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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want to let the little thug take over the trampoline (but I did)

132 replies

CrowsInMyGarden · 26/02/2025 15:04

Lighthearted. Sort of. Took my 2 year old granddaughter to soft play today. She was happily bouncing on the very small trampoline. Little boy, I'd say about 2, gets on and shouts "my turn" and starts jumping. Earlier on granddaughter happily shared the trampoline with another little girl, even though I'd say it was really just meant for 1 child (it's small) - they were both giggling and copying each other but this little guy made it clear he wasn't into sharing and wanted my GD Off. Started hitting and pushing her. I told him "don't hit her" in my best serious granny voice then his mum came over, apologised and got him off but then they came back about a minute later and they just stood there watching my GD bounce, with him screaming "my turn, my turn". After she had been on there for a few minutes more I picked her up and said "come on, we'll go on the slides" but AIBU for thinking why stand there and intimidate us? Perhaps intimidate is a bit of a strong word but there was a whole big softplay to go play in why not go play in it? I gave into his demands and regret it!

So there is a question here. If you took your child to a soft play or toddler group and they were playing with something that belonged to the centre and another child came along demanding a turn what would you do? I guess I'd say "no, XX is playing with it" but then if she hogged it for too long encourage her to play with something else. It has been years since I've mingled with other people's kids and I think I am way more protective of my GD that I was of my own little ones.

OP posts:
FiveWhatByFiveWhat · 28/02/2025 09:34

Sjh15 · 28/02/2025 07:53

Wow what rubbish.
I have a boy. My friend has a girl.
she is given whatever she wants. Never has to share or wait. My son has been in tears before because my friend allows her daughter to do whatever she wants and not share things.

Yeah she should have paraded him around the place shouting SHAME, preferably with a large bell to ring 🙄

He lashed out, he was removed immediately, she calmed him down and they were waiting normally.

Jesus Christ.

FiveWhatByFiveWhat · 28/02/2025 09:41

justanotherimperfectmum2025 · 27/02/2025 21:09

I use the timer on my phone for my DD, it usually works, and say to GD if she's been on a while "1 more minute, then bye bye trampoline. No kid can argue with an alarm that keeps going off till they do what you both agreed to. I know they're only 2 yo, but we need to set clear boundaries as soon as possible to prevent incidents like this happening, it's so hard though, I struggle with my 4yo! Sounds like it wasn't your GD that was the problem, the other boy sounded like a right little brat, Wish the parent of the other child thought of doing that, rather than just standing there, not doing anything 🤷‍♀️😖🙄

The mum intervened and removed him when he lashed out and apologised.

She then calmed him and they were waiting normally for a turn while the girl continued to bounce.

So the kid was removed for inappropriate behaviour, calmed and was waiting, meanwhile the girl had a very reasonable turn.

I don't really get the issue to be honest.

ByWildLimeCat · 28/02/2025 11:28

Gosh some of these threads don’t half descend in to cruelty at times!

OP, I can see you posted this two days ago so I’m sure you’re all over it by now 🤣 but yes, as a mother of two the social intersections at soft play centres and the like can just be so awkward. At that age, impulse control is non-existent and they hate sharing - not the best combo!!

It’s horrid seeing your child/grandchild on the receiving end of a shove but trust me when I say my kids have been the shover and the shove-ee over the years!! Sounds like kids mum came and took him away so she’s done the right thing.
I’ve had someone come to me in a soft play to say my son was throwing ball-pit balls at their daughter, he was just out of eyesight - mortifying. I ran over and took him away. It’s all you can do!
Never feel you can’t firmly say to another child ‘Stop that please’ I would have no problems with someone saying it to mine if they were shoving.

Hope you and GD had a great time, I’m sure it’s all forgotten now!

pearbottomjeans · 28/02/2025 11:30

apologised and got him off but then they came back about a minute later and they just stood there watching my GD bounce, with him screaming "my turn, my turn". After she had been on there for a few minutes more I picked her up and said "come on, we'll go on the slides" but AIBU for thinking why stand there and intimidate us? Perhaps intimidate is a bit of a strong word but there was a whole big softplay to go play in why not go play in it? I gave into his demands and regret it!

Sounds like the mum was trying to teach him to wait his turn aka queue. She was probably embarrassed he’d hit!

Distracteddistraction · 28/02/2025 16:28

They are 2 they need to be taught to share. If my daughter was on something at a park or soft play and it was obvious someone else wanted a go. I would tell her we need to share x wants a turn. Then something like how about 10bounces/10pushes on swings etc then we will share and go on something else. Making it clear it will be the other child’s turn v soon but also preparing mine that it is time to share soon too. Usually works pretty well, now she’s 3 nearly 4 she now willingly shares without prompting

Floralnomad · 28/02/2025 16:32

He’s 2 , no 2 yr old is a thug and standing and waiting for your turn on things is the done thing . Shouting my turn is no biggie because again he’s 2 and the average 2 yr old is not renowned for their patience .

Phoenixfire1988 · 02/03/2025 19:34

Personally I think she had been on it long enough so it was someone else's turn if they had wandered off chances are another child would of then went on and the little boy would of had to wait all over again so there's nothing wrong with standing and waiting

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