Our comfort chat turned into an ear slitting screaming session

[Bridget05]

Ok admittedly I'm possibly much older than you lot out there, so I might need to call a taxi but here goes.
It's just after Christmas and I live in a tiny village with one coffee shop. We attract loads of families walking on weekends which is fine. But of course the shop is heaving. Again it's OK.
My friend had an awful Christmas day with an adult autistic son, a missing pet cat = son meltdown and she just needed a shoulder. Could not go to either home as hers contains adult son, mine contains old husband watching Wheeler Dealers on full volume.
So we luckily find our usual table and get a coffee ....okaaayyy I had cake as well.
A group of grandparents, parents and a toddler arrive and sit next to us..still OK.

Now I fully understand toddlers are noisy, I get it. But to keep the already overexcited child entertained they then began an interminable game of peek a boo, who's got your nose, piggy toes etc, which then turns a chatty chirping child into a screaming harpy , creating such a noise that no one can speak. My poor friend was almost in tears from the stress.
Eventually I nicely said (yes I can do nice) that while everyone understands children's noise, could they please not add to it by encouraging her.
Seems walkers from the big city find it difficult to take polite requests. Enough said.
So AIBU to just expect a parent not to encouraging loud noise in an already packed out Cafe or us it open season on quiet breaks now.

A brief bark or laugh is hardly as disruptive as continuous screeching deliberately egged on by family members.

Those parents were incredibly inconsiderate. If they choose to be in a public place, then they need to have some level of consideration for people around them and not actively encourage a toddler to scream loudly. If they want to do that, stay at home.

How do you know that ?
The OP was obviously trying to garner sympathy.
We have no idea of the actual level of noise - the OP and her friend seem fairly intolerant, and we don't have access to the a description of events from either the parents, or from any other independent witnesses.

Ag shame. Triggered by a gif.....possibly avoid online discussions then.....see what I did there ?

Thank you for actually reading my nessage. It was not the normal noise, it was being encouraged to scream excitedly all the time.

'It'. How charming. Sounds like an excitable child giggling and being loud. If you don't like that don't go to places where children are.

Seriously, I'm not looking for sympathy. I don't need it. Of you actually read my post without prejudice you would surely see that normal noise is fine. I might have my dog with me who might occasionally bark ( he doesn't but use your imagination) and then I tease him encouraging him to bsrk constantly.....do you get my meaning.

Oh go on.....now you are just nit picking. It. Her she them they whatever. You clearly did not read what I said, normal noise is fine....and who mentioned giggling....I'm talking full on air raid siren. All I wanted was for them just to take it down a notch and not get a child overexcited in a very busy crowded place where people are trying to hear each other. You are simply reading into it what you want to.

I mean. Children can be loud. The way you describe it they were playing with the child to keep them entertained and prevent crying/acting up. You have a husband at home and you can't even get him to turn the telly down! Yet tou expect other people to accomodate your noise preferences in a public space? YABVVU

Would it have been ok with you if the child was glued to an ipad so the grown ups could have their chat? Headphones on of course. Or would that also be a mark of bad parenting?

He's boxed up and ready. Just need your address.

Because she wanted a brew and a sit down, not a walk....that's why. Next time I think we will just start drinking earlier.

Thank you.....you are a goddess

Please where did I say I don't like pesky city folks...stop making stuff up to fit your agenda.

So true, I would hate to be around some of these parents with their kids. If you make a negative remark it's like you are going to commit infanticide. I just want parents to understand that their children may be a joy to them but they should try and let them be a joy to others as well.

If only. I live in a 2 up 2 down, the husband is disabled and its really a big ask for him to sit upstairs in his own home. That's why we went out.

That would have been perfect.....honestly.

You know, of all the comments. This is the most helpful. Next time 12.00 straight in for a pinot.....

More out of sink with the entitled attitude of so many parents who just don't know how to behave anymore.....not the kids, the parents.

It's not the OP, it's her husband who's so deaf he can hear the telly....

I mean clearly not everyone does understand children's noise

@BettyBardMacDonald so becuse you have a toddler, you're not allowed in cafes anymore?! 😂

A parent playing and interacting with their toddler is "entitled"?

It's performative parenting. I find it crude and embarrassing. I think most parents who do it are doing such a poor job that they feel the need to loudly demonstrate that they have some ability to interact with their own child when in public places. It's like overcompensating. I notice that often nobody wants to be around them either. Sad really.

Who hurt you?! 😂😭