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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Covid brings out the worst in people!

17 replies

marmite79 · 09/10/2020 16:16

Not really sure why I am posting this but want to rant.

Haven’t taken dc shopping much during the pandemic just because I get it delivered or when they are at school.

School finishes early on a Friday and decided to go out to the park then we popped into sainsburys for a few bits so we can get some Lego cards DS is collecting!

Don’t usually shop in the afternoons and was busier what I’m used to. Don’t have to queue usually!

Today we had to queue. Joined the queue and was behind an elderly lady! No lines on the floor but we were stood way back! I take social distancing really seriously for us and other people!

The older woman the proceeded to to shoo my kids away getting up close to Dd and using her hands to shoo her away. Saying they shouldn’t be in here and should be wearing masks. (Kids both under 11 and both have autism so no masks - I’ve tried to get them to wear one with no luck)

DC looked shocked she was just stood there unsure what to do when the woman was flicking her hands around at her (she moved closer to us).

If my kids were too close to her I’d think well she was worried about the virus but they weren’t. They both have high functioning autism and like rules and regulations and DS is better at social distancing than most adults! He really takes it seriously and gets upset when others don’t (she wasn’t when she was flicking her hands around at them).

Now I know this older lady is probably concerned about the virus which I totally understand but to act like that?

To think she shouldn’t be shopping in the afternoons if she can’t tolerate people in the queue behind her??

I just said come on kids there’s some right miserable people around here we will go ok self service checkouts instead and walked off!!

OP posts:
tobedtoMNandfart · 09/10/2020 16:29

There's some right prats about. Try not to take it personally.

VillageGreenTree · 09/10/2020 16:36

Stress/worry can bring out the worst in people.

AgentCooper · 09/10/2020 16:38

There are some proper arseholes around. You get the feeling most of them normally be as concerned about public health or vulnerable people but they’re quite enjoying having rules to remind folk of.

I was feeding ducks with my 3 year old the other day. Another wee boy comes up to see what we’re doing and his mum takes him away. DS goes over to the other boy and the mum grabs her son, glares at me and shakes her head. I’m sorry, for all I know her wee boy has health problems and I sympathise if so but this is all so confusing for toddlers.

Legoandloldolls · 09/10/2020 16:39

I would have left a good 6 metres gap behind her. Some people are just mean. I haven't taken my kids out since March to a shop as I'm scared they will get stupid comments

marmite79 · 09/10/2020 16:42

@Legoandloldolls if I stood 6 metres behind her it wouldn’t have been obvious I was in the queue and I’m sure other people would have got behind her 🤣 I’ll stick to self service from now on!

I don’t take my two very often! But DS was desperate for more Lego cards!

OP posts:
damnthatanxiety · 09/10/2020 16:43

If that sort of thing happens again, you should look horrified and insist that the other person maintains their distance. Remind them that there is a pandemic and flapping and approaching your family is irresponsible of them.

Brainwave89 · 09/10/2020 16:47

Yes there are some people who love this crisis as a really good opportunity to tell people off and generally exercise their authoritarian tendencies. i overheard someone the other today (elderly lady), saying that all young people should be "locked up" for the crisis and that the problem is that mothers these days do not properly control their kids...

ChocolateCherrybomb · 09/10/2020 16:50

It's not Covid as such, it could be anything.

Some people just search for new avenues where they can display their arseholery, Covid rules are just a sodding godsend to these types.

TheFuckingDogs · 09/10/2020 16:56

I probably wouldn’t have done this if she was really old but anyone else and I think my response would’ve been “get your hands out of my kids fucking face right now!”

littlepeas · 09/10/2020 17:09

I saw a man waft 2 women off the pavement and into the road with a greetings card so he could walk past them. He basically shooed them away like they were wasps.

Soletsgotothepubearlierthen · 09/10/2020 17:22

More fool them for moving then

Oneandzero · 09/10/2020 17:29

I just said come on kids there’s some right miserable people around here we will go ok self service checkouts instead and walked off!

If I was also on the queue I would have chuckled at this silly passive aggressive response!

IdkickJilliansass · 09/10/2020 17:34

@Oneandzero you want to get a life then 😂

marmite79 · 09/10/2020 17:38

@Oneandzero I wanted to get away before her actions caused my son to go into meltdown mode for this woman invading his personal space! I didn’t want to start an argument with her, an elderly person in front of my children! I have her a glare as I walked away!

OP posts:
Oneandzero · 09/10/2020 17:43

Just walked away!

SoupDragon · 09/10/2020 17:51

I just said come on kids there’s some right miserable people around here

That was unnecessary TBH. Especially when you're complaining about Covid "bringing out the worst in people". 😂 "Let's go to self checkout" would have sufficed.

(Don't get me wrong, I'm fond of a passive aggressive comment myself but I don't brag about it afterwards or complain about other people's manners when mine were also lacking at that time 😂)

marmite79 · 09/10/2020 18:46

Honestly I wanted to tell her to f**k off out of our space but thought I’d better not - this is coming from someone who hates confrontation and arguing usually! If it was someone younger I probably would. I didn’t want to look bad shouting at a pensioner!

OP posts:
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