Silence in the waiting room

[Meatandseventeenveg]

Was at the doctor's with my 2 year old this afternoon. We were playing in the children's corner of the room, nothing noisy but just a chat about the pictures of the animals in the room, and DD was also making the animal sounds.

Another person in waiting room told DD to be quiet as there are sick people there (at this point it was just us three in the waiting room). I'm afraid I snapped back that my daughter is sick as well, and turned away.

My daughter, the angel, understood the woman and proceeded to talk in a whisper until the woman left.

So WIBU to think that toddlers are allowed to talk in the doctor's waiting room?

Sounds like she was stressed and wrongly taking it out on you. This thread is a lot of ‘reasoning with the unreasonable’.

Yeah, no. Anyone who refers to their child as "my daughter, the angel" is about as trustworthy as a Wish-advert.

What, so you've never praised your child when you thought they did something sweet or have been well behaved?
What is the issue with recognising a child's good behaviour?

For all you know she could have been shitting herself whilst waiting for results of tests for cancer and quietly contemplating that. I doubt your ‘little angel’ was being as quiet as you think. Waiting rooms are not playrooms.

@BigYellowHat

For all you know she could have been shitting herself whilst waiting for results of tests for cancer and quietly contemplating that. I doubt your ‘little angel’ was being as quiet as you think. Waiting rooms are not playrooms.

They are not silent rooms either.

I recently went to a specialist appointment where whale music was being played in the waiting area. I would have much rather had a screaming toddler but didn’t rush up to the receptionist to tell them to turn it off. No matter the situation, people need to accept there are many other people in the world, utilising the same space and it’s not all about you. That goes for both grumpy patients wanting quiet and toddlers. Toddlers do t have great volume control, nor impulse control so even if annoying, people just have to respect that and accept it.

Fair point about the language, Jesus, but my general point still stands. We could assume that the other occupant of the waiting room was a miserable cow who just doesn't like children. There's no evidence for that, just like there's no evidence for the OP's DD being very noisy when OP has said she wasn't.

Noise levels are subjective, but the fact remains that doctors' waiting rooms aren't designated to be noise-free, child-free environments so if you are in one you have to accept there is no expectation of silence and that other people waiting there might have different priorities from you.

@ldfdyjxzyjkv

"I am well brought up, well educated, successful"

I have no idea what all those letters in your name stand for, but can I suggest you change it to iawbuwes, so that we’re all constantly reminded of your worth?

[quote WalkingOnTheCracks]@ldfdyjxzyjkv

"I am well brought up, well educated, successful"

I have no idea what all those letters in your name stand for, but can I suggest you change it to iawbuwes, so that we’re all constantly reminded of your worth?[/quote]

Comment of the thread

[quote WalkingOnTheCracks]@ldfdyjxzyjkv

"I am well brought up, well educated, successful"

I have no idea what all those letters in your name stand for, but can I suggest you change it to iawbuwes, so that we’re all constantly reminded of your worth?[/quote]
Love it

The ‘children should be seen and not heard’ attitude is strong in this thread!

I know it is hard to accept but no one wants to hear anyone else’s DC.

Actually, I’m perfectly happy hearing other people’s DCs- in fact I think it’s a sign of excellent parenting to see a parent talking quietly to a child in this kind of setting, animal noises and all. I’d rather see that than seeing them in front of a screen (which is fine too sometimes, but I think much better for the child to have an adult paying attention to them), or sitting in silence which is an a completely unrealistic expectation of a 2 year old and to me suggests the parent is overly worried about the opinions of random strangers rather than what’s best for their potentially worried and sick child.

I don’t know why people are talking about kids running round screaming- that is completely different, it’s not remotely what the OP is talking about.

Your 2 year old has as much right to be in that waiting room as anyone else OP, and she sounds lovely.

I know it is hard to accept but no one wants to hear anyone else’s DC

There was a letter in The Times a few years back from someone who’d been visiting one of France’s fields of war graves, and who was outraged that some families took their kids. He was disgusted, and said that those who lay there wouldn’t want to feel it was a place where children were running about laughing.

The following day there was a reply.

“My husband is buried there, and that’s exactly what he’d want.”

There are different attitudes, you see, and no default.

[quote WalkingOnTheCracks]@ldfdyjxzyjkv

"I am well brought up, well educated, successful"

I have no idea what all those letters in your name stand for, but can I suggest you change it to iawbuwes, so that we’re all constantly reminded of your worth?[/quote]
Haha excellent idea
(Jealous much? I could tell you how successful but you would hate it)

(Jealous much? I could tell you how successful but you would hate it)

That’s dangerously presumptuous, dearheart.

@WalkingOnTheCracks

(Jealous much? I could tell you how successful but you would hate it)

That’s dangerously presumptuous, dearheart.

I am very confident in my assumption, thanks.

As you came into this thread talking about how important manners are, you seem ignorant of the tradition that it’s desperately ill-mannered to proclaim your good education and your wordly success, particularly in the company of those whom you suspect may not have been fortunate enough to enjoy the advantages visited upon yourself.

@WalkingOnTheCracks

As you came into this thread talking about how important manners are, you seem ignorant of the tradition that it’s desperately ill-mannered to proclaim your good education and your wordly success, particularly in the company of those whom you suspect may not have been fortunate enough to enjoy the advantages visited upon yourself.

@WalkingOnTheCracks

As you came into this thread talking about how important manners are, you seem ignorant of the tradition that it’s desperately ill-mannered to proclaim your good education and your wordly success, particularly in the company of those whom you suspect may not have been fortunate enough to enjoy the advantages visited upon yourself.

‘Tradition’? Unwilling to accept basic social norms but happy to invoke a vague concept of ‘tradition’ when it suits. Btw you misuse the term ‘visit upon’ which is only used in relation to damage or harm, not ‘advantages’. I will give you that one for free.

Crikey this thread has taken a frankly bizarre turn. 😳

OP, if you're still reading, you are 100% not in the wrong here. I hope your little one is better soon.