Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think lying about the window being locked was out of order

77 replies

maggiethemagpie · 23/08/2016 21:26

Went to stay with friends for the weekend. Their sofa was pushed against the window in the living room, looked out on a bus route. My kids (5 and 2) were climbing on to the windowsill from the sofa, friends were fine with this.

There were two big, openable (but closed) , windows that looked out on to the drive below. About a 12 foot fall onto hard concrete. I immediately identified it as a hazard and asked if it was safe.

Friend's DH said he could lock the windows. He got the key and locked one, so I assumed the other was locked.

Kids continued to play on the windowsill all evening and the next morning I thought I'd just check the windows were definitely locked, and the one that he hadn't locked in front of me was open. There is no chance the window could have been locked then opened as we were staying in the living room overnight.

AIBU to think that playing with my kids safety in this way is totally out of order? I've no idea why he didn't lock the second window or even check it but it seems careless and thoughtless. I haven't said anything, but don't want to stay with them again.

OP posts:
Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 23/08/2016 21:27

Meant to say the one he hadn't locked in front of me was UNLOCKED not open. But it could have been opened very easily by just pushing and twisting the handle.

OP posts:
myownprivateidaho · 23/08/2016 21:30

Sounds like an oversight to me, doubt it was deliberate. You say yourself you only thought to check the next day. Seems like a non-issue to me.

FedUpBird · 23/08/2016 21:30

Why didn't you take responsibility for your children? Whether they were OK with your children playing on the window sill I certainly wouldn't have been and they wouldn't be playing on the window sill

NerrSnerr · 23/08/2016 21:30

Are you sure it wasn't an oversight instead of a lie? Maybe he thought it was locked?

bloodymaria · 23/08/2016 21:31

YABU. You should have checked the locks earlier. Or stopped the kids playing on the windowsill.

YeOldMa · 23/08/2016 21:31

Well, he might have believed the window was unlocked. It's a good job though that your friend didn't mind your kids climbing all over their sofa and windowsill, think I might have been peed off about it but that's because I hate cleaning windows! Grin

OlennasWimple · 23/08/2016 21:31

Um, he made a mistake, not "played with your kids' safety".

It would be completely over the top to not stay with them again because of this (I'm assuming that your DC are in fact fine?). Just check the windows yourself next time

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 23/08/2016 21:31

You are both daft- him for not locking the window and you for allowing them to climb onto the window sill!

Original poster
maggiethemagpie · 23/08/2016 21:32

I did take responsibility for my children - I asked if the windows could be locked and was told they had been.

OP posts:
Goldenvalley · 23/08/2016 21:33

I'd guess it was an accident/ oversight. Nothing actually happened. perhaps you should've double checked in the first place?

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 23/08/2016 21:35

Why were your children playing on a windowsill? Especially a five year old; what would have happened if one had fallen against the glass??

tofutti · 23/08/2016 21:35

Why didn't you check windows were locked by trying to open them?

AyeAmarok · 23/08/2016 21:35

You're overreacting and being overly dramatic.

MakeItRain · 23/08/2016 21:35

If he actually got the key and locked one of the windows, it's probably an oversight that the other was unlocked, rather than deliberate. I can see why you're upset about it, but I think ultimately it's always best to double check safety things for your own children when you're away from home.

fieldfare · 23/08/2016 21:36

Stop blaming someone else and take responsibility for your children. It is up to you to teach them not to climb on a windowsill!

Mycraneisfixed · 23/08/2016 21:37

People who haven't had kids don't realise the dangers or how adventurous kids can be. When my kids were toddlers and we went to a house/place for the first time I automatically did a recce and sussed out all potential dangersGrin
You have to take responsibility for your own kids I'm afraid!

fabulous01 · 23/08/2016 21:38

I think it was an oversight but you truSted what he said. This is a normal thing and see it as a lesson learnt without any harm, next time check as at the end of a day it is the parents responsibility

PaulAnkaTheDog · 23/08/2016 21:39

Bloody hell...

SalemSaberhagen · 23/08/2016 21:41

Was there a thread the other day about someone not locking a window and lying about it, or am I going mad?

TheCrowFromBelow · 23/08/2016 21:41

I think you should teach your children not to climb on other people's sofas and windowsills.
If you were staying with me I might say " oh not a problem" to be polite, but children shouldn't be climbing in the sofa to windowsills.
Your oversight not his.

londonrach · 23/08/2016 21:50

Why didnt you check? Did you ask your hosts if they minded your children climbing on windowsills. Id be worried dc would accidently smash window and fall through. (It happened to a family member). Not a very safe location to play. Couldnt you have directed your dc to another location like the floor!

JenLindley · 23/08/2016 21:55

Hang on, so you actually watched him lock one window and didn't think to ask him to lock or check the other one when he didn't do it? Surely you were fully expecting him to lock both? Why didn't you say anything or check the second one as soon as you realised he wasn't locking it?

maddiemookins16mum · 23/08/2016 21:56

Dear God, keep the kids off the sofa and window sill, it's not rocket salad. I assume you'll not be returning for another visit what with their total disregard for your kids' safety.

JenLindley · 23/08/2016 21:58

And your kids shouldn't have been climbing on the windowsill!

JenLindley · 23/08/2016 21:58

What a dangerous habit to encourage!

Swipe left for the next trending thread