Behaviour at school play yesterday

[user1485342611]

We had:

The woman who put her child standing on a chair for a better view, despite the fact they were up near the front, and then stood herself for the remainder of the performance.

The baby who was allowed cry and disrupt the performance several times before the mother took her out

The family who all clattered in late and settled themselves with much scraping of chairs.

The whiny toddler whose parents loudly accommodated him, 'do you want to sit on my lap' 'here's a biscuit' etc

The adults who chatted together when their child wasn't on stage

And the mother who answered two phone calls during the play.

Not to mention the parents holding their phones up in front of everyone to record the whole thing.

Are some adults incapable of showing a bit of cop on and consideration for half a bloody hour?

Patronising? I don't see that but if you want to interpret it that way it's no skin off my nose.

You've accused those of us ( parents and school staff ) of being heartless regarding crying children causing a disturbance, I think you are showing selfishness.

I had a woman in a massive fucking bobble hat sat in front of me. I asked her very politely if she would mind taking it off during the play so that I could see. She was a bit but did so then proceeded to screw her hair up into the world's biggest bun on the top of her head that was bigger than the hat. I gave up.

Is it any wonder why so many schools ban siblings from school plays
Op, yanbu at all. Selfish entitled behaviour.

StillStayingClassySanDiego completely agree with you

Where I teach, parents are not allowed to have phones out during a performance, and any parents that try to record the performance or take photos are asked to leave by the Head or Deputy head. At evening performances, it;s adults only allowed so no crying babies or whiny toddlers can come in.

Except a baby is usually crying for a reason. Yes if the baby will not stop then leave, but the first murmur? Wouldn't you try and comfort the baby first? Feed them perhaps? Pick them up? Christ for a bunch of parents you're quite heartless.

Yes, we're all parents. Yes, we also know it's quite selfish and rude to let our children disturb the other 99% who are trying to listen to 100% of the children's songs and lines that they've worked so hard to learn. We know that we have to sort it our leave immediately to be fair to everyone else. It's also called parenting the one in immediate need of attention, the one that needs removed, even if it means not getting what we want.

Do you put other people ahead of your child?

Of course I do. It's good manners. I didn't want to rear entitled brats.

I one sought out a noisy toddler in the interval and warmly congratulated her in front of her parents on her leading role! It obviously went over her head, but not her parents'

Of course I do. It's good manners. I didn't want to rear entitled brats.

This is the thing. Parents who display poor manners are teaching their kids to behave in the same way. Not going to do them any favours in the long run.

It's the people who film the whole performance on ipads I can't stand. I cannot for the life of me understand why this isn't banned.

@sticklebrix @WateryTart sorry but my son certainly isn't entitled, but I can assure you, he comes before anyone else in my life.

He will be pretty soon if you let him think the world revolves around him.

Personally, if the baby is crying/toddler disrupting but if the parents are trying best to stop it, I don't mind so much.
It's when they don't seem to care, it gets to me.
At recent assembly, there were parents and DPs with a toddler. The little girl kept calling " Mummy" , and she kept ignoring, keep on filming on her phone, and other parents were desperately trying to entertain her! None of her family seemed to care. She kept walking around everywhere, and some others had to stop her getting out from the open door.( It was kept open because it was hot.)

Lol PrinceAli read my post again - I clearly said it shouldn't be left to parents to tell people to STFU which I have done on many occasions, hope that's grown up enough for you. Although I still think if the Head has asked people to be respectful and they still aren't, in a big hall it should be the teachers that step in. I've lost count of the times over 17 years I've had to ask people to stop being so disruptive.

Trifle the whole idea of this forum is for people to be able to comment on anyone that posts anything. You're so rude to people, I'm calling you out on it. Just like I call out PITA parents in real life, in the scenario that OP has described.

The lonely scriptures....the thing is... everyone else thinks their child comes before yours, and they want to see and hear their child perform, and your child, who may be crying, is stopping them doing that. You have said you would move to the back if your baby cried...how does that make a difference? Then the people at the back can't hear. At my school, if your child was making a noise you would be asked to go outside. You could still see children on stage through the glass door, and if your child settled, you could go back in.

DS's new school doesn't allow parents to record plays or shows. The Head doesn't even do the 'child protection' line either. She's very blunt about the fact rude and inconsiderate people spoil it for others.

I have to agree with HoldBack, I used to like your straight forward style, Trifle.
Now all the post I see from you isn't constructive/helpful/ sympathetic, etc. It just seems mean and argumentative without any reasoning. behind it. I am very sad, you know.

There was one particular toddler that was always at my daughters played and his mother could not control him . He screamed , ran up to the stage and was a pain in the arse .
Why I wouldn't let my child behave like that , I do wonder what I will do now I have a baby and no one to watch her for such events .

Plays *

Seeing as trifle has said previously that her pram has as much right to be in the wheelchair space as a wheelchair user, and she wouldn't fold down for someone in one, I can't say I'm too surprised at her response on this thread.

Did your child have a big part in the play or a solo or was his/her first time? That would explain why you're so annoyed. Can't blame you.

Otherwise, it is a school play so there will be lots of young ones and noise and disruption but the list you gave is way over the top I agree! Like the other posters said, parents are not making their children behave...at my child's recital the teacher actually stopped and told (nicely) the parent of a fussy child to leave the area so as to not disturb the others.

I can assure you, he comes before anyone else in my life.

Of course he does. That's how it should be. But your son is also part of a school community. He will be part of various communities throughout his life, long after he no longer lives with you.

There's no difference between letting a crying baby spoil the school play for everyone else and e.g. a teenager keeping the street up with loud music. Or a child picking the daffodils at the park. Or parking in a disabled space when in a hurry. Children need to learn that they're not the centre of the universe IMO. Even if they happen to be at the centre of our universe as parents.

EnjoyYourShitCake

What I have said here is not even particularly controversial. Some of the the things the OP was objecting to wouldn't bother me in the slightest and I think the long list of behaviours she finds objectionable from people at a school play with small children make her sound like hard work. I am as entitled to that view as you are to yours, the only difference being that the OP asked for comments on hers.

HoldBackTheRain

My comment is similar to comments made by hundreds of other posters on this site every day. It wasn't particularly polite, but it wasn't a personal insult or abusive or harassing. I think the only difference between it and other examples is that mine is the minority opinion. For whatever reason that bothers you. Not my problem. If you object to my post, report it.