to expect people to get their children to vacate seats.

[noonar]

ok, am really not sure what the consensus will be here, so here goes...

dd goes to swimming lessons. there are about 35 children doing classes of different levels. the spectators' are is very hot and cramped. there is v little room for an adult to sit on the floor, and only about 25 seats.

last week, for some reason, there was a large number of siblings watching the lessons with their parents. many of these were occupying a seat. one mum had 2 sons with her. they took up 3 seat. also, a dad let his 2yo have a seat to herself.

meanwhile, i was struggling to keep tabs on my 3yo, while standing, as she edged close to the safety rail between us and poolside.

now, i know children are people too and should be treated with respect but do you think it was fair to allow children to occupy so many seats , in the circs?

The 2 year old could have sat on his mum's knee, that's just polite. Depends how old the other kids were. They might have been playing sport all afternoon and were tired for example....

i know, posie, but i was struggling to see well enough to watch the lesson (and dd2 by the rail), cos 8/10yos on gameboys had the seats!

I am sure you will get lots of different viewpoints, but here's mine
My parents always brought us up to stand up for an adult and I am doing the same with my DCs. If I had been at swimming with you, I would have had my 3 year old on my lap and probably asked the DDs to stand or share a seat, as I would have been aware of adults standing.

DS swims & dives 4 times a week, so I know about the heat!

It is annoying but it is too hot to keep kids on your lap. If they have to come (cannot be left at home etc) they are probably best sitting down in their own chair than running riot or kicking/squirming with heat on a lap.

If you had a babe in arms I would move my child for you to sit though.

If there's not enough seats, its first come first served. Tough. Now sit back and let all the rest of MN have a good scream about how some people have disabilities you can't see and some people are really sensitive and no matter what, WAAAAAAAAHHH everyone shoudl get out of the way of me and myfamily etc etc etc.

I would expect my 6 yo to stand for an adult (or at least sit on the floor) anywhere except on a bus or train, where I think an adult is probably going to find it easier to keep upright. My 3yo I would put on my knee.

cerys, maybe there's a little bit of me thats got that old fashioned expectation, too.

there is another seating area adjacent to this, which is separated by glass. the older siblings couldve sat there and been supervised adequately. if i had sat there, i wouldnt been able to watch the swimming at all. trouble is, its not really about the seat, its about taking up all the viewing area, as its so cramped.

But it is OK for the OP's child to be "running riot" milliways? We have this at mentions assembly at school. There are a limitied no of seats and if it is full I make DD sit on my knee. She will be sitting on the floor next year after all, when she starts reception. Sometimes she complains though because lots of other people let their children have seats.

My 5yo knows that I expect her to stand for adults to sit down. She is happy to perch on my knee, or to stand herself. Or I will sit at an aisle and she will sit on the floor.
It's just manners isn't it?

My mother brought us up to stand for adults, but now I don't really see why. What's the logic?

My 6 yo is happier to sit on the floor than most adults I think.

Message withdrawn

i think so, hula.

i never let dd2 take up a seat once it gets crowded in there.

the mum with 2 boys gave me a seat when her son went off to the vending machine. she said 'here, this seat's free now, i'm sure you dont want to stand up for the whole lesson'. maybe i'm being unfair, but this actually annoyed me. prob because she had clearly seen me struggling with dd, but didnt think to offer the seat earlier.

policy, i know this is a dull thread, but i have explained earlier (dont blame you for skimming!) that there is v little room to stand. i couldnt sit on the floor and see the lesson. i think all parents have a right to a view of their child's lesson.

i'm impressed you wanted to watch the lesson .

If a child is small enough, then put the child on your lap to free up a seat.
Apart from that I think first come first serve. I don't understand why children should stand for adults. It
must be one of the most ridiculous things I have heard for a long time. Why exactly?

Do you HAVE to watch the swimming lesson? Could you not have gone and sat next door? What is there to see?

I didn't think it was dull! I think it's quite an interesting question. Obviously you'd like to see your child's lesson - but the fact is that almost everyone would prefer to sit down than stand up. Assuming that no one takes obvious priority (ie carrying small baby, has broken leg and so on), then why should children be inconvenienced rather than adults?

I'm just musing, not getting at you...

fairy, i've tried to explain why i was finding it hard not having a seat. read my posts written after the OP if you feel inclined.

but policy, my willful 3 yo was out of arm's reach, near the barrier. i couldnt get to her, as she's worked her way forward in front of the seats.

I think the adults should have got up. Easier to manage a seated litle one from up high I think rather than the other way around.

ia gree noonnar
in our parents asssmbely farking kdis on seats

fariy cos kids are kids you twit

Message withdrawn

Message withdrawn