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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To be annoyed at nativity attendees...

18 replies

Squiffie · 12/12/2014 11:52

Am I justified at feeling slightly annoyed by this....
DS had his nativity this morning, it's held in church so space is limited and seats are on a 'first come, first served basis' which is fair enough. However, one child had both parents in attendance, both sets of grandparents, a great grandparent and an uncle! They saved seats and took up the front two rows on one side. I had a seat so didn't affect me directly but there were many parents standing at the back, unable to see.

OP posts:

PrincessFudgeBonnet · 12/12/2014 12:02

I'm impressed that you knew how all these family members related to the one child and which child they all belonged to. Did you do a survey?

BeCool · 12/12/2014 12:06

I think the clue is in "first come first served basis".

NoSundayWorkingPlease · 12/12/2014 12:10

Well when you get there a queue you take seats that are available...so if you're last in then, yes, you'll be at the back.

In terms of the sale of tickets, I don't think entirely first come first served is fair...but I don't think any schools would actually do that anyway. At ours, each family was guaranteed 2 tickets if wanted...then the remainder went on general sale first come first served, which is fair enough.

Fallingovercliffs · 12/12/2014 12:11

One or two members of a family arriving early and saving the entire front row for another half a dozen people arriving later is not acceptable behaviour. Particularly if they don't arrive until the play is almost about to start and people are standing around looking for seats. In that situation I think staff should intervene and explain seats can't be block saved if other people are standing.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 12/12/2014 12:14

It's a church. It's a public place. You can't actually stop anyone from going into a church, at any time.

OOAOML · 12/12/2014 12:18

Is it a school one? At ours you get two tickets allocated per child, and apply if you want more.

Original poster

Squiffie · 12/12/2014 12:20

I know who they all are as it's a child from my son's class and when someone else enquired about taking the seats mum said 'oh we're waiting for x, y and z to arrive'.

There are no tickets allocated. I'd be ok with 'first come, first served' seating if tickets were limited to say 2 per family.

I just feel its pretty selfish tbh when having 8 people there in the front rows for one child prevents others from seeing their children.

OP posts:

StripedCandycaneOss · 12/12/2014 12:47

that many is a bit daft tbh!

but i always make sure i'm there early. ours starts at 2pm this afternoon, i'll be there at 1.20 to make sure i get a good seat.. i prefer sitting up in the gods, so DS cant be tempted to run out of the line and sit with me, but can still see me!

WooWooOwl · 12/12/2014 13:09

I think having 8 people there for one performance is a bit OTT and precious, but if they got there first then so be it. It's likely that some people would have had crap seats and a crap view anyway, that always happens at nativities.

But saving seats for anyone other than a mother or father is just Not On.

DeWee · 12/12/2014 13:14

Problem is with the 2 from each family, is actually the cheeky ones come with the 12 Aunts and Uncles anyway. And no one ever seems to challenge them. Then the people who would love to bring one more, but stuck to the rules feel very aggrieved.

HappenstanceMarmite · 12/12/2014 13:34

No YANBU. Piss takers and selfish to boot.

wheresthelight · 12/12/2014 13:50

if it was held at the school then yanbu however it was in a church and you cannot stop anyone entering a church at any time, even during a wedding. so for that reason yabu

ILovePud · 12/12/2014 13:50

YANBU, our school allocates two tickets per family automatically and then you can apply for extras which seems much fairer to me.

I8toys · 12/12/2014 13:53

YANBU - ridiculous. Fair enough saving one for a partner but that is crazy. Do they all go to see them swimming as well - another one that boils my piss!

Abra1d · 12/12/2014 13:54

I'd be hacked off too, YANBU.

Aherdofmims · 12/12/2014 13:56

I agree with you about savings seats.

I do think you sometimes get a better view standing though.

Someone needs to ensure that those who really need a seat such as elderly get one. Someone gave up seat for Dh who was holding baby at dd's play which was nice.

PenguinsandtheTantrumofDoom · 12/12/2014 13:58

You need to take it up with the school. Most schools limit to 2 tickets per family.

yellowsnownoteatwillyou · 12/12/2014 14:11

That is a bit much. Some people just don't follow the rules.
I went to a p7 graduation ceremony for my friends daughter with her mum and my ds.
A girl in her classes family who I know sat in front of us, they had mum, dad, both sets of grandparents 2 aunties and cousins. I went to school with the dad so know who they are
The brother and the cousins all ages 2-4 shouted and squealed thru the entire thing and the adults just laughed.
Some people are just arseholes. I however did make a passive aggressive statement loudly when I took my baby out for a bit as he was "getting a bit noisy" just general babbling but still not fair for other people to listen to it.

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