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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To have fed her DC unwashed strawberries?

667 replies

brilliantdances · 12/07/2021 17:19

Neighbour will probably see this. Not sure I care. Perhaps she will see how silly she is!

She was desperate for someone to have her DD and I said I would, no worries, all fine.

Her DD shared a box of strawberries with DS today and long story short, she's picked her DC and her DC has told her this.

I have received a text saying ''Hi, thanks again for having Kate. Please can I ask though, next time wash the strawberries before giving them to her? They are dangerous if not washed properly and she could become so unwell. Would you really want that?''

I haven't replied and won't be. AIBU to have not washed them?! Would if I was at home but it was actually just a quick snack shared out

OP posts:
KingdomScrolls · 12/07/2021 17:20

I have never washed strawberries before giving them to DS! Including at PYO

Mummadeze · 12/07/2021 17:20

Sorry, but I agree you should wash them before eating. She doesn’t sound like she told you in a rude way. It is obviously important to her, even if it isn’t to you.

TwoLeftElbows · 12/07/2021 17:21

What a bizarre thing for a child to report back on.

AvantGardening · 12/07/2021 17:21

It sounds like you parent differently and shouldn’t offer to babysit again.

Original poster
brilliantdances · 12/07/2021 17:21

@TwoLeftElbows

What a bizarre thing for a child to report back on.

She did so in front of me. Conversation was an exited chatter of 'And we shared a box of strawberries from the shop in the car!'

OP posts:
rainbowunicorn · 12/07/2021 17:21

I have never washed a strawberry in my life whether from the supermarket, picked from the field or grown in the garden. I am 50 and eat them most days from April to September so I guess not that dangerous

ForeverInADay · 12/07/2021 17:22

Totally bonkers and very rude of her!

saraclara · 12/07/2021 17:22

I wouldn't answer either.

pigglepot · 12/07/2021 17:22

Lol she sounds very petty and bizarre. Imagine the conversation "did you have a nice time today DC?" "Yes it was lovely we ate strawberries". "We're the strawberries washed before you ate them darling?".

Bizarre. I'm not sure what I would do in that situation either. Respond or not respond. It's hard to imagine an appropriate response really to match the insanity of her message.

YANBU

GreenCrayon · 12/07/2021 17:22

No good deed goes unpunished. How old is Kate, I'm sure she's eaten way worse than an unwashed strawberry.

I would agree that ignoring it is the best possible option and I certainly wouldn't be doing her any more favours.

AvantGardening · 12/07/2021 17:22

Also the assumption there will be a next time is … rude

Original poster
brilliantdances · 12/07/2021 17:23

@pigglepot

Lol she sounds very petty and bizarre. Imagine the conversation "did you have a nice time today DC?" "Yes it was lovely we ate strawberries". "We're the strawberries washed before you ate them darling?".

Bizarre. I'm not sure what I would do in that situation either. Respond or not respond. It's hard to imagine an appropriate response really to match the insanity of her message.

YANBU

Grin That conversation you've written reminds me Katherine Tate, the posh mummy sketch

OP posts:
Crockof · 12/07/2021 17:23

Having spent summers fruit picking I do wash all fruit , but beggars and choosers.

Tbf if she had just said please can you wash fruit I would have thought ywbu, but the PA 'would you really want that' would get right on my tits and I'd just say I won't need to in future as I won't be babysitting again

Foxhasbigsocks · 12/07/2021 17:23

I wouldn’t have said anything to you but yabu. All fruit and veg should be washed or peeled before eating. Your kid your rules, but I would be cross if a friend did this with my kids

Disneyblue · 12/07/2021 17:24

The fact she even told her mum suggests her mum must be very anxious about that sort of thing and her daughter is well aware of it. Otherwise why would she have told her?

I would normally wash them, but if this had happened to me can't say I'd care too much.

EileenGC · 12/07/2021 17:24

I think they should be washed before eating, same as any fruit or veg that comes from the supermarket, covered in pesticides etc.

BUT I couldn't get bothered about this happening occasionally, and I definitely wouldn't message another parent complaining about it. Why didn't she say something in front of you if that's where the 'reporting' happened?

Also, how old is the girl? If the washed fruit only is an actual rule in their house, she would've mentioned it surely.

WorraLiberty · 12/07/2021 17:24

I don't wash strawberries.

Are you sure the message was exactly like that, word for word?

It just seems unnecessarily goady/rude.

Foxhasbigsocks · 12/07/2021 17:25

E. coli outbreak a few years ago was from soil remaining on leaks / potatoes:www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/how-to-wash-fruit-and-vegetables/

Comedycook · 12/07/2021 17:25

Ew, I always wash them and wouldn't give them to anyone without doing that. But if I had been her, I wouldn't have said anything to you

saraclara · 12/07/2021 17:25

Yep. "Don't worry. It won't happen again. Next time you need a favour I'm sure you can find someone else" ...is what is want to reply with. But silence is better.

Presumably I only wash strawberries if someone is watching. My family have survived many many punnets of unwashed strawberries, and those popped into their mouths at 'pick your own's

Ourlady · 12/07/2021 17:26

What a cheek after you done her a good turn. The...Would you really want that would have pissed me off.
I would have just replied, Don't worry, there wont be a next time.

Vetyveriohohoh · 12/07/2021 17:26

Oh dear, best she doesn’t come back 😂

Never been ill from an unwashed strawb

Ijustreallywantacat · 12/07/2021 17:26

Also in the 'never washed a strawberry' camp. Never thought to. Often buy impromptu strawberries on way to picnics. Can't exactly wash them there!

ChargingBuck · 12/07/2021 17:26

'Hi, thanks again for having Kate. Please can I ask though, next time wash the strawberries before giving them to her? They are dangerous if not washed properly and she could become so unwell. Would you really want that?''

Gobsmackingly rude, & the oh-so-bright-&-breezy opening line does not conceal the rudeness, much as neighbour may imagine it does.

I would reply, OP.

"Was happy to help you out with Kate. Please can I ask though, that there is no "next time"? I might do something dangerous, like make the same risk-assessment I do for my own child, & they could become so unwell! Would YOU really want that?
PS piss off you snotty ungracious pillock."

icelollycraving · 12/07/2021 17:26

I sometimes wash fruit, sometimes not. She was being a bit rude to comment on it when you did her a favour.