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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Seats at soft play

55 replies

isitginoclock · 10/12/2022 13:02

I'm at soft play with the children this morning. Sat at a nice table under a heat lamp (it's one of those warehouse-y places.) On my own, having a coffee, catching up on emails, life admin etc etc. kids are of an age where they can take care of themselves, but the tables well located to keep an eye. It's got busy as the mornings gone on and I've just had a group of mums approach me and ask if they can have the table because there's four of them. I said no - but welcome to perch with me or take the chairs elsewhere. I got a really huffy response that they want to have lunch and so do their DCs and there are no other tables. There are comfy chairs over the other side but I don't want to move there - my laptop is out, I'm settled and I've got a good view of the kids. So it was a no.
AIBU not to move? They are currently glaring at me from afar.

OP posts:
Stompythedinosaur · 10/12/2022 13:03

YANBU

FLOWER1982 · 10/12/2022 13:04

Yanbu. You were first there and you are entitled to stay there.

PlaitBilledDuckyPuss · 10/12/2022 13:08

YANBU - you invited them to share your table, if they were that bothered about sitting there, they should have done that.

Iam4eels · 10/12/2022 13:12

YANBU.

It's first come, first served for unreserved seats and you were more than polite by offering to share.

Nadal · 10/12/2022 13:13

Bit cheeky to ask you to move

londonrach · 10/12/2022 13:29

Yanbu. You asked them to join you..... You there first

quitefranklyabsurd · 10/12/2022 13:32

stay put!

Endlesslaundry123 · 10/12/2022 13:33

Yanbu - they just want someone to blame for their bad luck not getting a table. It's not your fault, you got there first...

Cornelious · 10/12/2022 13:34

I would've moved if there was a comfy alternative. It would've taken 1-2 minutes to gather up your things.

Itsabitnotcold · 10/12/2022 13:35

YANBU how ridiculous for them to even ask.

Clymene · 10/12/2022 13:35

Cornelious · 10/12/2022 13:34

I would've moved if there was a comfy alternative. It would've taken 1-2 minutes to gather up your things.

Why? She's working

Allschoolsareartschools · 10/12/2022 13:38

No YANBU. Why are people so shocked to find places busy? They should've booked somewhere else to eat if they were that bothered really.

Hugasauras · 10/12/2022 13:38

YANBU but I would rather sit on the other chairs than try to work or whatever on laptop with strangers and their children having lunch at the same table!

Sparklingbrook · 10/12/2022 13:40

What a cheek to even ask you. YANBU

BungleandGeorge · 10/12/2022 13:48

Aren’t the tables there primarily for people to eat at? Since you’ve been there all morning I would have moved to a different seat to allow them to eat at a table

MajorCarolDanvers · 10/12/2022 13:49

YANBU

Claireintheclouds · 10/12/2022 14:00

I don’t think anyone is unreasonable here, although I do think it’s a bit off to hog a table as a single person for a long time when people want to eat.

but you were there first so tough tits to the others

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 14:16

YABU

There’s one of you taking up 4 seats.

They should have just sat at your table after you said not but it wasn’t cheeky of them to ask if you’ll consider moving, seeing as they’ll be chatting and you are trying to work.

44PumpLane · 10/12/2022 14:18

@CarefreeMe that's literally what the OP offered.....they were welcome to take the seats or share the table. OP just didn't want to have t o move, as was her right!!

dottymac · 10/12/2022 14:19

Cheeky b##ches! Good for you for standing your ground. If they want good seats they should come earlier, that's what I do 🤷

amiold · 10/12/2022 14:22

You should have pointed out you were watching the kids and suggested they could sit on the comfy chairs if they didn't want to sit with you

skyeisthelimit · 10/12/2022 14:24

YANBU. The entitlement of people nowadays. You offered them to share the table, you do not have to move just because they demand it.

If there aren't enough tables for people to eat then they need to take it up with management

CarefreeMe · 10/12/2022 14:25

that's literally what the OP offered.....they were welcome to take the seats or share the table. OP just didn't want to have t o move, as was her right!!

Yes which is what I would have done if I was them.

But I think OP is BU to take up an entire table all morning when she can sit anywhere, whilst people eating can’t.

SinnerBoy · 10/12/2022 14:28

I don't think you were being unreasonable at all. You offered to share the space, but it wasn't good enough, as they wanted the whole thing and for you to move, then got snarky.

Sod them!

We don't really do soft play now, but if somewhere is crowded and there's a half used table, I'll ask if it's OK to sit there with my coffee. I don't remember being refused and often had some pleasant chats.

Laiste · 10/12/2022 14:29

Bit on the fence here.

Taking up a table for 4 with a laptop all morning and staying put when people are looking to sit and eat is a bit cheeky. When there are comfy chairs available.