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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To dislike when strangers ask me the age gap of my children?

180 replies

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 16:30

I know this is probably irrational, but I have a small gap between kids.
I was in the post office today and the que was massive, as I was leaving this random woman asked me really loudly what my kids age gap is, I told her "it's not a very big one!" And left.
Why are people so nosey ?!

I think I'm annoyed because it was in the most quiet place, and I can imagine everyone's ears were tuned in!

Why to people need to know / ask, when they don't even know me? Especially in a post office FGS...

Rant over!

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:01

@Minai yes it is pretty tough having them close together, but I actually wouldn't have it any other way :)
Strangers just love to ask personal questions don't they!

OP posts:
LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 16/07/2019 17:01

I get that too. But then there's 14 years between my 2!

SmartPlay · 16/07/2019 17:03

I don't see a problem with that question. Some people just like to talk to others, like kids and, frankly, many parents like to talk about their kids, so that's a good topic. And it's not like that's a personal question like "Was that planned or did contraception fail?"

I was once out with my daughter (then 13) and my baby (around 1 year) in a sling and got asked if I'm the mum or grandmum. I didn't even find this offensive, only weird.

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:04

@Staysexyanddontgetmurdered Gosh, I hated being pregnant! The stares I got from strangers looking at my belly and then the pram, then my belly and then the pram Smile YES I'm pregnant again fuckers!

I feel your pain, your body is up for anyone to comment on when pregnant.
I felt like I was an alien, with both pregnancies. Like people had never seen a pregnant woman before....

OP posts:
teenmum18 · 16/07/2019 17:06

There's 10 months between mine and both born in 2002. People look at me weird when I say their dob out loud they think I've got it wrong 🙈 not had anything negative said though.

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:07

@SmartPlay I do like to talk about them, but for her to ask me that outright I felt was a bit rude, as others have said she could have asked me a few other questions before diving in to what she really wanted to know!

OP posts:
gubbsywubbsy · 16/07/2019 17:07

I have a big gap and I'm always asked if my younger child is my dh's .. I've been married nearly 20 years so you work it out dum dums is what I want to say but I refrain .. people are nosy bastards .

Bwekfusth · 16/07/2019 17:07

Got some very odd looks in the waiting room for my 12 and 20 week scans when I had my just turned 1 year old there with me. Yep, I opened my legs again folks. There's a 21 month gap between mine. The woman doing my scan even asked if my son was mine. No love, just thought this random baby would like to come have a gander.

PapayaCoconut · 16/07/2019 17:07

My gap is 8years (16 and 8)and my boyfriend constantly gets asked it the eldest is his stepson

When does your "boyfriend" get upgraded to "partner" status? After 20 years? 25? 😅 (Just kidding)

verystressedmum · 16/07/2019 17:09

@Elmo311 are you me? I have the same gap Grin

elliejjtiny · 16/07/2019 17:10

I always ask this, sorry. Mainly because my youngest 2 are 12 months apart too. My 6 year old is tall and my 5 year old is tiny so they are never mistaken for twins.

MyDcAreMarvel · 16/07/2019 17:12

I went for my 12 week scan with five month old twins in the pram. That caused some comments in the waiting room!

AnxietyDream · 16/07/2019 17:15

I became really interested in other people's age gaps when I was considering a second child. I probably asked people this question - I honestly didn't mean any harm, I just wanted to know other people had small gaps and lived to tell the tale!

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:17

@verystressedmum I wonder if I know you! Haha

OP posts:
stucknoue · 16/07/2019 17:17

I got asked if they were twins at 2 years apart, people are nosey

BendydickCuminsnatch · 16/07/2019 17:19

Jeez where do you guys live?? Round here no-one talks to each other 😂

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:19

@AnxietyDream That's fair enough. I guess I just like to keep things to myself. Sometimes I wish I didn't understand English Smile

OP posts:
Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:20

@BendydickCuminsnatch I need to move immediately! Where is this wonderful place?!
I'm still in London, where people are known not to talk to each other, but still do!

OP posts:
BendydickCuminsnatch · 16/07/2019 17:22

Ah Elmo, I fear there may not be a lot of home for you then (home counties)

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:22

@MyDcAreMarvel wowee! That must have raised some eyebrows :)
I would've smiled at you.

OP posts:
BendydickCuminsnatch · 16/07/2019 17:23

*hope

SleepingStandingUp · 16/07/2019 17:24

@SmartPlay I don't see a problem with that question so if I come up and randomly ask when you last had sex, if you wash a nd pants and towels together or if you dye your hair, with no preamble, no a tual interest in anything than the answer o the specific question, that's not rude?? Just invest a few minutes in chit chat first!!

@BendydickCuminsnatch West midlands

Paramicha · 16/07/2019 17:28

I don't see it as nosey, but polite conversation. Why are you so unfriendly?

Elmo311 · 16/07/2019 17:31

@Paramicha I guess I don't see it as a polite conversation, I see it as a nosey way to start a conversation.

OP posts:
Paramicha · 16/07/2019 17:36

fair enough, I can see it would get annoying if asked a lot

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