To think parents should take responsibility if children chase sheep on country walk?

[Firethorn]

Recently went for a country walk (public right of way across farmland) with SIL, my 2 nieces, and another couple and their 3 kids. Crossing a sheep-field, the 5 kids started chasing sheep, trying to 'round them up' in a flock like they'd seen sheepdogs do on TV. I asked SIL if we should stop them, she said no they always do this it's not doing any harm. Other couple agreed and said the kids are having fun, let them play with the sheep. I was a bit concerned as one child was carrying a stick and waving it around, but respected the parents' decision.
Shortly afterwards an irate farmer marched towards us shouting and swearing! She was really aggressive and had a snarling dog (off the lead), dog was circling us but not approaching. For about 5 minutes mins she yelled and swore at the kids for chasing her sheep. All 3 parents then turned on their kids and told them off, lying that they'd been telling them to stop but they'd disobeyed! (They hadn't told them to stop at any point). My niece burst into tears and hid behind me and I lost my temper with farmer for swearing at kids, told her to back off and stop shouting, and to get dog under control. The dad of one of other kids then threatened to kick the dog if it came near his kids, and after some more shouting we decided to go back way we'd come. She shouted abuse after us until we were out of sight!

I'm annoyed with other parents for letting their kids chase sheep then lying about trying to stop them! Also with farmer for being so intimidating and rude. SIL says we should just have apologised and carried on walking. AIBU?

Can't believe this is still dragging on....

Apology letter can only imagine how ridiculous that is.

You've learnt much from this thread....can't you just let it lie.

My friend has a farm in the peaks with a fp through the yard and a family actually had a picnic recently using her patio furniture....outside her kitchen window....

Was it you lot....

Yes, how dare the farmer not be fucking CIVIL towards a family of knuckle draggers who chase sheep and threaten to kick a working dog?

How two faced to go about screaming abuse being ignorant when YOU did just that to the farmer.

Your attitude stinks and your SIL is seriously deluded. I bet if one of the sheep had bruited her kid she have tried to sue the farmer.

You're still refusing to accept that only use adults in your party bear any responsibility for this. You're still bleating sanctimoniously away about the farmer, who has done nothing wrong. You're still refusing to accept that your self absorbed and ignorant sister in law has failed to accept that she and her husband were in the wrong and the farmer was completely justified.

In her mind, the farmer is a rude, aggressive nutcase who has given her child a fear of countryside.

Baaaaaaaaaaaaa Haaaaaaaaaaa!

Of course you wrote a letter to the farmer. Did you sprinkle it with fairy dust and unicorn feathers before you sealed the envelope?

Go on, cut and paste it on here then.

Sil 'friend' who talked of 'opening gates' sounds like scum of the earth.

As does the rest of them for actually blaming the dc when the farmer appeared as saying they had told dc to stop when they hadn't. What amazing examples they are.

You keep coming back with an extra twist of who has now said what and when and justify justify....

Are you a Jack Russell type in real life....

As 'do' the rest of them

Your sister in law's pal is threatening to go back, open every gate and teach her sheepdog a lesson and you DEFEND these criminal, violent stupid cunts?
Absolute fucking shame on you.

Busy first week on Mn op

'You ALL allowed children to terrorise animals'

If I'd been alone with the children, yes it would have been my responsibility, but I would not have allowed them to chase animals or go near the sheep in first place. Not because I knew the sheep were pregnant but because I don't agree with kids chasing animals (although many posters on here think otherwise ). As it happens, there were 3 other adults (all parents) who should have been responsible for their kids. They disagreed with me that their children should be stopped. So for the 100th time... no I did not permit the kids to chase the sheep!

And no, I do not agree with SIL that farmer is a nutcase. Rude and aggressive, but understandably upset under the circumstances. However, to SIL and nieces she will forever be 'that nutcase psychopath farmer' and as a result the moral of story is completely lost on SIL. Great result for everyone!

No, the situation could have been prevented if you and the other adults behaved in a responsible manner and didn't allow children to disturb and distress the farmers animals.

Stop trying to make this the farmers fault.

Oh I'm confused so YOUR children didn't chase?

Or did you just let them follow the others ....like sheep?

Scoop the OP doesn't have kids - she was there with her Sil and nieces.

Oh Robin thanks ....think I'm far to late to thread tocomprehend most of this....

Firethorn, I see you got tired of posting as your alter ego.

MNers - my advice is "don't get in the mud with the pig; you'll only get dirty and the pig will enjoy it".

'Oh I'm confused so YOUR children didn't chase?'

What children? I was the only non-parent in the group. Although apparently this means I should have assumed responsibility for everyone else's kids despite the parents being present. Hmmm

The adults lost any chance of any other outcome than the farmer losing her temper when they told her they couldn't control their children though.

ThankFuck, in your quest for empathy you have also been extremely rude

If you were ever to step foot on my land with your unruly niece and uneducated SIL you'd see for real just how rude, insulting and offensive I could be face to face. Perhaps if you'd all been more in control of the children in the first place the situation would never have arisen. You are, I suspect a troll as no one in real life can possibly be as dense as you.

So the farmer is responsible for the fact that your sister in law is thick, unpleasant and self absorbed?

And given what she seems to be like her choice of not so charming friends is unsurprising.

I don't think ThankFuck has been rude to you, OP. Robust? Yes. Rude? No.

You are, I suspect a troll as no one in real life can possibly be as dense as you.

Surely the only satisfactory answer to all this. If not, let's just hope firethorn doesn't breed herself and add to the 'stupid' gene pool.

I think whatever has been said to you is absolutely warranted. It seems that your whole family struggles with criticism on any level.

Why don't you try explaining to your SIL in small simple words that her behaviour and that of her children caused the farmer's upset reaction. If you do something so stupid, careless and seemingly aggressive on someone else's property, then understandably they might get a bit upset. It's not the farmers fault, as they didn't cause the confrontation - they simply responded to it. Your SIL needs to consider how her actions will affect others.

And as for the male friend who wants to come back to trespass and do criminal damage, words fail me. I would ensure I never met up with him again after hearing that.

Damn - every time the OP appears, another three of my goats disappear! Have a heart, Firethorn - you're clearing the countryside of livestock.

So if the kids wanted to put ther hands in a combine harvester for example, you'd say yeah go ahead because the parents don't have a problem? If the dc weren't your responsibility at all then why did you feel the need to shout at the farmer?

You all behaved terribly. And you're still being obnoxious and self righteous now.

I suspect you are a troll as the drip feeds about 'going back to teach the dog a lesson' are just too much.

I also suspect that prettyfeet and christy are alias' of yours.

Giving farmers a bad name is laughable too. I came across a party like yours whilst out walking through a field of cows. They said how awful the farmer was and that he'd threatened them with a gun. We came across the farmer. Nice chap. He'd been at pains to clearly sign post the path on his land and people still wondered all over it and this particular group had allowed 3 dogs to run off lead through the field. These idiots were future Darwin Award candidates.

If you don't have a basic understanding of issues surrounding livesock - and I mean really basic - then for everyone's safety stay the fuck out of the countryside.