To think this man was a miserable git?

[Sashkin]

Lighthearted, but obviously not completely lighthearted because it’s about my darling PFB.

DS is 10mo, and has always liked smiling at strangers when we are out. On the tube today, and he looks across at this middle-aged man next to us, gives him a shy little smile and tries a tentative wave. This. is. his. first. wave. ever, so clearly a massive milestone and proud moment for me. I coo at him “oh well done, are you waving at the nice man?” And the nice man harrumphs and goes back to his newspaper without even acknowledging poor little DS, who looks crestfallen.

AIBU to think this man was a miserable git if he couldn’t humour a small child for five minutes, and WIBU to burn his house down in retaliation?

If you had a kitten rather than a child, I would have engaged.

I'd likely not wave but I would have smiled at your baby, OP. I like other people's children. I would however worry that a smile would be received as tacit, "Let me hold your baby NOW!", when it wouldn't be...

You wouldn't thrust your baby in my lap, would you OP? ... Perhaps this is what the man was concerned for. The harrumphing would have been due to the news content/very poor journalistic effort rather than your baby, I'm sure.

Plumes. That made me lol. Men with slings is weird. Dh wouldnt have done this. Still, tube man was horrible. He should be named and shamed. I like babies as long as they are safe with their mums or dads and not crying near me. I,am a mum by the way. But mine are 20 plus and most kids tend to cry near me!

I wonder if he was annoyed at your cooing and congratulations at your baby. It's really not a "massive milestone". The man has no idea that the baby doesn't do that twenty times a day either.

Please don't expect anyone to be interested in your baby. Most people have had them of their own. Babies are not a fascinating novelty to them.

DS1(23) wouldn’t have acknowledged your baby I’m afraid. He just doesn’t like babies or children. It doesn’t matter who they belong to or what they do he’s not interested in them. That doesn’t make him a miserable git.

He might actually have been a bit embarrassed about you putting the spotlight on him, drawing attention to him?

I never noticed people around me when I was trying not to drop my baby on the floor of buses... wriggly little things they are.

Oh for fucks sake.

Fairy, (waves) my 21 year old also hates kids. He wont even like his own i think ( sadly) he would have stared at child. Child might have cried. It wouldnt have gone well.

I think parents need to get over the fact that not everyone is enchanted by your dribbling smiley baby/child. It is life. People have other things to do other than coo and dribble and make faces at your kid.

Do not project this on to others, some people just do not have time for kids specially on public transport. Get over yourself. It is your child not anyone elses precious smiley recipient.

pmsl at 10 month old baby looking crestfallen

I wouldn't have acknowledged baby either. If you do it once, it goes on and on.

YABU

oh well done, are you waving at the nice man? Did you say it nice and loud, for everyone around you to hear? You may have heard him harrumphing, but missed the numerous people rolling their eyes.

Oh OP I'd've loves that! Well done DS, what a clever boy!

Hello The80s I was saying to MIL yesterday I think we’ll have a very long wait before DS1 has any children. Although realistically I think it will be unlikely tbh.

Flatpackjackie it actually is, it’s in the Red Book and everything.

(runs off to fill in that page of the Red Book to show to the HV)

I happily give a smile to any stranger* who smiles at me. A bit of friendly interaction makes the world go round. Takes more effort to harrumph and look disapproving.

(not that man who had his penis in his hand)

Ds2 wont have any. If he does i cant see it being a roaring success somehow.
Ds1 is a softy. He would have waved and spoke and generally been great.

Yabvvvvu

I say that as someone who smiles at babies.

Plumes, what kind of train was that?

It was a bus 80s. Wanking flashers always take the bus!

Blimey, it might be in the Red Book, but "Massive milestone" it isn't.

Over-enthusiastic parents (see Loud Parents) who try to engage random strangers in their PFB's activities are annoying. As someone else said, you may have seen the man's reaction, but you weren't aware of the inward cringing of the other passengers within earshot.

Oh, a bus. Explains it all.

I experienced a "wanker" on the Piccadilly Line. Yuck.