Bus Drama

[kikisparks]

I get the bus home from work and there is often bus drama, sometimes verging on physical altercations.

Today there’s a Mum (I assume) with 3 kids one a very small girl in pram. Wee one is singing but then starts squealing/ yelping/ making animal noises loudly.

Bus driver says to the Mum that he doesn’t mind the singing but can’t cope with the shouting.

The Mum seems very annoyed and says “she’s only one what am I meant to do.”

I had to get off bus and driver said “lucky you.”

So who was BU?

1. Driver
2. Woman
3. Me (surely for some reason, this is AIBU)

(FWIW I have a high tolerance for noise and wasn’t bothered by the LO, not got a predetermined view but probably veering towards driver BU).

Perhaps some of us are bringing in judgemental attitudes to the mother because we've seen people ignoring their shrieking toddler on the bus before, I know I could give multiple examples. I can also give examples of bus drivers behaving badly, but asking for a reduction in shrieking or commenting on it to other passengers doesn't come into that category for me. (Driving off while I'm still walking to a seat with the baby in a sling, or likewise driving off while a frail elderly person is walking to their seat would be a common bad behaviour example.)

FrancisCrawford

I disagree. My opinion is that he sounds grouchy. I'm not debating it. How strange that you would call it a "premise".

I think knowing it's annoying the driver the mum should attempt to quiet down the child. If mother is unsuccessful driver has to put up with it - part of his job involves driving the bus in a noisy environment.

I'm with the driver! Tho I had to buy a portable DVD player for my little one as he HATED any sort of transport and would go hysterical... and RaaRaa was the only way I could go anywhere , it was awful

I'm with the driver! Tho I had to buy a portable DVD player for my little one as he HATED any sort of transport and would go hysterical... and RaaRaa was the only way I could go anywhere , it was awful

But it is only your opinion that he was grouchy, and it is not unreasonable to expect a parent to actually engage in parenting. In the circumstances, it was a perfectly reasonable request.

Which is only your opinion. Which is different from mine. We both have an opinion. A premise is more of a starting point, which implies there is going to be some sort of debate or hearing. There isn't.

It’s called public transport for a reason. And there is no reasoning with a one year old. Sometimes when my LG has a melt down no matter how hard I try she will not stop crying. Fair enough if the mum made no effort to settle her baby then she ought to have done but if the baby continued to cry I wouldn’t have been annoyed with the mum. I would have felt sorry for her. I remember when I went in Sainsbury’s and my little girl had a major melt down. It was so stressful and I felt so self conscious because I knew people were staring and I couldn’t get my DD to settle. This lovely lady came out of nowhere and just started helping me unload my shopping I onto the till belt. Sometimes it can be stressful when you are out and about with little ones. People should have a bit of empathy

I'm with the driver.

FrancisCrawford

You seem determined to start a row. Not going to happen here.

FrancisCrawford

There used to be a child who got on my bus every day who sang “The Final Countdown” (including going dah dah dah, dah dah dah dah dah, dah dah dah dah... bit). Every. Single. morning. So actually the driver wbu- it’s the singing that’s the kicker