To think if there's a time for performance parenting this wasn't it?

[ilovesooty]

Earlier today. On a shuttle bus going from the airport terminal to the plane. We were crammed in to the extent our noses were almost in each others' armpits. A couple got on with a toddler in a buggy. He immediately wanted to get out so they let him. He used my legs to pull himself upright. His father picked him up. Then both parents began very loudly "Where are we going? On an Aeroplane! Who's taking us? The pilot! How many aeroplanes can you see? Aren't you clever to count to eleven? Now shall we sing the song about holidays you learned at nursery?"

And they did.

WiBU to hope they would shut up once on the plane?

Disclaimer - lighthearted - it only annoyed me for five minutes of my life.

Fatty

I did this constantly; I'm hideously, unforgivably un-British and sang, chatted, counted, made up stories, spoke in lots of different languages (some real) and generally had a lovely time. Usually the DC did too.

My poor DH would come over all Michael
Palin when people glared: 'sorry, so sorry,' mumble, blush, stare out the window.

I bet the second we have grandchildren, he'll be the gurning, "HOW many trivets can you count?""do that again in the pluperfect, pumpkin" wanker on the bus.

I can't wait.

Performance parenting is something people only seem to do with their first child. Myself included. By the time the next one comes around you've realised that your offspring is not actually the most astounding creature who has ever appeared on the planet and that no-one else is quite as interested as hearing about their genius as you are.

What is it with some wankers parents?!

I was in Waterstones with my DM, yesterday, and a woman was in there with her DC, who looked approx. 9-12mth. I have to admit I've come across some competitive parenting, but never performance parenting, until yesterday. Her conversation with her DC went like this.

Performance Mum, "What's this, darling?" (points to book)
Child, "B, b, b, b, ..."
Performance Mum, "Yes! You super intelligent darling! You're right, it's a book! Can you tell me what this is?" (points to ball)
Child, "B, b, b, b, ..."
Performance Mum, "Oh, you are amazing! What is this?" (points to table)
Child, "B, b, b, b, ..."
Performance Mum, " WOW! What a clever sweetheart you are! Yes, it's a table!"
Me and my DM,

spoke in lots of different languages (some real)

@ the 'some real'

Maybe it was for the child's benefit and not yours?

I have seen some quite good Performance Grandparenting too.

Gosh, bunnyjo. I would so much rather go out for a drink with you than that rubbish mother! You sound really interesting.

I got run over by a trolley in waitrose on Thursday while chatting loudly to DS2 about spaghetti. I did feel like a bit of a twat because the trolley driver gave me a bit of a look and I realised I was talking complete bollocks .

Performance parent here .

At least you have the grace to admit it, RC.

She may have run me over deliberately because I was being so annoying. I probably deserved it.

Oh I love performance parenting confessions - that's me.

Different kettle of pots, though.

I did this constantly; I'm hideously, unforgivably un-British and sang, chatted, counted, made up stories, spoke in lots of different languages (some real) and generally had a lovely time. Usually the DC did too

How is that being un-British?

Thats every person I know who has a baby

Just had a horrible thought. My oldest closest friends daughter lives near me,away from family, as I did(this is vaguely relevant) she's so close I breastfed her, she's a couple of weeks younger than my youngest. So by default I'm Granny Tigger. Her DS is hearing impaired. And when I have him, every week/other week we will sometimes shop. I speak very loudly to him. Omg people think I'm 'that'person, don't they......

Nah, not "people" Tigger. Just wankers.

slowdancing that's beautiful parenting. It's doing it to the perceived audience that's the problem. I've said it before on here years ago, someone once asked my why I was bothering to talk to my then approximately 10 months old dc. As he's 'just a baby'. with a sneer. I replied 'so he doesn't grow up to ask stupid questions like that'. I, like most people love seeing people interacting with children, I love doing it myself. And love even more seeing it reciprocated. But people performing? Nah. Bloody awful.

I must definitely be a performance parent-er as I never really get what the problem is in these threads.

Is it volume? Should we only talk quietly to our children in public? Since having children I only seem to be able to converse at full volume to match them..

Sorry Sooty, I think you've just forgotten the precarious mental state of three year olds. Any lapse, sign of inattentiveness etc is met by some form of meltdown. I would rather manically sing and gesticulate every time. It's not performance parenting, it's survival!

They could also be trying to keep him awake!

I used to manically sing if mine were about to drop off when I didn't want them to!

I generally try not to engage ds in loud conversation as it inevitably ends up with him saying something hideously embarrassing. Like the time he told dh and I to stop arguing because we "should know better because Daddy you're 45, Mummy you're 36!" He's 4.

We were at the check out in a sports shop at the time btw.

This has made me

What I can't get my head round though is that they got on the very crowded shuttle bus to the plane which takes just a few minutes. Toddler asks to get out of the buggy. And they let him
WTAF?

That is precisely why performance parents stop once the child participates Littlelion!

I'd probably think they were distracting the child to avoid a meltdown. So, perfectly normal parenting.
Or they were just excited.