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AIBU?

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Original poster

Why some mums are so weird ?

109 replies

Butterfly1940 · 07/03/2025 11:30

I have been wondering this since I became a mum myself, but this particular scenario happened yesterday and I found it so weird.

I have booked to go to a museum with my DC for a play & stay session in a museum, I paid a fee to participate, so it is not a free event.

This took place in a very nice and pleasant area in London, so people were not in a rush nor stressed.

There were two buildings, beautiful garden and few mums with children waiting outside the building.

I approached and asked if there is a queue- this particular mum turned her head and said “ I don’t know, I’m just waiting for someone”.

As I couldn’t find the entrance I asked again where is the entrance she said “ I don’t know”. That’s fine, I left.

Few minutes later we are all in, and the host says “who has been here before?”, And this strange woman is the only one who raises hand and says proudly that she was here before 😟😟 and no one join her so obviously she wasn’t waiting for anyone,
I don’t understand why people are deliberately being difficult, lying, pretending they don’t know.

We are in the same boat - we are all moms to young children who they learn from us and our interactions with people…

I’m confused as before the event I spent 5 minutes helping a mum who was lost and needed help, the other day an older woman couldn’t reach a top in NEXT so she asked me for help - I take pride in doing it … even though I’m with my young DC…

what’s happened to people ?

OP posts:
Fagli · 07/03/2025 11:33

What a strange thing to still be concerned about. You asked someone a question they couldn’t answer, not sure what being a mum has to do with it?

BlondiePortz · 07/03/2025 11:34

People can be weird sometimes being a mum does not suddenly turn someone into an amazing person

IHaveDefectedToTeamDog · 07/03/2025 11:35

She was unhelpful and a bit strange, yes, but how do the strange actions of one woman mean that “some mums are so weird” ?
Her behaviour reflects only on her.

All sorts of people are sometimes weird, regardless of parenthood status

purplecorkheart · 07/03/2025 11:36

Or maybe the entrance had changed/she forgot where it was and the oerson she was waiting for did not turn up.

Honestly I would not give it any headspace.

NerrSnerr · 07/03/2025 11:37

This took place in a very nice and pleasant area in London, so people were not in a rush nor stressed.

Would people be in a hurry and stressed if it was in a council estate in Hull or is it a stealth boast?

MoodEnhancer · 07/03/2025 11:38

Some people are odd but it has nothing to do with whether they have had a child or not. Your question is odder than her behaviour, tbh.

NerrSnerr · 07/03/2025 11:38

Also posh people get stressed too.

hydriotaphia · 07/03/2025 11:39

To be honest I think it's quite weird that you assumed that she was lying. Why on earth would she?

Secondarystruggles · 07/03/2025 11:41

purplecorkheart · 07/03/2025 11:36

Or maybe the entrance had changed/she forgot where it was and the oerson she was waiting for did not turn up.

Honestly I would not give it any headspace.

this 👆

you have created your own narrative about this woman being unhelpful to you but you don’t even know it’s the case. She answered your questions it’s not like she blanked you.

Also just because it’s in a nice area it doesn’t mean no-one is stressed - there are plenty of things that could be going on in peoples lives that aren’t obvious to onlookers.

Nothing really happened here. Try not to overthink things.

Dramatic · 07/03/2025 11:41

Yeah that was a really weird reaction from her. I wouldn't dwell on it too much though, there are some weird people out there.

AubernFable · 07/03/2025 11:42

NerrSnerr · 07/03/2025 11:37

This took place in a very nice and pleasant area in London, so people were not in a rush nor stressed.

Would people be in a hurry and stressed if it was in a council estate in Hull or is it a stealth boast?

A hurried mum from council estate in hull probably would’ve helped, rich london mums are known for being unpleasant 😂

FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:44

If the area and event is as you describe then please don’t assume they were mums.

A lot of them will have been nannies 🤣

(I am a nanny. And a mum)

Although I’ve been ti a lot of these sorts of things and I can’t work out which museum you’re describing. Horniman?

WilmaTitsDrop · 07/03/2025 11:46

what’s happened to people ?

You've given one example.

You don't know how long ago she visited or if she could remember where the entrance was, just like you don't know she wasn't waiting for someone who didn't turn up, or whose train was delayed 🤷‍♂️

CombatBarbie · 07/03/2025 11:46

Fagli · 07/03/2025 11:33

What a strange thing to still be concerned about. You asked someone a question they couldn’t answer, not sure what being a mum has to do with it?

I think the OP means that in general, we, as a society, don't want to help, or have manners. It's very true.

MrsGaryKemp · 07/03/2025 11:47

Its people of any sex, any age..... it's not restricted to Mums.

I was getting out of my car yesterday when an elderly lady pulled up and asked if I was leaving. I said 'Sorry, no, I've just arrived.' She tutted, pulled a face, and drove off. And no, it wasn't the only space available.

It can throw you sometimes I think, but just try to put the encounter out of your mind and enjoy your day.

Original poster
Butterfly1940 · 07/03/2025 11:47

NerrSnerr · 07/03/2025 11:37

This took place in a very nice and pleasant area in London, so people were not in a rush nor stressed.

Would people be in a hurry and stressed if it was in a council estate in Hull or is it a stealth boast?

No - the point was to describe the event, it wasn’t in front of National History Museum.

OP posts:
FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:49

I made way on the pavement when pushing a buggy yesterday to let two elderly ladies past (they were walking briskly and chatting) so they didn’t have to walk close to the road to get past us. One looked blankly at me but both kept walking. Not an acknowledgment or a thank you!! I called YOU ARE SO WELCOME very curtly after them. Sick of it. Bet if I’d just kept going and not stopped they’d have commented how entitled people with buggies are 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Secondarystruggles · 07/03/2025 11:51

CombatBarbie · 07/03/2025 11:46

I think the OP means that in general, we, as a society, don't want to help, or have manners. It's very true.

Show quote history

Odd to use ‘mums’ as a synonym for society.

Some people go out of their way to help, some don’t and even then it can depend on whether they are having a good or bad moment. What’s stranger is that the OP has used this minor incident to start a thread complaining about it. Plenty worse anti-social behaviour out there to get het up over.

Original poster
Butterfly1940 · 07/03/2025 11:54

FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:44

If the area and event is as you describe then please don’t assume they were mums.

A lot of them will have been nannies 🤣

(I am a nanny. And a mum)

Although I’ve been ti a lot of these sorts of things and I can’t work out which museum you’re describing. Horniman?

Edited

You are right - it might be anyone, no it’s not South London :)

OP posts:
Frostynoman · 07/03/2025 11:54

FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:49

I made way on the pavement when pushing a buggy yesterday to let two elderly ladies past (they were walking briskly and chatting) so they didn’t have to walk close to the road to get past us. One looked blankly at me but both kept walking. Not an acknowledgment or a thank you!! I called YOU ARE SO WELCOME very curtly after them. Sick of it. Bet if I’d just kept going and not stopped they’d have commented how entitled people with buggies are 🤷🏻‍♀️🤣

Ha I had this with a lady and two dogs on long leads when I was walking with the pram - I picked a side as they were taking the entire pavement up and let’s just say it got heated (not from me..) - I’ve noticed there is so much more open aggression, complete absence of manners and hostility recently and I’m so fed up of it!

FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:58

Frostynoman · 07/03/2025 11:54

Ha I had this with a lady and two dogs on long leads when I was walking with the pram - I picked a side as they were taking the entire pavement up and let’s just say it got heated (not from me..) - I’ve noticed there is so much more open aggression, complete absence of manners and hostility recently and I’m so fed up of it!

Show quote history

So entitled isn’t it?!! I actually stopped walking too as the pavement is a bit narrow to give them room to pass with out going single file. Since when does that not require a quick ‘thanks!’

Really noticed it though being out and about with a pram. It’s like as soon as you’re pushing a buggy in front of you it’s carte Blanche for people to think you don’t really matter! Noticing it all the time at the moment. Constantly having to ask people to remove themselves from the space on the bus too (yes yes of course I only use it if not required by a wheelchair!!) but sometimes they look at you like you’re the worm in their apple.

Pokemum24 · 07/03/2025 12:01

She’s a cow, plain and simple!

FoolishHips · 07/03/2025 12:02

FanofLeaves · 07/03/2025 11:58

So entitled isn’t it?!! I actually stopped walking too as the pavement is a bit narrow to give them room to pass with out going single file. Since when does that not require a quick ‘thanks!’

Really noticed it though being out and about with a pram. It’s like as soon as you’re pushing a buggy in front of you it’s carte Blanche for people to think you don’t really matter! Noticing it all the time at the moment. Constantly having to ask people to remove themselves from the space on the bus too (yes yes of course I only use it if not required by a wheelchair!!) but sometimes they look at you like you’re the worm in their apple.

Edited
Show quote history

That's odd. I tend to do the opposite if I see a woman with a pram...aways see her as more important.

User746353 · 07/03/2025 12:03

To be fair, she might have thought you were odd for not being able to find the entrance to a (presumably) big and well-established museum and also asking if there's a queue when that would have been clearly visible. A lot of mums standing in a line facing the same direction = queue. A bunch of mums spread out and not looking at the same thing or moving in the same direction = not a queue.

A rising trend in London phone theft are strangers who come up to you and attempt to make conversation, and at some point they will distract you by covering your phone/bag with an object and steal the phone. Of course, she can see you are also a mum but to be perfectly honest, a woman coming up to ask if there's a queue when there visibly isn't one would raise a few red flags to me. She was probably trying to shut down interaction on the side of caution, which honestly is perfectly reasonably if you have street smarts in London.

Sherararara · 07/03/2025 12:05

OP the only one being weird is you

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