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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To drag kids to witness history

93 replies

Wipingsides · 15/09/2022 14:41

DC 10 & 15. Not remotely interested in the pomp and ceremony around the queen's death. Neither is DH. I am not a huge royalist but we live quite close to a route the funeral car will be taking back to Windsor and I feel as a 'good parent' I should take them to see the car go past and witness history first hand. They however don't want to go when I've asked them. In reality I doubt they'll even sit through the funeral but I don't want them to look back when they're older and regret not being more involved in this period of time. AIBU to insist we go?

OP posts:
WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 15/09/2022 20:38

I wouldn't go and would NOT drag my kids there against their will!

I love the Queen AND the Royals, (and I always have,) but I will not be going.

Because...

  1. I live 200 miles away from London, (in a rural area,) and it will take 5 and a half to 6 hours each way to get there. Then when I get to the train or bus station, it will likely be another hour on the tube.

  2. There will be a million or more EXTRA people there, and it will be hell trying to get around.

  3. I don't have the energy, stamina, or physical health to stand for 8 hours waiting in a 5 mile queue to look at the Queen's coffin that I can see JUST as close up on my 42" TV.

  4. It will cost loads of £££ with the train fare/tube fares/food, and a hotel - because I would massively struggle to do it on one day. (Money I could do with saving.)

  5. I went to Andy and Fergie's wedding in 1986. I stood in the Mall with 4 friends, for some 6 to 7 hours, getting squashed, and pushed back and forth, and because I am 5 ft 3, many people in front of me blocked my view of around 95% of everything, including the procession of the Royal family. I got a tiny peek of Diana and Charles for 3 seconds, and saw the Queen for about 5 seconds. I didn't even SEE Andy and Fergie til they were on the balcony, and they looked a centimetre tall. Even then, I only saw the 'balcony view' for 5-10 seconds as sooo many people pushed forward, shoved me backwards, and blocked my view!

  6. I can watch the Queen - and all that goes with her funeral, ALL in peace, in my own home, on my own TV, and see everything close up, without having to go ANYwhere or spend any money. I will be buying a bottle of wine to toast the Queen on her funeral though, and I will be going to the Thanksgiving service on Sunday evening at our local village Church... (on the eve of the Queen's funeral.)

Cheeseandwines · 15/09/2022 20:40

Remember if they protest they will be arrested.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/09/2022 20:40

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/09/2022 18:30

I say make them go!

My mum dragged us to lots of things we weren't bothered about (the Berlin Wall when it was up, Andrew and Fergie's wedding, taking us to the polling station for the numerous referenda we've had in Ireland) and now I'm glad she did. These things were not important to me at 10 but I now understand how quickly time passes and things disappear into the past, and I see the value in engaging with them them while they are happening. There are plenty of other days to watch Scooby Doo or waste time on the internet.

I'm giggling at the idea that Andrew and Fergie's wedding is historical in the same way as the Berlin Wall!

I mean come on!

MrsMitford3 · 15/09/2022 20:43

@Wipingsides Unless you mean practically on the route I can say that trips into windsor that should take 20 mins are taking 2 hours.
It is gridlock everywhere and it's only thursday.
I would def not make your DC come on what might be a very challenging day!
Not for the faint hearted or luke warm enthusiasts

LikeAStar1994 · 15/09/2022 20:47

Yes you are being unreasonable.

Bet you're only dragging them along so you can boast on social media about what a great parent you are.

Original poster
Wipingsides · 15/09/2022 20:47

Cheeseandwines · 15/09/2022 20:40

Remember if they protest they will be arrested.

This made me laugh, good point!! Tbf, I'm talking about walking half hour from home to stand by the side of a main road for a bit, not the whole central London malarkey. Nevertheless, I'm well off the idea now so many have so eloquently explained to me how ridiculous I am being!

OP posts:
Original poster
Wipingsides · 15/09/2022 20:49

LikeAStar1994 · 15/09/2022 20:47

Yes you are being unreasonable.

Bet you're only dragging them along so you can boast on social media about what a great parent you are.

Absolutely not. I despise all that. Seeing people in crowds offering sincere condolences to Charles the day after the queen died only to then snap away at him on their phones.. Eugh. But you carry on with your judgements on social media @LikeAStar1994

OP posts:
dottiedodah · 15/09/2022 20:54

I liked our queen and felt she did a good job .however taking a couple of teenagers to watch a hearse go by? Don't do it! No feeling of missing anything. Watch at home and have a glass of something nice.30 hours to view at Westminster today. People taking dogs and babies 👶 ffs!

Gooseysgirl · 15/09/2022 20:57

I would only bring them if they want to go. I would have been geeking out at that age and wanted to go - and I'm not even British 😆 But by all means go yourself, I would go on my own if I was on that side of London.

VladmirsPoutine · 15/09/2022 21:03

Apart from anything else I think it would be unreasonable to expect them to stand in a queue for hours on end with only a bottle of water and a raincoat.

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/09/2022 21:30

I'm giggling at the idea that Andrew and Fergie's wedding is historical in the same way as the Berlin Wall!

I mean come on!

Sneer away - I never said they were equivalent. These were the things that happened when I was a child, and we were very lucky my mother took us to experience them instead of sitting at home watching them on TV (or not bothering). A royal wedding is only marginally about the individuals getting married - even as a child I was smart enough to grasp that.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 15/09/2022 21:37

@LikeAStar1994 · Today 20:47

Yes you are being unreasonable.
Bet you're only dragging them along so you can boast on social media about what a great parent you are.

That crossed my mind too. OP just wants the social media adoration and 'likes,' and 'aww hun your sooo lucky and privileged to have bin there!' type comments.

WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps · 15/09/2022 21:44

TheYearOfSmallThings · 15/09/2022 21:30

I'm giggling at the idea that Andrew and Fergie's wedding is historical in the same way as the Berlin Wall!

I mean come on!

Sneer away - I never said they were equivalent. These were the things that happened when I was a child, and we were very lucky my mother took us to experience them instead of sitting at home watching them on TV (or not bothering). A royal wedding is only marginally about the individuals getting married - even as a child I was smart enough to grasp that.

I agree. Although Andrew (now) is a bit shady to say the least, at the time no-one knew this, and he and Fergie getting married WAS a big deal. He is the Queen's second son FGS, and was (I think) 4th in line to the throne at the time.

I was too young to go myself to Charles and Di's wedding. But I was old enough to go to London with a few friends to the Andrew and Fergie one. Ignore the sneerers. It was a big event at the time. I guess the Berlin Wall was more worldwide EPIC big, and a much bigger part of world history of course, but Andrew and Fergie getting married was quite a big thing at the time. HEY @TheYearOfSmallThings , we may have seen each other there! Smile

Original poster
Wipingsides · 15/09/2022 22:20

@WhileMyGuitarGentlyWeeps did you see my response to this? How on reading my OP do you get to that conclusion and from a few lines feel qualified to pass a negative judgement on someone's entire moral being?

OP posts:
Mybumlooksbig · 15/09/2022 22:26

I am dragging my kids there

StoneofDestiny · 15/09/2022 22:32

If it passed my window I'd not even look out - it's not compulsory to be interested in a funeral, anybody's! It's on TV 24 hours a day (unfortunately) if people want to watch. Utterly ridiculous - now irs all about what hat someone is wearing, what uniform, what hand the shook, who has fainted.......that's a mark of how desperate they are!

StoneofDestiny · 15/09/2022 22:34

but Andrew and Fergie getting married was quite a big thing at the time

maybe to some people, certainly not to everybody.

ArseInTheCoOpWindow · 16/09/2022 15:04

but Andrew and Fergie getting married was quite a big thing at the time

It never even registered on my radar. I don’t even remember it..

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