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AIBU?

To think this man was just rude?

187 replies

QuestioningStuff · 05/10/2015 16:49

Shopping with DC earlier, we got to the cereal aisle and I asked DS (3yo) what cereal he wanted. I knew full well that he would say Weetabix as that's what he always has.

A man butted in before DS could answer and told me I should give him oats and fruit. That all these cereals are bad for them. I told him to mind his own business and took the weetabix. He called after me that I was rude. I said he was rude to comment on what a stranger feeds their child.

WIBU? He was rude wasn't he? I will be the first to admit that we don't live off of Kale and Chia Seeds (whatever the hell they are) but it's Weetabix ffs!

OP posts:

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Dixiechickonhols · 05/10/2015 18:54

The man didn't know your son would say weetabix. I bet he thought he would say coco pops etc. He probably thought he was being helpful and stopping you buying sugary cereal.
Whilst thinking WTF has it got to do with you a politer response would have been oh he likes weetabix, pick up weetabix and walk off.
I wouldn't spend any more time thinking about it.

sonata1 · 05/10/2015 19:06

You got off lightly. He could have been a cereal killer !

thebestfurchinchilla · 05/10/2015 19:07

Of course it all depends on how it was said. If it was with a smile and a joke because he happened to be right near you when your DS asked then it's just making conversation. But, you were obviously offended so i'm thinking his tone wasn't jokey. I do think it sounds like your response was a bit aggressive but I wasn't there. For some reason when you have little children everyone thinks they need to pass on their advice when all you want to do is get on with your shopping.
I agree that sometimes it's easier to smile and carry on, far less stressful.

thebestfurchinchilla · 05/10/2015 19:11

Thank god stripy!!

MissEeerie · 05/10/2015 19:24

He was twat. I'm also now craving Weetabix

gandalf456 · 05/10/2015 19:24

I think that is the thing when you have kids. Everyone has a comment . You learn to brush it off the older they get and the more you have. I may have taken things more personally with Dd because I had less confidence than when I had ds.

MissingPanda · 05/10/2015 19:31

He was rude. I don't get this 'smile and nod' that just encourages them to do it all the more. Maybe next time he'll think twice before sticking his nose where it doesn't belong.

Bigoldsupermoon0 · 05/10/2015 19:35

I don't think you were rude, OP - I bet he wouldn't have said it to a massive bloke. A woman and a child were probably an easy target for his Manly Wisdom, so I'm glad you gave him what for!

Yellowbird54321 · 05/10/2015 19:40

"Manly wisdom"
Well meaning advice from strangers always winds me up, though I usually grit my teeth and attempt a nod and smile, quite funny that you were up front enough to tell him to mind his own business

PigletJohn · 05/10/2015 19:44

I once watched a bit of some TV programme with Tracy Cox, and she advised a woman to hang around DIY sheds and say to tasty blokes "can you tell me if this is the right sort of screw for a hanging basket?" (or whatever) for practice in striking up conversations.

For some reason it has stuck in my mind. Maybe he thinks the cereal aisles are good places to meet women?

Bigoldsupermoon0 · 05/10/2015 19:44

It's a shame one can't carry JPGs around in real life, I think...

To think this man was just rude?

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 05/10/2015 19:45

6 of one and half a dozen of the other to be honest.
Yes he should have minded his own business but a tad bit rude to say it to him. IMO.

ipswichwitch · 05/10/2015 19:48

Maybe you should have followed him round the shop and judged his purchases for him. You know, return the favour, being all helpful and that. See how he'd like it. That's what I do if it happened to me. But it doesn't. Probably because I have a serious resting bitch face, especially when I'm food shopping, which is frankly something to be endured at the best of times.

dodobookends · 05/10/2015 19:48

Several people have mentioned that the bloke was right and Weetabix isn't healthy. Eh?

Oh, I'd have told him to mind his own business as well. Ruddy nosy parker.

Lucyccfc · 05/10/2015 19:51

He was not only rude, but also uneducated. Weetabix is low in sugar and salt and high in fibre. Oats are fine, but add dried fruit and its high in sugar.

Next time just tell him to read the labels/content (then tell him to sod off).

QuestioningStuff · 05/10/2015 19:54

Really interesting how divided the responses are.

Was wondering how long it would take for the 'haven't you got anything else to worry about' comments to arrive.

After a year of leaving an abusive relationship with 2 young children I am delighted to say that yes this is all I have to worry about right now and I'm bloody grateful for that.

OP posts:

Verbena37 · 05/10/2015 19:55

I would have made a lighthearted comment like "I know but being a parent isn't as easy as oats and fruit" type thing and just taken the weetabix.

You were kind of defensive in relation to what he said but some people are like that. People say a lot worse.

BloodyDogHairs · 05/10/2015 19:57

The Op said the man butted in before her DS could answer so he didn't know her DS would choose weetabix.

Verbena37 · 05/10/2015 19:57

lucyccfc He was probably meaning that processed wheat products arent as healthy for humans as unrefined oats. Humans weren't made to eat wheat.

Dragonsdaughter · 05/10/2015 19:59

nah all the 'you were rude' types are just conditioned people pleaser's who think we as mothers and women should be polite and nod nicely to anyone with a bloody opinion how we parent, dress, do our hair, drink, eat etc.

amarmai · 05/10/2015 20:02

this is kind of like the thread where it's ok for someone's kid to target another one but not ok for the other mother to tell her kid he can defend himself. He started it op and you were right to tell him it was none of his beeswax. It also reminds me of the mansplainer thread - he was in his 20s but he knew more than you what your child shd eat?! ++ what' s the sugar content of weatabix -0%? And all the threads where mn tells us to speak up for ourselves and now when you do you get smacked down. Maybe he uses the grocery store for speed dating? You did what you needed to do op .

PunkrockerGirl · 05/10/2015 20:03

I'm just thinking how much more fun the weekly shop would be if we all went round commenting on what the other shoppers took from the shelves.
He was rude, OP. If you'd wanted his manly wisdom on what constitutes the best cereal, I'm sure you'd be quite capable of asking him for it. He got off lightly imo, I'd have said a lot more than you did. I am not known for my patience in supermarkets, rage often happens

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londonrach · 05/10/2015 20:07

He was rude but you were ruder. Just smile and nod next time. You might be the only person he talks to that day.

Bigoldsupermoon0 · 05/10/2015 20:12

Astounded by posters on here acting like the OP should basically be grateful for some dude interrupting her interaction with her small child to school her on what a bad mother she is, then shouting at her that she's rude.

And so what if she's the only person he talks to that day, LondonRach - she owes him nothing!

ObsidianBlackbirdMcNight · 05/10/2015 20:20

So what if she was rude back? He was extremely rude and random rudeness to strangers warrants rudeness back in my view.

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