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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be angry with the chairperson of the PTA

128 replies

tully67 · 27/02/2015 21:28

at a school disco my son was playing with another boy on the dance floor. Play fighting but not in such a way to annoy any other children. She wen up to them, put her hands on both my son's shoulders and told him to stop it. She said nothing to the other boy. There were older boys running around (it was the Y1-3 disco) from Y6 and Y7 including her son and nothing was said to them. I was standing in the hall at the time alone watching him. I was so mad I left (there was only 10 mins left!!). I didn't say anything to her at the time because I was too cross. I will not see her at the school and was thinking of writing to her as Chair of the PTA or speaking to the Head teacher.

OP posts:
vestandknickers · 27/02/2015 22:05

You should have stopped it and then she wouldn't have had to.

You obviously don't like her, but I really don't think you have any reason to complain about her.

Mintyy · 27/02/2015 22:05
Grin

Fastest ever flounce from Mumsnet?

IfMaybeBut · 27/02/2015 22:06

Hmmm your reaction to this makes me suspect you'd never see your son at fault even if he was at fault

scalliondays · 27/02/2015 22:06

Why do you say she is on a power trip - is it just because she is PTA chair?

ilovesooty · 27/02/2015 22:06

I feel for the chair of the PTA

So do I with people like the OP who are happy to access the events for their children then whinge at the organisers who are putting in their own unpaid time and effort.

kungfupannda · 27/02/2015 22:07

Blimey, that was fast!

OP: AIBU?
MN: [draws breath to speak]
OP: Byeeeeee!

Salmotrutta · 27/02/2015 22:08

YABU OP.

She was stopping a fight.

She placed her hands on his shoulders - she didn't smack him one.

It all sounds very calm and appropriate to me.

Apart from the fact that your son was fighting.

What do you do to stop your son fighting OP?

mcarthurspark · 27/02/2015 22:09

Why did you stand there watching your son playfighting on the dance floor and not say anything?

Are you on of those parents who think it's ok for boys to misbehave because 'boys will be boys'?

Or do you just not know what appropriate behaviour looks like? Or not care?

Which one, pick one.

Salmotrutta · 27/02/2015 22:10

And by the way- "play fighting" is not appropriate at a disco.

ilovesooty · 27/02/2015 22:11

No point in asking her questions. She didn't get the validation she was evidently after so she's flounced.

I hope she doesn't write to the HT unless she wants to look like an idiot.

Salmotrutta · 27/02/2015 22:11

Oh.

The OP flounced?

Such a shame Hmm

PatriciaHolm · 27/02/2015 22:13

This is why the PTA is often a thankless task. No one I've encountered in 6 years of primary school is actually on power trip, but there are always a few parents for whom the idea of someone wanting to give up hours of their free time for the school is so odd there must be another motive...

RedCrayons · 27/02/2015 22:18

This sort of play fighting quickly gets out of hand. She waa right to stop it. What if you DS's friend has pushed a little too hard and your DS had fallen over and banged his head, you'd probably be complaining here about how poorly supervised it was.

KS1 school disco is all about crowd control. It's usually 90 mins of stopping kids pushin each other, rolling on the floor, kids picking each other up.

Chesntoots · 27/02/2015 22:22

Holy shit! With running speed like that the OP should be trying out for the next Olympics!!

GammonAndEgg · 28/02/2015 14:25

I run police school discos.

I basically spend two hours shouting "DISCOS ARE FOR DANCING, NOT RUNNING!" at the boys.

ARoomWithoutAView · 28/02/2015 14:34

OP at Turkish border by now?

FlyingPirate · 28/02/2015 14:36

Wow that was the quickest flounce I think I've ever seen on mumsnet and I've been here for years! The replies weren't even that bad

finnbarrcar · 28/02/2015 14:38

Lol, who'd be on the PTA with PFBs like the OP to contend with?

BouleSheet · 28/02/2015 14:39

the PTA are full of women on power trips looking to be the big chief and they are usually the ones who spend as little time as possible with their kids but like to be seen as supermum when theres an audience about

Really ssd ? because ime anyone who volunteers for these positions is to be commended. I would rather not give up my time, energy and calm life to take part in fund raising activities so take my hat off to those who are thoughtful and selfless enough to do so.

indyandlara · 28/02/2015 14:41

Really ssd? Women on a power trip who don't spend time with their own kids? Total lot of crap. I am our PTA and comments like that make me wonder why anyone bothers. It's easy to be critical but amazing how many people aren't willing to give up their own free time to help out, even for 60 minutes twice a year at a disco.

Iggly · 28/02/2015 14:44

the PTA are full of women on power trips looking to be the big chief and they are usually the ones who spend as little time as possible with their kids but like to be seen as supermum when theres an audience about

That's a ridiculous statement. The ones at our PTA certainly aren't. I wish I had more time to help otherwise I'd be on the committee. But certainly not on a power trip.

ilovesooty · 28/02/2015 14:46

Anyone is free to join the PTA and give up their own time instead of whining about those who do.

FryOneFatManic · 28/02/2015 14:46

I am a chair of a PTA. I reluctantly stepped in because no-one else was willing to do it.

It's not a power trip, it's fucking hard work for the benefit of all the kids at the school, especially in the face of parent apathy.

And I do spend plenty of time with my own kids

If I saw a child appearing to be fighting or playfighting or similar, I too would be asking him to stop. Because I have to ensure children are safe and don't get hurt, even inadvertently.

OP, perhaps you could supervise your son better.

finnbarrcar · 28/02/2015 14:48

I've never been on the PTA, purely because I couldn't face all the hard work and demands on my time it would take. Thank goodness some people are willing to sacrifice theirs for the greater good.

pieceofpurplesky · 28/02/2015 14:57

I am on the PTA, ssd I work full time am a single mum and my kids get plenty of time. It's bloody hard work especially when parents don't give their time but who he about everything. I am not, and never have been, on a power trip

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