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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Shouted at for covering up my kids at the beach....

138 replies

HolidayHate · 02/08/2018 12:06

Just that really. On holiday in Greece, currently by the beach, sunny about 35 deegrees and my kids wearing UV tops and I'm shouted abuse by locals here for covering them up as they should be enjoying the sun!
I've been asked if they are scuba divers, if they have cancer, if they are autistic....and at the end I was told I am a horrible mother and they are all sorry for them!
WTAF?

OP posts:
LockedOutOfMN · 02/08/2018 15:07

starshideyourfires

Not putting kids in 2 piece bikinis is because it's entirely unnecessary for children to wear bra shaped pieces of fabric on their child chests. Typically they are sold as "bottoms" for both boys and girls.

delphguelph · 02/08/2018 15:22

So you speak Greek?

headinhands · 02/08/2018 15:22

Why doesn't anyone admit to being on holiday with, shock horror, other people who are on holiday? Why is everyone the only tourist for miles?

I went on holiday to Spain and only left the English filled, 'sausage egg and chips' complex once to go to Lidl's. So there.

tomhazard · 02/08/2018 15:27

I've been to Greece for the last 5 years with my DC- to less touristy spots too.
Nothing like this has ever happened. Finding this one difficult to believe sorry

HolidayHate · 02/08/2018 15:40

To the poster who asked for my IP address, come off it with your goady shitty response
@MNHQ feel free to check where I'm located

And to the ones who ve been to Greece so many times and it was all lovely... yes everyone here, every old lady, man, donkey they are all lovely, they never shout or swear, they all smile , dance and break plates!

Thanks to the believers
My friend ignored her at the beginning but had a chat with her (the one starting it off) just before we left, as apparently that's her local and we ll be seeing her every day for the next two weeks Confused , so she didn't want to me to feel shit for two weeks... she explained skin colour etc

I might post a picture of her tomorrow in the hope I'm believed Hmm

OP posts:
LookAtIt · 02/08/2018 15:42

OP, I think it's because you said it was multiple people that were berating you that some posters have suggested you are exaggerating. Were all the people from one group or was it a succession of random people ? If so, just how many people was it?

It does seem an odd thing to comment on.

HolidayHate · 02/08/2018 15:43

Yes it was that stupid idiot starting shouting and telling everyone ,mostly elders, next to her.

OP posts:
SheGotBetteDavisEyes · 02/08/2018 15:49

And to the ones who ve been to Greece so many times and it was all lovely... yes everyone here, every old lady, man, donkey they are all lovely, they never shout or swear, they all smile , dance and break plates

Which obviously no one said. Exaggeration much?

I'm one of the posters who doesn't think you're making it all up, but that it sounds somewhat exaggerated again; that there are a whole bunch of locals shouting abuse at you. Many of us know rural/village Greece quite well and know that it sounds...unusual for that to be happening.

One or two, possibly. A whole stream of locals shouting this stuff in turn, altogether? Hard to picture, that one.

Biologifemini · 02/08/2018 15:53

I was just over there and the local kids were all in rash vests. It sounds like some random loons and you have had bad luck.

RoboticSealpup · 02/08/2018 15:54

From a skincare site:
"As you continue to go outside unprotected from the sun’s rays, the risk of sun damage to your skin rises. Moles, or nevi, are one of the signs of sun damage to the skin."

This piece of text is from a website that advertises cosmetic treatments such as skin bleaching.

From NHS.uk:

^How to prevent cancerous moles:

UV light from the sun can increase the chance of a mole becoming cancerous. If you have lots of moles, you need to be extra careful in the sun.

It's important to check your moles regularly for any changes.

There are some things you can do to protect your moles from sun damage, especially during hot weather.^

RoboticSealpup · 02/08/2018 15:55

Sorry about the bold/italics failure...

letmepeeinpeace · 02/08/2018 16:07

My dd has got lots of moles and is always covered in suncream

InsomniacAnonymous · 02/08/2018 16:19

"rubbed her hands in glee that a bum fight would ensue."

I can't decide whether or not I would want to see a bum fight. Grin

InsomniacAnonymous · 02/08/2018 16:21

delphguelph "So you speak Greek?"

RTFT!

onelostsoulswimminginafishbowl · 02/08/2018 16:28

I am Greek and can probably imagine an old Greek lady making these comments. They don't intend to be rude but can be very opinionated and loud! Don't be afraid of answering back and telling her why they are covered up.

I would have thought with the horrific tragedy that Greece has just suffered that people would be less focussed on the small shit...

Clionba · 02/08/2018 16:37

I don't understand why they would insult you and call you a bad mother? Lots of children of all nationalities are covered up in the sun in Greece. Why would anyone shout at a mother asking if her child has cancer??

TheLastNigel · 02/08/2018 21:38

Not sure why everyone has gone in on the op so much. It would be an odd and pointless thing to make up surely?
FWIW my own elderly parents went mental at me for dressing the DD's in uv suits when we went on holiday with them to the canaries and accused me of exposing them to the risk of being affected by rickets 🤷🏽‍♀️. Generational thing maybe. Ignore them op.

Nerdybeethoven · 02/08/2018 21:59

I remember going to an outdoor pool in France with my children when they were very little. They were dressed head to toe in turquoise UV suits plus hats and little plastic shoes. The entire place fell utterly silent as we walked in and everybody just turned to stare at us. I understood immediately at that point how culturally different our attitudes to sun protection were.

AdoraBell · 02/08/2018 22:03

Haven’t RTFT but OP I was judged for using reigns on my wandering twins. I suggest you adopt an attitude similar to me. That is -

I don’t need your permit to get my child safe.

AdoraBell · 02/08/2018 22:04

Keep not get Blush

nutellanom · 02/08/2018 22:10

Most of these comments are strange!

Totally get you! We spend a lot of time in a non-touristy area of Italy and our child is the only one on the beach in a UV swimsuit. All the other kids are Italian and just wearing pants. Haven't had anyone shouting but a few comments from people who are curious as to why child is wearing the swimsuit and asking if it is because he is particularly sensitive to the sun. Generally they think the sun is good for children and they shouldn't be too covered up (of course they are right when it comes to vit d I suppose).

KingIrving · 02/08/2018 22:42

Whenever I see this type of discussion, I am always confused at how militant some posters are about UV suit but the same passion in cancer prevention doesn't apply when it comes to diet. People still eat daily /weekly bacon and ham, both proven carcinogenic or chips, crisps, burnt toasts, .... which also promote cancer .

Why this contradiction?

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 02/08/2018 22:50

I have never ever seen a child of Greek/Spanish origin wear anything other than a pair of bottoms on the beach. The only UV suits I’ve seen were the more pasty English, German kids. I can completely believe that an older Greek person in a non tourist area might think they were OTT. Christ my own grandparents think my completely covered and lathered in factor 50 children look hilarious when the suns out.

Google Michael McIntyres sketch on English kids abroad!

WhatInTheWorldIsGoingOn · 02/08/2018 22:52

And I thought troll hunting wasn’t allowed.

Salazaar · 02/08/2018 23:03

You can spot a British tourist from a mile off:
Mum's got factor 50 out for all kids inc Dh
Kids wearing UV suits and legionaire hats
Dad red because mum/wife did not administer correct sunblock. Because poor useless chop couldnt possibly do it himself.
I live here and FFS calm down.
Yes,wear sunblock. But FGS, stop allowing your kids to look so limp.