I know I am but this child was talking non stop for 45 minutes

[Eastie77Returns]

Went to a cafe with a friend this afternoon. A woman came in with 2 children aged about 5 who sat next to us. One of the children spoke loudly non-stop for the entire duration of our stay. It was loud enough that my friend and I couldn’t hear ourselves speak at times and when I say non-stop, the child did not stop at all.

On a few occasion child’s mother made a gentle shh sound but otherwise just stared into the middle distance. If we hadn’t ordered food we honestly would have left earlier. The talking was not the problem really it was the shouting and screeching “MUMMY DID YOU KNOW..” constantly. Loud child placed her hand over the mouth of the other child when that child tried to speak and shouted over her. At one point the child asked me about my book which was on the table next to me. I answered politely and she then proceeded to bellow at me for about 5 minutes. In the end I had to stop answering her as she would not stop. Mum did not intervene. The people on the other side got up and moved to another table at one point - sadly we were too slow to do the same.

We left as soon as we’d finished eating and got a coffee at another cafe nearby.

Flame away but oh my fucking god. AIBU to be really annoyed that the parent did nothing to stop this annoying child??! And yes, I have DC. One is very chatty and I would not have permitted this kind of loud behaviour.

I'm in total agreement with you. The mother should have controlled her child.

YABU and I don't see why you'd post this? Just seems a bit pointless.

On a few occasion child’s mother made a gentle shh sound but otherwise just stared into the middle distance.

Poor mother She is probably losing the will to live.

Yanbu. Most kids are annoying, but loud kids with parents who manage to zone it out are the worst

We had/ have two VERY talky kids (older now so less of an issue) but we always did reminding about 'indoor voice' or telling them to be quiet for a bit when in public spaces if they were really rabbiting on. I do think parents should be aware of their kids are being loud and/or non-stop because it's not a joy to everyone to hear it!

My DD of about that age never shuts the fuck up. That’s not anyone else’s to deal with so yes, I make sure (to the best of my ability) that she’s not annoying other people when we’re out and about.

Also, I’m SO glad I’m not that child’s parent 😂

In case she is reading this: Don't worry. They grow up and turn into teenagers eventually. DS1 still talks to me but it's much less frequent than it used to be.

Imo other people's dc are hideously irritating... And tbh at time my own dc are hideously irritating also
My new year's resolution is to carry my ear buds at all times for such occasions..
Possibly even at home.

After 3pm..

You sound a bit entitled IMO. Children are chatty, everyone knows that.

I voted yanbu but I feel a bit sorry for the mother too. A child like this must present challenges.

I actually put my ASD sons ear defenders on the other day at home as my daughter was being so bloody loud!

I remember one old guy on the bus when I was really young asking me if I had sunburned teeth, that puzzled me (and shut me up for awhile ).

On a few occasion child’s mother made a gentle shh sound but otherwise just stared into the middle distance.
Who can blame her, really. At least you had the option of leaving and getting coffee somewhere else.

My 3yo DS is like this and has been since he started speaking in sentances from 9 mths. Some kids are just extroverted. I find talking to him and asking questions gives me little breaks because, bless him, he loves to think about his answers before he gives them to me. I prefer him being talkative and telling me every little thought rather than the tortured silence I went through as my DP didn’t care.

My DD was a chatterbox. Occasionally I used to say “now, you need to be quiet I really need to concentrate to get this done”, which worked for up to 5 whole minutes at a time. I did teach her volume control, and wouldn’t let her talk over other people. And tried to teach her the concept of conversation rather than a monologue- which took a while for her to grasp....

But you’d be horrified if the parent wouldn’t let them talk, or started shouting “shut up SHUT Up, SHUT the FUCK UP!!!!!”

Entitled? How so?
Expecting to eat/drink in a cafe without being bothered by others peoples children?

There’s no way I’d let my kids sit there chatting away to someone they don’t know for this very reason.

I’m sorry but I really like talking to other peoples kids I don’t know and would be annoyed if the parent didn’t at least try to intervene

I’m sorry you met my time-travelling son today.

he was an early talker and hasn’t paused for breath yet and he’s in high school now.

that poor mother - she’s dead inside but still pretending to be a real, live person.

I had an mri on Monday. It was lovely. I just lay still and nobody talked at me.

😆 Admittedly this is what I’m thinking to myself about my own beloved offspring from time to time when they’re both at it. I don’t of course!

Ugh. YANBU at all - I get it, kids chatter on and they aren't the best at boundaries, but their mum should have stepped in. At the very least when her kid was talking AT you directly, though I also get salty when parents just let their kids be loud in ostensibly quiet spaces. I also get livid when adults themselves have no off-switch or volume control. I'm a bit of a Grinch! Haha!

You are not being unreasonable. Who wants to listen to that when you're socialising? Not just a child problem. On the bus a couple of weeks ago on my way to the train station. Woman having a shouty conversation with her friend who was sitting the other seat of the aisle. No need to be so loud. And oh my God she was loud. People looking round at her. Made no difference, infact I think she was enjoying the attention.

I would have moved but the back of the bus was full. My ears were ringing by the time I got off. Awful, selfish woman.

Was it about minecraft? I have had to endure a half lifetime of non-stop minecraft talking talking talking.

She - and you - are in my thoughts.

How is the op entitled?! Because she wanted to have an enjoyable meal unspoiled by constant loud chatter from a child?

I'm taking from your post that your one of those entitled parents who feel they are entitled to allow their child to do what they like regardless of how it impacts others.

There is a difference to a chatty child whose mother either tries to engage to prevent child talking to stranger (who doesn't want stranger child interaction) or manage volume when in public , and a mother who completely ignores the fact that her child is spoiling other people's enjoyment because they can't be arsed to even try and parent.

Kids that age can be totally clueless, but it's the parents job to step in!

Similar thing happened to me at my opticians a few weeks ago. I was waiting to be called back, and just happened to be seated next to a family with a girl of maybe 6 or 7, who was just being fitted for some new specs.
I did the "kind adult" thing and said something like "oh, your new glasses are very nice!" and then she wouldn't leave me alone! At one point this kid even tried to hold my hand! Then she suddenly leaned in and kissed me on the cheek! I was flabbergasted. All the while, her dad just stood there and passively watched. So weird.

I had a friend with a child like this, I had to phase her out I just couldn’t take it anymore and the child came EVERYWHERE with her