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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AUBU to not want 4 hours of Cocomelon played on a coach!

20 replies

Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes · 22/02/2023 20:32

Recently we went on a 2 day trip to a large city. It was a 4 hour journey. There was a mum and 4 year old daughter very close to us. The journey started at 6am.

They definitely had not brought headphones for the child, but the mum popped her headphones on her own head and let her child blast... and I mean blast, Cocomelon at insane volumes for the entire 4 hours, the songs kept on repeating, we had Christmas music too!

I am fully aware that the child may have been neurodiverse and struggle to wear headphones but there was nothing to indicate that. AIBU to expect not to get off a 4 hour coach journey with a twitchy eye.

The driver kept repeating the audio clip asking people to not irritate others with music or videos but mum remained oblivious.

The mum took off her own headphones after 3 hours and put them in her bag and the cocomelon continued to play at really high levels.

To top it off, the mum then painted the kids nails on the coach and also sprayed hairspray all over her hair so we had fumes and sodding cocomelon!

AIBU and grumpy?

or should the mum be cursed to step on a Lego every day!

OP posts:
Haraebo · 22/02/2023 20:35

Yeah, that would do my head in, too.

You could have politely spoken to Mum, though.

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 22/02/2023 20:36

Were you tempted to say anything to her?

DifferenceEngines · 22/02/2023 20:37

So rude of her! You wouldn't have been unreasonable to have said something, but I understand why you didn't, especially if she was already ignoring the driver.

Emptycrackedcup · 22/02/2023 20:38

Quite honestly, they should have been asked to get off the bus. How rude, no excuse for that

SleepingStandingUp · 22/02/2023 20:38

Why didn't you just speak to Mom? Ok she might have said oh sorry petunia loves it only volume 100 so it stays, but at least say something!

meemawsmoonpie · 22/02/2023 20:41

I'm going to come in at a different angle here. I'm currently sat next to my non verbal nephew who has ADHD and autism. He has an iPad. He throws an absolute shit fit if we try to put headphones on him. And he refuses to have the volume low. Just a thought. Because I know a few kids like this and it's bloody hard.

babysgotthespends · 22/02/2023 20:42

Definitely should have said something. Sorry you had to endure that. Sounds awful. Flowers Did you at least see any of it! The Cocomelon dad is fit! 😏

TheSnowyOwl · 22/02/2023 20:42

Yanbu and I think it warrants an entire set of Lego but, you should have said something to her or asked the driver to do so at a rest stop (if you had some).

I have a ND DC and headphones are not a problem although ear defenders are, so I appreciate your comments about that. However, I wouldn’t expect anyone to listen to four hours of Cocomelon (or anything that they weren’t choosing).

Swiftswatch · 22/02/2023 20:44

Do we really need another thread complaining about this?
Just read one of the 100,000 other posts about iPads in public.
🥱

neverknowinglyunreasonable · 22/02/2023 20:45

Swiftswatch · 22/02/2023 20:44

Do we really need another thread complaining about this?
Just read one of the 100,000 other posts about iPads in public.
🥱

Did we really need this comment? I've read loads of sarky and unhelpful comments from people on MN.

CoffeeLover90 · 22/02/2023 20:47

I discovered that a child's tablet can have a volume limit. I'm really proud to find this out as I'm not tech savy Grin So you're definitely NBU. I can't listen to cocomelon for 4 minutes.
I do have to agree with a PP though, some ND can't wear head phones and there may not be any indication of their diversity on the journey.
This does not excuse the volume or hairspray though.

GrumpyPanda · 22/02/2023 20:48

meemawsmoonpie · 22/02/2023 20:41

I'm going to come in at a different angle here. I'm currently sat next to my non verbal nephew who has ADHD and autism. He has an iPad. He throws an absolute shit fit if we try to put headphones on him. And he refuses to have the volume low. Just a thought. Because I know a few kids like this and it's bloody hard.

Then either the volume needs to be off altogether, or he needs to be entertained with something other than a tablet. Autism diagnoses existed before the advent of Apple, so it's not a get out of jail free card for bad behaviour.

Original poster
Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes · 22/02/2023 20:49

I previously worked with complex SEN pupils for 10 years so completely understand if there are situations where children cannot wear headphones but this didn't seem to be the case.

I am a complete wuss when it comes dealing with issues so I didn't feel I could especially when she was so blatantly ignoring the announcements. She had her headphones off for one of them so definitely heard.

Other passengers were commenting about it to each other which was quite audible but that didn't stop her.

The nail fumes and the hairspray were the nobby cherry on the top!

OP posts:
AGoldenNarwhal · 22/02/2023 20:50

You should have said something. You must know this is not reasonable behaviour.

I would probably have asked (sarcastically) to borrow the mum's headphones to block out the noise.

Or if she'd refused to turn it off, played something hideously inappropriate at an even louder volume.

Original poster
Neverplayleapfrogwithmrpipes · 22/02/2023 21:00

My friend and I did debate playing Rage against the machine really loudly!

I did have some industrial strength ear plugs with me as I was sharing a room with 3 in the hotel. I popped these in and could still hear the atrocious noise!

OP posts:
meemawsmoonpie · 23/02/2023 01:30

In response to the 'bad behaviour' comment if you think autistic kids are naughty then you need educating. And parents of high needs kids do whatever they can to get by. Just because in days gone by there weren't inventions to help make their lives easier doesn't mean they shouldn't use them now. Pure ignorance

MrsMikeDrop · 23/02/2023 01:35

GrumpyPanda · 22/02/2023 20:48

Then either the volume needs to be off altogether, or he needs to be entertained with something other than a tablet. Autism diagnoses existed before the advent of Apple, so it's not a get out of jail free card for bad behaviour.

Show quote history

This. Plus I would assume you then would choose another form of transport

MrsMikeDrop · 23/02/2023 01:40

meemawsmoonpie · 23/02/2023 01:30

In response to the 'bad behaviour' comment if you think autistic kids are naughty then you need educating. And parents of high needs kids do whatever they can to get by. Just because in days gone by there weren't inventions to help make their lives easier doesn't mean they shouldn't use them now. Pure ignorance

I wouldn't think bad behaviour at all, I would feel sorry for the child and the parent, it must be really tough and I can't even imagine that. I do think though that it's not fair to others to go on a four hour bus trip with cocomelon at full volume, that's beyond selfish 😒

ZeldaWillTellYourFortune · 23/02/2023 01:46

The driver should have ordered them to leave. Intrusive noise and chemicals are appalling.

I'd have taken smartphone video & asked for a refund.

Ponderingwindow · 23/02/2023 01:56

amplified devices without headphones really don’t belong in public.

I have a child with ASD. I know the value of a tablet and the struggle with headphones, but it never occurred to me to let her use the tablet without headphones. I just kept researching and buying headphones until we found some that she liked. I have anticipated each outgrown pair and planned and strategized. She goes to a school that requires students to have headphones for all classes so not having them for even a day is not an option. The amount of time and money I have invested in headphones is ridiculous.

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