To think parents should stop their children talking on and on to people?

[CanIReadPls]

I'm probably going to sound like an absolute Cruella Deville here but...

I was returning from abroad at the weekend. The flight was delayed and we ended up sat at the gate for a while.

There was a little girl of about 5 with her parents sat two rows in front facing me.

She came up to me and asked about a bracelet I had on - fine. Very sweet.

But then she was talking to me for agessssss. Question after question, telling me about her holiday, her birthday, her new toy and on and on. Her parents knew as well as they kept looking over to make sure she'd not disappeared.

I was very obviously reading a book. It ended up being a good half an hour, probably longer, before we were finally called to board and she went off to her parents.

AIBU to think you call your child back over to you once they've made a small amount of conversation with someone or is this totally acceptable to just leave your child going on and on at a stranger trying to read?!

I do have kids, I know they are chatterboxes sometimes and my own DC have asked people questions in the park or something before. But I'd always call them back over after a minute or two or say 'come on let the lady ready her book/walk her dog / get on with her day' or whatever.

I'd never just sit there whilst my child pestered someone for half an hour or AIBU?

YANBU. I have a chatterbox and I'm always mindful that he doesn't take up too much of someone's time chatting. I've also started teaching him about watching for 'signs' that people might not want to chat any more eg not asking questions back, keeping answers very short etc... Half an hour is way too long for a young child to monopolise the time of a stranger. I think its inconsiderate of the parents to allow it tbh.

The other day in a cafe my son (aged 1) approached a lady in the table next to me with a toy, she played with him for a good 5/10 minutes (interactive toy) I said please shout if he's annoying, honestly I'll take over if you're getting fed up, in the end I went and picked him up. As I felt embarrassed lol 😆

@whumpthereitis nah. I talk to all sorts of people and I’m not sure that’s the OPs issue. (I think) she’s fine with a quick chat but not with an extended one, so why not say so?

“what is this bracelet you are wearing”

Loud voice ”it’s a family heirloom from my great grandmother”

”why did she get it”

loud voice “the men at the docks liked her they wanted to buy her a present”

”why did they like her”

loud voice “she did favours for sailors”

”what kind of favours”….

Id play bingo, how far can I go before the parents step in

Well I think it's on you OP. Sometimes parents might think the adult is enjoying it.

This has happened to me a few times. Must be a little kid magnet! I don't mind 5 or 10 mins of kid chatter, but like you I get fed up after that. I normally say "you need to go back to mummy/daddy now". If it doesn't work I get a bit firmer "nice to talk to you but I'm going to read my book now so you need to go back to mummy/daddy. I'm not going to talk to you anymore now". If all else fails, just ignore!

I had similar a few years back. Sat in a cafe with my DSis talking about something. When we left DSis said about a small boy who stood by the table for several minutes trying to impart some pearls of wisdom to us. The mother had apparently muttered about people ignoring small children and how unkind they were. My response, 'what child'. The mum was nearby and overhead and went puce with rage. Neither my DSis or I have any truck with providing free childcare for others

@PuzzyGalore would you be equally proud of ignoring someone elderly or disabled? Would you assume that they were looking for you to be their “carer”. You were rude to someone and are proud of it. Why is that?

This would be my approach too.

Tbf it sounds like Puzzy didn't even clock the kid, not that she pretended she hadn't to piss off the Mom

I have no problem saying something but clearly a lot of people feel awkward about it. A child is under the supervision of their parents, it’s on them to oversee and control what their child does, and not let them bother strangers (or at least not once superficial pleasantries have been exchanged).

She wasn’t rude. She didn’t notice the kid, and even if she did it’s not rude to not want to be interrupted by a stranger unless it’s an obvious emergency.

anyway, she didn’t sound proud any more than she sounded ashamed (and I don’t see why she should be either), she’s just relaying an event.

Rather depends if OP asked the child to leave her in peace or just carried on chatting happily.

It’s an anecdote relevant to the thread, ffs.

I wouldn't want to talk to a stranger no matter disability or age Do you say so or just blank them? It’s fairly unusual not to want to talk to anyone you don’t know. I live rurally so I guess we tend to knatter a bit more.

100% agree @CanIReadPls It really pisses me off, when ANYONE talks to me when I am trying to read/listen to music/have some peace... let alone someone else's chatty blathering little brat.

I second the people saying they're using you for free childcare. Some people are very, VERY happy to dump their kids on others to look after. They think they're entitled to a break from their hyperactive little brats, and anyone available will do, to ditch them on.

That’s the community spirit 🙂

The thing is OP you should have told her to get lost, because the type of parents who allow their kids to do this would actually be deluded enough to think that you were enjoying being entertained by their incredibly cute and engaging child😀

I would have told her I’m busy and don’t want to talk to her!

I’m another one who seems to attract small children who only want to talk about something inane like monster trucks or their favourite type of shark. Parents so often looking absolutely delighted at what a good mingler they’ve raised. On one occasion a parent was taking pics of me being bothered with a great big beam.

Plenty of people do think it’s unconsciously rude for a complete stranger not to want to have a tête-à-tête with their precious moppet.

Who would of thought the love for children would reach the low levels reserved for men. I’m starting to think many on Mumsnet just hate….hate everything really. It’s just a forum to whinge. Don’t get me wrong, there are some big issues that get raised but when one holds a mirror to many on mumsnet they just whinge and hate. I wonder what their perfect society would look like sometimes 😔

YANBU. I’m an awful person, I ignore them. Literally pretend not to hear. To be fair I am deaf in one ear so I can use that as an excuse if I am pulled up.

When my twins are old enough to annoy people I won’t let them either, although I fully expect identical twin girls being a magnet for elderly ladies wanting to talk to them!!

Give over. Because women are supposed to always love children and be grateful for any and every opportunity to interact with them?

have you ever thought about not stereotyping people based on their chromosomes?

@5zeds its really rude and ableist to compare the disabled and elderly to children. Disabled people are people who shouldn’t be treated differently whereas we do treat children differently. Stop infantilising disabled people.

YABU- Its not difficult to say you're busy, it was down to you to get rid of her