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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To be a bit nonplussed by this question (minor beyond belief)

30 replies

ApocalypseThen · 21/07/2015 15:50

My daughter is eight wonderful weeks old and getting on great. For the past few weeks, whenever we meet them, my husband's siblings make a specific enquiry after her welfare - is she watching telly yet.

To my mind, it's of course not - why would she at eight weeks? Naturally I don't say that but I do find it odd that that's the only developmental indicator they're interested in.

Would anyone else be surprised? To clarify, it's only a question, doesn't effect me in any way at all and it's not going to be any kind of an issue. Just wondering whether that's the norm? My family and friends would assume she's not watching telly so that's what I think is standard, but are we the ones out if step?

OP posts:
RabbitSaysWoof · 21/07/2015 15:53

Congratulations! I would wonder why they asked that, is it some kind of long running joke that your telly is always on or something? I cant think they would be serious but its not that funny as a joke.
I would ask them why they ask.

midnightvelvetPart2 · 21/07/2015 15:54

Congratulations on your new daughter :) Flowers

Are they thinking they are being funny? Maybe they have a bet with each other?

paulapompom · 21/07/2015 15:56

YaNbu - I would be surprised at this, especially at 8 weeks. Do they have children? Just wondering if they don't know what to ask, but want to show they are interested?

Original poster
ApocalypseThen · 21/07/2015 15:57

Well it's definitely not that the telly's always on here, we don't watch it till after five because neither of us can stand daytime TV. They wouldn't know that though, we're in an apartment so not drop in people.

My guess so far has been that they found it a relief when theirs could be left for a while with it on and assume it'd be the same for us?

OP posts:
8angle · 21/07/2015 16:00

That is definitely a weird question! I would reply : "oh yes, she's a total news addict, but i think the weather forecast get's her down a bit"!

Congratulations by the way!

ThirtyFivePounds · 21/07/2015 16:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster
ApocalypseThen · 21/07/2015 16:15

Thanks for the congratulations, everyone and I'm glad to know I'm not totally off beam!!

OP posts:
Peaceloveandcustardcreams · 21/07/2015 16:17

Totally weird! Although I have been known to leave the TV on for my 7mo to avoid the hysterical separation anxiety he has at the moment Confused he does quite like the weather forecasts!

8angle · 21/07/2015 16:21

haha Peace wait till the summer is over....

Cocolepew · 21/07/2015 16:22

Congratulations, tell them she's more a wireless listener.
Weirdos.

TendonQueen · 21/07/2015 16:26

I'd think up j different response each time. Yes, she's loving Breaking Bad. Yes, she really enjoyed the opera on Sky Arts this week. And so on.

ElviraCondomine · 21/07/2015 16:26

"She loves it but we only let her watch the BBC news and wildlife documentaries. We wouldn't let her watch commercial television, " is the only possible reply, preferably shuddering on the word commercial.

I think DC were 12 months before I actively willed them to be hypnotised by children's tv long enough for me to go to the loo in peace.

howabout · 21/07/2015 16:30

Congratulations.
I had 2 very colicky babies. I found myself "watching" a lot of telly with them in the early evening while doing whatever it was that helped. Hopefully you are already beyond the window for this.
With DD3 we never got into the habit of watching telly and now she is a toddler beyond the nap stage I wish she would just zone out in front of cbeebies when she is tired.

Original poster
ApocalypseThen · 21/07/2015 16:31

I love those responses. I wish I had the courage!

OP posts:
Olddear · 21/07/2015 16:34

Say 'yes! We can't get the remote off her!!!'

midnightvelvetPart2 · 21/07/2015 16:38

Say with a hollow laugh ' I wish, we tried her with Eastenders all last week but all she wants to listen to is Classic FM, she especially enjoys Rattle's Orchestral Greats, I expect you've heard it. Her favourite instrument is the bassoon but she's partial to an oboe solo as well of course. Tell me, which section of the violins do you prefer?' :)

toomuchtooold · 21/07/2015 16:39

That is the oddest question ever! I was glad when my DTs started showing an interest in the TV as it gave me a bit of a break but that was at about 22 months!

OTheHugeManatee · 21/07/2015 16:45

"Yes, we had to take the remote off her the other day because she was yelling at some pranny on Question Time and pooed her nappy. Yes, of course I'm joking, she's fucking eight weeks old you idiots."

Peaceloveandcustardcreams · 21/07/2015 16:47

Manatee has the best response!

knackered69 · 21/07/2015 16:48

"yes - but we've found that Jeremy paxman makes her quite cross "

Gruntfuttock · 21/07/2015 16:51

That was a weird question, but not as stupid as the one I read in a YouTube comment yesterday. The video featured twin girls and the question was "Where do you buy clothes for twins?" Confused

OTheHugeManatee · 21/07/2015 16:55

"Where do you buy clothes for twins?"

HOWLING Grin

Gruntfuttock · 21/07/2015 17:00

I can just imagine someone scouring childrens' clothes shops looking for clothes for twins and complaining that they've only got clothes for individual children. "That's no good to me, I've got two!"

Cocolepew · 21/07/2015 17:15

Omg the twin thing Grin

RachelRagged · 21/07/2015 18:01

Not come across this before so YANBU to wonder OP

Only thing I can offer is one of my children was in hospital at 3 weeks old. I stayed with him the first night but the second one being a Sunday, and partner of the time having to work on the Monday and we had a DS already, I had to go home

We could collect DS 3wk the next day and when we went into the room a TV had been angled toward the cot (on a ceiling) and was on with volume on . I never thought to ask why .. Maybe it gives company hearing voices ?