with the banana skin on her head.
So the TV was most extremely useful on a couple of occasions.

Also, schools often use the television as a learning tool, so it is not always the work of the devil!

Once again - The OP is not asking for people's views on her decision re: letting her child watch TV.

I suspect a lot of posters are getting v defensive on here because they let their own child watch TV. Instead of addressing the actual AIBU question.
Also, the issue of pymt is a red herring. If something is impt to you, then just because someone is looking after your child for free (admittedly not even the case here) that doesn't give them carte blanche to ignore all your preferences for their care! Of course they're within their rights to do so, but you're then within your rights to feel they're being unreasonable!

Gosh, I'm not sure I remember encountering such an arsy OP.

I will add my voice to the chorus: you asked for opinions. You got them. Deal with it.

I suspect that people are becoming agitated with the OP is because our 'goggle eyed zombies' were not part of the AIBU also.

And they are within their rights to tell the OP to get stuffed next time she needs a couple of hours childcare, as is the OP free to flounce off and find an alternative carer in future.

Or there can be a little bit of compromise and everyone can stay friendly.

Aibu?

Yes you are.

No I'm not!!!!!

Hahahaha why ask then?

A bit of tv here and there doesn't do any harm. Pay for child care if you feel that strongly. Yabu.

Meh. I'll quite happily admit my kids all watched TV from an early age. Teletubbies did wonders with all of them when babies to calm them down when nothing else would.

Now they're 12, 9 and 6. They all like TV, have their favourite programmes/characters, but also have vivid imaginations, like to read and play, are very active. Not one is a 'goggle-eyed zombie'.

I'm not remotely defensive. The OP, on the other hand...

Would the OP have been happy to come home to a tearful child who had been separated from his cousins because they were allowed watch TV and he wasn't?

CharityBelle - "The OP is not asking for people's views on her decision" - ?? What is she asking, then?

AIBU to be annoyed that he was just sat watching TV when I specifically said I don't want him watching cartoons
That sounds like asking for people's views, to me
And if OP is unhappy with the situation, then she should not ask her Mum to babysit, ever again. Then Granny and child both lose out. How very sad!

Does it matter if you paid her or not? You're not happy with how she looked after your child so you'll know not to ask her again. You can find alternative arrangements for your next 2hr appointment can't you? Or do you find people steadfastly avoid you?