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?

I know your pain OP. I'm currently renting a house that has a tiny garden with tiny fences seperating the neighbors. Their kids (age 9-11) are out there most times I am cause it's summer. They're really sweet but instead of a quick hello they end up talking endlessly to me when all I really wanna do is read my book/comic :/ They always say "We'll stop bothering you" then 2 minutes later they'll carry on. They also keep kicking balls over the fence which is annoying.

I agree. I guess people just post on here when they're fed up and maybe don't always talk here the way they do in real life.

Reading this ladies rant made me feel sad we have become so intolerant of others. Far better for this little girl to be interacting with other human beings & learning social skills than being stuck in front of some sort of electronic screen. Such a shame this lady couldn’t appreciate the wonders of being a child & how the world & its surroundings are such a wonderful thing to talk about at that age.
sometimes it is far kinder to give to others ( a listening ear ) rather than think purely of ourselves & what we want out of life.

Fuck me. OP wanting to be left alone to read her book, and not be pestered by a kid for half hour, is hardly indicative of the downfall of western civilization. It’s not indicative of how much she does or doesn’t contribute on any sort of charitable level either, in word or deed.

I’m not sure where innocence comes into it, or why the alternative is screens (hardly a terrible fate, incidentally). It probably wouldn’t have mattered if the kid had a substantial (and impressive for her age) criminal CV and was wanted by interpol, it’s not OP’s responsibility to entertain someone else’s kid.

I get you op. We were inna pub garden the other day. Little boy and 2 parents, both of whom ignored him and each other whilst on phones.
The little boy started climbing walls, running his toy car into people. Also stood staring at people v close , who were talking. I felt v sorry for him as he clearly wanted attention and perhaps these were the only ways he knew how to get it.
I dont mind talking to a child at all, but not so that parents can chill while i try and avoid their child hurting self by falling off a wall !

exactly.

Smile and say "it was very interesting talking to you but you need to go back to your grown ups now so I can read my book". Not difficult.

It's not 'stranger danger' anymore. Kids are taught that grown ups can help you, but never go with one.

Yes you are right
But you are also responsible. Just tell the kid that you are going to read a book and she needs to go back to her parents. And then ignore her

Nothing's cute about kids that hang around your for 10 minutes or longer even.

Stranger danger is a fucking rediculous thing to teach a kid.
Teaching a kid to never leave with another person is smart
Teaching a kid it can never converse with another grown up is bizarre.

More fool you. I'd have said to her: "It's been nice talking to you but you need to go and find your mummy now because I need to stop talking to you because I'm going to continue reading my book".

Aka supersonic:

Smile and say "it was very interesting talking to you but you need to go back to your grown ups now so I can read my book". Not difficult.

Exactly. What I just said!

This