To have told this woman that the world doesn't revolve around her kid?

[FatFacedDog]

Sat on a plane, window seat. In front of me, a kid aged about 5/6. The way the windows were placed I had one slightly behind me (which I would have to crank my neck to look through) and one in front of me which I could see through perfectly.

Long flight.

As the plane starts driving towards runway the kid in front decides to close all the shutters of the windows he can reach meaning the one in front of him and the one behind him (mine!). I didn't say anything at this point as I a) assumed his mother would as that wasn't his window to prat about with and b) the staff would ensure all shutters were up for takeoff anyway.

So the staff walk down the aisle and see "my" window with the shutter down and tell ME sternly to do the shutter up as has been requested already. I said "I didn't put it down!" And hastily push it back up. With this the kid spins around and says "hey! I want that closed!" So I said nicely "well it has to be open I'm afraid". His useless mother paying no attention. He reaches behind him to close it and I stop him and say "no! It's to remain open!".

At this point he whines to his mother that I keep opening the "curtain" when he wants it shut so she said "you can close it when we start flying". It was my window!!!

So once up in the air he spins around, gives me the look and slams the shutter down. REALLY irritated at this point I open it back up and say "I'm sorry, I'm keeping my shutter open for now". He screams and shouts at his mother that the horrible lady behind won't let him shut the curtains. She turns around and says "sorry, he really likes them closed". I say "well he can close his shutter but this one is mine and I like them open". She gasped dramatically and said "are you serious? He's a child!".

Now I'm proper fuming at this point and said "well maybe this is a great opportunity to teach him about respecting those around him". He snaps back "what do you mean by that??" And I say "that the world doesn't revolve around him!".

Now sensing the whole thing was snowballing I say "look, im sorry but it's a long flight and I'm claustrophobic, I can't sit for 7 hours with my shutter closed".

She spun back in her chair and snapped at the kid "just leave it open, some people are just selfish!".

SO wibu??? DH seems to think so!

FanjoForTheMammaries
Glad you put that 5 year old in his place. Go you.

the mother wasn't doing anything so what should she have done?

No no no u are not bu I'm flying soon in a few weeks with 4 kids 2,5,8,12 I wud be mortified if my 2 year old acted like that also my 8 year old is autistic and adhd but there is never an excuse for that especially at that age!!

YANBU! I often tell my 3 year old that the world doesn't revolve around him, good lesson to teach young 😃

I have a friend whose (extremely nice) boyfriend has just split up with her because he can no longer cope with her selfish, brattish, demanding, whining nine year old son, who has never been told 'no'. She of course blames the boyfriend rather than her lack of parenting skills but the point is that a good man got away and she is left with a problem she won't tackle and that will ruin every relationship she ever has.

People like this indubitably exist - they just don't post on Mumsnet - or keep schtum if they do. I've lost count of the number of times I have seen entitled parents and their vile offspring misbehaving - children on scooters roaring down the gangway on buses and trains, kicking the backs of seats on planes/trains/coaches/the cinema, singing at the top of their voices on the same.