I was at a family meet up earlier this week, just in one of the local pubs. A couple (who I’ll call John and Sue, and are part of my extended family) have a lovely little 5 month old boy, that, when they’re not trying to palm off on someone else, shut in his pram with the cover over so he screams in the dark.
The baby was screaming almost solidly for over 3 hours in the pub; John or Sue would take him out of the pram, jiggle him for a couple of minutes then pass him on to the next person until the child had done a route round the entire table, back to his parents. Who would then put him in his pram still crying, pull the cover over so it was dark and jiggle it vigorously. When this didn’t work they would tut and roll their eyes at each other and the process would begin again.
To give some backstory, at a family do a couple of months ago I noticed John buggered off to socialise, leaving Sue with their baby. Sue passed him over to my cousin and went off herself. Eventually cousin gave Sue her child back, Sue passed him over to someone else and the whole process was repeated.
I have a child myself so I get you sometimes need a break, it’s hard. But when you’re child is clearly in distress they probably want mum or dad not to be passed around a whole group of people.
Fully prepared to be flamed but AIBU to think it’s just a bit cruel and bloody parent your child yourself?