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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to have wanted to rip the earphones off a mothers head this morning !

114 replies

utahforever · 14/02/2008 12:07

Now, i normally try to restrain from judging other peoples parenting ability, but.....

she had a baby in a pushchair, earphones on and a young child (3ish) meandering along with her - including crossing a main road. Poor kid was carrying/dragging some shopping with him, 'cos the back of the pushchair was full.

I felt so sorry for him The music was loud enough that other shoppers passing her noticed, and she didn't once talk or make eye contact with the little lad whilst i was watching (about 5mins).

I was walking behind them across town, not stalking

I just hope that they have more interaction at home.

OP posts:
Reallytired · 14/02/2008 12:44

I still fail to see what is wrong with her making a three year old walk. She should be admired for having the patience.

VinegarTitsOut · 14/02/2008 12:53

'she didn't once talk or make eye contact with the little lad whilst i was watching (about 5mins)'

A whole 5 mins?? she must be a terrible mother then

Maybe she was rushing away from the troll that was following her, and thats why she didnt stop to make eye contact/talk with him.

Limara · 14/02/2008 12:56

I don't think she should of been listening to music whilst navigating shopping, crossing main roads, full stop.

Don't care who she is, she is distracted. What if the kid stepped out, car beeped horn, what then?

Don't think judging comes into it, I don't care if she's the queen! Irresponsible.

CatIsSleepy · 14/02/2008 12:57

maybe just maybe she was having a REALLY bad day
who knows

VictorianSqualor · 14/02/2008 12:58

I'd be more worried about the queen walking a child as she can hardly walk herself.

But for those who are complaining about her walking a child, she had a baby in the buggy, WTF was she supposed to do? Put the three year old on her shoulders?

DS is three and walks everywhere, that's without me looking after a new born in a buggy and carrying shopping too, the poor woman probably had no chocie but to go and buy the shopping with both kids in toww, I've been there, it's not easy, and an MP3 player can probably make what could've been a long walk more bearable.

Jeez.

VictorianSqualor · 14/02/2008 13:00

AND, would anyone have jumped down the same route if the woman was deaf? She can't hear her children then so should she not walk outside or cross roads?

Like I said personally my paranoia wouldn't allow me to do it, but it's her choice.

Tortington · 14/02/2008 13:01

dont know if its been invented yet - but i think a push chair with a built in mp3 would be great.

i think this is tantemount to me turning music up v. loud in car when i dont want to be a good mum

Desiderata · 14/02/2008 13:02

Who has complained about her walking a three year old?

VictorianSqualor · 14/02/2008 13:02

That's what I thought the iCandy was

Tortington · 14/02/2008 13:02

that last sentance sounded v. judgey - i mean i do that -turn the music up when i dont want indepth conversations about what "vicki" said at school

Limara · 14/02/2008 13:02

Watching the mother ignoring the kids i think is the issue here, you just get the impression of a lack of care-hence the kid having to drag shopping/interaction at home comment. If you ask me, its pretty weird.

SoupDragon · 14/02/2008 13:02

Judge judge judge

YABU. I bet you're not a Perfect Parent all the time. She wasn't beating him.

lucyellensmum · 14/02/2008 13:03

custard, you could be onto something there REALLY onto something. Quick, ring up the dragons

VictorianSqualor · 14/02/2008 13:03

I don't know Desi, I saw a horse and got on it.

misdee · 14/02/2008 13:04

here custy

thing is my kids would love it.

Limara · 14/02/2008 13:05

Who's mentioning about perfect parenting?

It's weird for the mum to wear bloomin headphones whilst caring for kids.

What would have happened if the kid asked mummy a question, was ignored and had a strop, what if mummy was shouting at kid because she couldn't hear level of own voice-are you getting it, unecessary.

misdee · 14/02/2008 13:07

i wear my ipod whilst out with my kids. especially when wakli9ng dd1 to brownies. mainly beucase she is scootering ahead, and i am doing a warm up walk before running home.

VinegarTitsOut · 14/02/2008 13:07

My niece has a big cuddly teddy that has a built in ipod dock and plays the music through its ears, its fab.

Tortington · 14/02/2008 13:08

pmsl misdee - i knew it has been invented!

i was thinking in handle bars of pram - mini mp3 with earphone jack.

VictorianSqualor · 14/02/2008 13:08

Limara, who is to say that said child wouldn't have tapped mummy's leg to get her attention and mummy then took her headphones out and answered?
Listening to music doesnt mean you'll shout/ignore.

Limara · 14/02/2008 13:09

misdee, your example seems perfectly fine to me, just this kid younger and near roads and a struggle with little ones and buggys and shopping..

Desiderata · 14/02/2008 13:09
CatIsSleepy · 14/02/2008 13:10

blimey it's a 5 minute snapshot of someone's life
it may not tell you anything at all significant about her so-called parenting skills
maybe she was fed up to that back teeth and at that point in time couldn't have cared less if her 3 year old threw a strop? or would have just dealt with it? whichever way she could??
WHO KNOWS??

misdee · 14/02/2008 13:10

best i can do for you custy

misdee · 14/02/2008 13:11

limara, i sometimes have dd3 in the buggy as well...

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