Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To think parents don't honestly behave like this...

169 replies

DumplingsAreRank · 05/04/2022 21:57

... ahead of the new serious of Waterloo Road (yes, I am that retro) I am rewatching some old series.

One of the kids, Scout, has witnessed her mother walk out with a new bloke for some "alone time" destroying her opportunity to get an education and leaving a 3 year old without a mum.

Parents wouldn't actually do this would they? It's make believe surely

OP posts:
mycatisannoying · 05/04/2022 22:25

It surely is make believe that someone would name their child Scout Grin

NeverDropYourMooncup · 05/04/2022 22:28

What will be more incredible is if the story had the children staying together in the local area, rather than them being split up in foster care miles away, the 3 year old being adopted out and the older one never seeing them again.

MaChienEstUnDick · 05/04/2022 22:28

Dads do it all the fucking time.

JayAlfredPrufrock · 05/04/2022 22:28

Welcome to Rochdale.

NewtoHolland · 05/04/2022 22:30

Yep ..and many parents who loose their children through being caught up in addiction/ abusive relationships. There are constant adverts for foster carers in our area, wish I had a spare room.

Beastieboys · 05/04/2022 22:32

Have you ever heard of Fred and Rose West??

LoveSpringDaffs · 05/04/2022 22:32

Sadly they do.

Gardeningcreature · 05/04/2022 22:33

Of course parents leave their children. Also,as already pointed out, it would be a very boring show if all the families in it sat playing board games and then went for a stroll along the beautiful country lanes.

Pinkflipflop85 · 05/04/2022 22:34

I've had to deal with similar and sadly much worse as a teacher.

ManateeFair · 05/04/2022 22:34

I’m now wondering what other terrible things you think can’t possibly happen just because you couldn’t imagine wanting to do them.

Sartre · 05/04/2022 22:35

Yeah this definitely happens and much worse. You’ve clearly lived a sheltered life which is great but this thread is super naive.

Hausa · 05/04/2022 22:36

@LubaLuca

It's make believe surely

I've never watched it, but I'm fairly sure it's not a documentary.

This made me giggle.
axolotlfloof · 05/04/2022 22:36

Some people are selfish and crap.
As a teenager my boyfriend lived with his uncle (sharing a bedroom with a cousin) because his Mum didn't want him and his Dad was an alcoholic.
Tbf his Mum had had a truly shite life too (both her children had childhood cancer, one died).

TeddyTonks · 05/04/2022 22:39

Lucky you to think this.

Some people are absolute shits. And unfortunately, some of us have those for parents Confused

OnaBegonia · 05/04/2022 22:43

A friend of mine was dropped off
to a neighbour when they were 4 along with siblings of 1,2 & their mum walked off never got in touch with them again (knew where she was) no explanation.

ChiselandBits · 05/04/2022 22:55

What you really mean op is that you can't believe MOTHERS do this. Men do it all the time and get a round of applause if they see their kid once a month for a Macdonalds. Women get crucified if they drop the ball on having a spotty t shirt for children in need day.

FrecklesMalone · 05/04/2022 22:55

Work in social services for a while. People do horrific things to their children. Beyond comprehension. I wish those parents would just walk out and leave them.

mumofEandE · 05/04/2022 22:58

I didn't realise it was coming back! Missing the point of the thread

WomanStanleyWoman · 05/04/2022 23:05

‘I’m such a wonderful, amazing parent’.

Cherrysoup · 05/04/2022 23:07

Bonkers naive.

Lalliella · 05/04/2022 23:10

There’s some snobbishness and generalisations on this thread. I know of a very naice middle class above average age mum who left her kids for another bloke. They were devastated.

Changed12345 · 05/04/2022 23:16

Sadly, as a social worker, I see far far worse, every single day. Only today I visited a family for the first time (new case) - the smell hit you as soon as the door was opened - animal faeces everywhere, open soiled nappies piled up on kids mattresses with no sheets, 5 year old who gets up on her own, feeds herself crisps for breakfast, layers of filth on every surface, a toddler who appears to live in a travel cot and so on... if you think that Waterloo Road storyline you would die of shock if you ever became a social worker...

Tdcp · 05/04/2022 23:18

I used to be left to care for my brothers who are 4 years and 11 years younger than me. Sometimes for a week or so. I was 12 when it started so not the worst but certainly not the best.

Hausa · 05/04/2022 23:18

The premise of this thread is so odd. OP, you are an adult human who lives in the world and you genuinely had NO IDEA that parents ever abandoned their kids? How is that possible, exactly?

HelloDaisy · 05/04/2022 23:36

My dad’s mum left the family home when he was 3 and his sisters were 4 and 6. She was well educated with a good job and married to my Grandpa who was al lovely man, decent, reliable etc. She went to live abroad with a bloke she had met and never returned.

Affected my dad for the rest of his life…

Swipe left for the next trending thread