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

[HolidayHate]

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?

Oh. Also I think you're embellishing. No way would someone get that heated for what your kids are wearing.
Unless you're one of those that I mentioned.
Please. Stop this lunacy

Yes some Greeks do this (I am Greek) as do some Mediterranean French (i live in France). It is a cultural thing involving children and, usually, people of an older generation who will offer their unsolicited opinions on various parenting issues. The way the ‘advice’ is presented is extremely judgey and critical. It will also include explicit efforts to involves others in the group to confirm that the parent being criticized is indeed utterly useless.

It is not a nice experience and I can see why it would put you off your holiday. Plenty of foreign and Greek children wear UV tops, but it’s not really about the tops. It’s about branding you foolish and weird, and sharing this with others for their approval - high sounds awful, I am sorry. Best thing to do is to dismiss her entirely, no attention at all, just like you would do it a toddler having a tantrum.

The Greek for autistic is αυτιστικός . It comes from εαυτός which means self and was used as initial understandings of the condition characterized it as being removed from the self. I have no idea why the evil Greek giagia thought that people with autism would need UV suits. She probably has no clue what UV suits do or what autism is.

For the people doubting the OP, here’s two similar examples.

I was on a flight breastfeeding 18mo DS and minding my own business. A man across the aisle started telling his wife I was breastfeeding, how he was incredulous, how could i possibly be breastfeeding on a plane, etc, He then turned back and started telling people down the plane who were part of his tourist group that I was breastfeeding, how weird it was etc. He was Greek.

DD, similar age about 18mo had a complete crying fit in an open air farmers market. There was nothing for it but to push the buggy all the way to the car with her screaming (I tried to calm her down but it was not going to happen so I was trying to get home ASAP). A woman stood in front of me, blocking my way on the pavement and asking me why DD was so spoilt that she was crying so loudly, why wouldn’t she stop crying, what was wrong with her, etc all in a judge mental Andy unpleasant manner rather than a helpful concerned manner. She turned around to other people and asked rhetorical questions like had they ever seen such a badly behaved child. Whenever I tried to move round her she would block my way. FIL had to overtake me and elbow her out of the way so we could walk on.

Tbh I really don't like the smell and texture of sun cream. We're all fair skinned (I'm a redhead) and the kids have very sensitive skin and a bit of eczema so I'd rather cover up more and do less cream. UV suits are fab. If we did lots of seaside (we only do a couple of days a year) then I'd invest in a Burkini for myself. But also I'm quite happy to go without any protection at all for a little while everyday so we get a bit of colour and some vitamin D. It's a shame people can't all just enjoy the sun and the beach without feeling they need to criticise.

Sorry but that's not true about Spanish v British approaches to suncare. Both my dc and their cousins (and the cousins' dad and grandad) wear uv shirts. Mix of English and Spanish people. Us girls don't tend to. We like our bikinis. All of us regardless have factor 50 every couple of hours.

I really should have a rash vest. Redhead. All the Spaniards tell me. I've broad shoulders though and look terrible so don't.

We did see two kids with those uv hats you can swim in, all over uv suits, that suncream that stays on top of your skin and goggles and had a bit of a guarded giggle.

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.

Because bacon, chips, crisps and burnt toast don't actually burn your skin. The sun does. It hurts.

I used to work with cancer patients.

I cover my fair children in sun/rash suits, factor 50 and hats in the UK. I would definitely do it abroad and I wouldn't give a shit if someone was rude about it. They can fuck off. My children burned the other day even when covered in short sleeved suits, covered in suncream and I and kept them out of the midday heat. I was horrified.

A lot of the older generations (regardless of location) have a "It never did us any harm" attitude, I don't see why everyone's being so disbelieving.

Also I remember a thread where a mumsnetter ruefully described a photo of her PFB being completely covered up with UV suit, factor 80, sunhat etc while the little Spanish kid in the background splashed around happily in his pants. Nobody said "OMG what are you talking about they take sun protection super seriously in Europe!"

Wow, seems almost unbelievable!

I have married into a family with some older Greek relatives.

They are judgy
They are loud in their opinion.
They don't have that British reserve we are so used to. There is no 'Hush don't make a scene. You will embarass her'
They think they are being helpful criticising your parenting because they obviously know how to do it better.

DD and DS were introduced to some older relatives in Greece. The older relatives offered DD and DS things to eat that they didn't really like at a time when we'd just had lunch and were full. Out of politeness DC ate a little but didn't clear the platter. I was told that my children were rude and should know that they should eat everything they are offered. . When I pointed out that this was not practice at home and they can stop when they feel full, it was suggested that I had 'money to burn'

I can well believe what you are describing OP. Ignore.

Agree with margaritasbythesea. Here in Spain, we all wear sunscreen and children are taught from a very young age how to apply it effectively and regularly. They have to do it at school at breaktimes and for swimming in the warmer months.

I’ve been shouted at in the street more than once in France and Spain for being scantily clad on my holidays when all the locals are dressed in normal daywear. Sometimes they’ll say in English, sometimes their own language. Even if I can’t understand them I can usually tell by their hand gestures etc.

Where were you shouted at? Was it in little villages or towns? What were you wearing?