Kids in the hair dressers today

[adoggymum]

I went for my haircut this morning, I always look forward to it as it's a nice salon- not bad prices and they make me feel really pampered (think head massage when washing it, fancy blow dry, glass of wine/fizz whilst you're having it done)

I paid £40 for a wash, cut and blow dry.

Upon arrival there was a family of 4- 2 young kids, one 3 ish and one probably 5 or 6, swinging around on the chairs and running around their (I assume grandmother) whilst she was having her hair coloured. The parents just sat back on the sofas watching- the dad was even on the tablet!

Neither of them made any effort to calm the children down, tell them off for swinging on the chairs/running around/screaming etc. And the grandmother even asked them to maybe take them out for a walk into the town for a while as she was having her colour set and the mother just took one look at the weather and said 'nah it's not nice out there is it?'.

It was myself, the grandmother and another customer in there- even the hair stylists were looking annoyed but obviously didn't want to say anything. For the entire hour I was there the kids were allowed to roam, the parents sat doing absolutely no parenting or attempts at distraction and none of them were even having their hair cut!

A customer came in towards the end of my appointment and didn't have anywhere to sit as the parents had all the kids stuff over the sofas and both were sitting on one each separately.

AIBU to have wanted the parents and children to leave? They weren't paying customers, kids were running riot, parents not parenting and they were ruining my special treat to myself, I couldn't relax with the kids running about and spinning on the chair next to me :(

What do you guys think? Should I have said something do you think?

Note- I'm not some grumpy old lady either, I'm a 20 year old student.

The salon staff should have said something.

Yanbu it's not a playground. Parents could have taken them out. It's rain not acid falling from the sky.

i wouldnt have said anything but I would mention it to the salon. If they know customers are annoyed by this they will hopefully stop it happening again.

YANBU
Why on earth did they think grannies hair appointment was suitable for a family day out.

It would have been fair enough to mention it so the salon could do something about it

What age were the children? It's a school day round here..........

You're not unreasonable at all.

Firstly, the older two should have been at school. NO reason for them to be there. If they were off sick, they should have been at home. Secondly there are just some places that you don't take your children and expensive, luxury salons are one of them.

As you said, they had no reason to be there, the parents could have taken them out while granny had her hair done.

@twoshedsjackson its a school day here too! I would estimate one being 3/4 and one being 5/6. From their conversations with the grandmother I think they were visiting her as she asked how the drive down was.

twoshedsjackson "What age were the children? It's a school day round here.........."

Look at the 3rd paragraph where it says "one 3 ish and one probably 5 or 6"

@Thesnobbymiddleclassone thank you! I was afraid people would say I should have felt bad for the parents or kids just being kids etc.

The fact that they should have been in school (at least one of them anyway!) didn't even cross my mind until now!

I couldn't believe it when the mother just refused to take them out. The grandmother was obviously trying to relax and have a glass of wine with her treatment. Have no idea why they'd come visit her whilst she's having that done anyway.

@InsomniacAnonymous thanks :)

"Firstly, the older two should have been at school."

The older one not two.

@sockunicorn @MarshaBradyo I didn't want to say anything there as I've only been once before but maybe I'll email them now just to enquire if they allow children in the salon to behave like that? I don't want to be rude though as my hairdresser was lovely.

Couldn't believe it when they didn't move all their stuff when a paying customer came in for their appointment 😫

Just read it again; I guess the 3 year old doesn't have to be in nursery, although many are, but a 5-6 year old should be at school, surely (from the sound of it, some frazzled teacher was probably counting their blessings.....I know that is an unworthy thought!)
A mention to the salon seems appropriate to me; they don't want to have customers put off.
Maybe the staff were grinning and bearing it as, if granny was there for an hour, she was probably spending a lot of money and is possibly a regular customer.
And really, there's no need; I recently had my trim and blow wave (with OAP discount!) at the same time as a young mum who brought in a little boy of 3-4 years old. She was having quite an elaborate treatment, so had come equipped with books to read to him, crayons and paper, snacks etc., and kept him entertained, and his company was a delight.

@user139328237 I know! It's ridiculous! Didn't sound like they were doing anything after either as the mother was grumbling about the weather. (Plus the grandmother had JUST had her treatment put on as I was having my hair cut).

At one point the mum had the cheek to ask the husband to take the kids out to the shops in the rain whilst she waited there😂😂😂 he refused.

@recklessruby felt like acid falling from the sky when it ruined my new blow dry on the walk back home😉😂

I probably wouldn't have said anything either but the stylists should have said something. The hair dressers is not a save place for kids to run around. I wouldn't take my kids to the hairdressers bit then some people just have no option for any child care. This is not a situation where any of them needed to be there thought. Typical non parenting of today.

I would email and say that it made it hard to relax and it wasn’t good as it cost a lot

Not sure how to word it. If I were them I’d send you a voucher to make up for it.

@twoshedsjackson I think I will message them.

I don't mind children at all and I know some who are very polite and well behaved and understand that of course sometimes they need to come along- but given that the two parents were there and not having any treatments it just felt like a slap in the face!

Sorry missing the point but they give you a glass of fizz before 12?! And no yanbu!

That would have completely annoyed me, too.

I think I would have gently mentioned it to the stylist in the guise of concern re scissors/hot drinks.

It's a treat and an escape for me as well.

Perhaps the school age child was home schooled?

@MarshaBradyo I'm honestly not after a voucher or anything- I'm very happy with how my hair looks and the scalp massage was amazing (even with the screaming and running in the background) but I wouldn't like to have to sit there and go through it again!

@masterandmargarita I didn't have one but it was offered :) a glass of fizz isn't that bad before 12 if it's a special occasion/treat I think. (E.g wedding/Christmas/salon 😉)

To be fair could have been an inset day, but there are cafes and other places to take them in town which are not wet inside. They were being unreasonable a) to hang around and b) not to parent. I think I would have chipped in about some nice cafe a few doors away and guilt tripped them into taking the kids somewhere more interesting

@ChaosTrulyReigns hate to be rude but if they homeschooled that child then i worry for her education 😕

The parents weren't interested in the kids at all!