annoyed woman wont move seats on train

[PrettyPleaseXo]

Currently on the train with my 5 year old. There’s loads of individual seats but none together so I’m stood next to my daughter who’s sat down next to another woman.
AIBU to be a bit annoyed she’s turned her back on my daughter to avoid eye contact and hasn’t moved to another seat so I can sit next to my daughter?

if there were no other seats I’d completely get it but there’s loads of individual ones

She may have reserved her seat? Maybe not, but it’s hers.
Why don’t you sit down and let child stand, or lean on your lap? Easy really, or let her sit in the nearest available seat. She’ll be in view, and it’s a train journey, probably adjacent seats after the first stop.
This entitled behaviour is super annoying.

Indeed, not least singling out one specific lone female traveller for lessons in OP's idea of 'manners'. I don't understand what it is with some women who won't directly say what they want, yet get all pissed off and start side-eyeing, scowling and sighing in the direction of the people who don't instantly give it to them. People are not mind-readers.

I'll offer my seat without prompting to pregnant women, the elderly or those with obvious mobility issues. Anyone else needing a seat is going to have to ask if it isn't immediately obvious - I have back trouble myself owing to a lumbar fracture albeit this isn't a 'visible' disability - and I never give up my seats to others' children. I was taught as a child to stand for full fare-paying passengers.

On planes I will not exchange seats at all. There's a good reason I book specific seats and need to stick to these, but strangers don't need to hear any explanation. As one who occasionally travels alone for work purposes, I'm getting not a little tired of the expectation that I can be shunted around like luggage to suit others' convenience. And it's only as a lone female traveller I've had ever had this issue. When journeying with others it's never happened.

Why are you getting annoyed? You are BU. Why should the woman get up and move. If there are loads of single seats, then I imagine there must be one not too far from where your daughter is sitting so you can keep an eye on her until a seat next to you becomes free.

Goodness me! I'm with you OP. I couldn't sit there ignoring you, I think that's selfish. It seems a bit of a sad reflection if the majority on the Mumsnet wouldnt offer to move. In the circumstances I'd sit with you DD on your lap and if the pair of take up a bit of her room so beit.

I’m actually quite shocked at people’s responses. Are people that selfish?

Like the OP you mean?
Yeah.

Ask her to move or sit in the seat and get your daughter to sit on your lap.

Alternatively if there are loads of single seats then ask someone else if they would mind moving.

Simple!

Yes, you’re unreasonable and entitled.
your kid could sit on your lap.

Fuck me is this bollocks still rumbling on ??????

Typical response, do nothing but go on mumsnet and winge about it. You could ask her to move and give her the benefit of the doubt and prove you wrong. Or if as you say she is faced away then go to one of the other people and ask them to move, as you said there are loads of individual seats. Why pick on this one woman?

Yes I would imagine so and she probably picked that seat for some reason

You’ve got a mouth ask or do the really radical thing & move to another seat & ask someone else 🤦‍♀️ god that was hard to work out wasn’t it.

When I get on a local transport with my children we quickly find a seat and don't expect others to move for me or my children. I wasn't brought up entitled I can share spaces with others and not expect others to change to accommodate me.

Bit entitled. Why should she move to accommodate the two of you? She’s paid her fare, may have a reserved seat so can sit where she wants, as can you. You chose to stand there and be miserable and make a mountain out of a molehill. I wouldn’t have moved either just to piss you and your entitled arse off further.

If there are “ loads of free seats “ , surely you can still sit very near her, within eye range.

@Carpediemmakeitcount yes I don’t have any expectation or entitlement either, but from the perspective of the person sat in the seat, I would 100% offer to move because it’s the kind thing to do and I know how hard it is to have a small child. It just surprises me the majority wouldn’t.

Just get her to sit on your lap. Not the woman 😂😂 your daughter 😂

I’d just find 2 aisle seats adjacent to each other and sit near my DD. It’s less than 1 metre apart. But mine were able to quietly occupy themselves on trains at that age, appreciate they aren’t all like that

Just put your child on your lap.

Where is the OP going that 24 hours + later she's still not there.

This could've been easily solved by putting your daughter in the overhead rack and sitting in her seat

My son always reserves a seat on trains when he goes down to Birmingham or London, (usually with a table and a plug socket for his laptop), he doesn't bother if he is only going to Manchester as it's the next stop on the line. Why should he be expected to give up that seat for someone else, who hasn't bothered doing the same?

You are being unreasonable and entitled to expect a stranger to put your wishes before her own comfort. Put your child on your knee.

Who do you think you are.

Sit nearby. Have conversation with five year old. Either the person you're sat next to or your daughter will offer to swap 😂

Asking someone to move so you can sit together is a bit much and sitting next to a child is easier than uprooting to sitting next to an adult. She probably assumed you were happy standing.