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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DS(8) friend on holiday

125 replies

whosaysthat · 16/04/2025 15:49

On a caravan holiday. DS(8) brought a friend with us.

At the time of inviting months ago we mentioned if friend wanted to bring his bike and was told he didn’t have one and couldn’t ride. Fine, no problem.

It’s a static and our kids already have bikes there but was planing on not letting ds as his friend couldn’t join in.

Anyway as soon as we got there and we’re unpacking, they had DS’s an his sisters bikes out and ds was teaching his friend. He got it within a an hour and was riding up and down the grass perfectly.

Is it unreasonable to have let ds teach him? Would you be annoyed if it was your son and you’d missed it + weren’t asked?

OP posts:
tinyspiny · 16/04/2025 15:51

Not a problem at all , riding a bike is a life skill and his parents should be grateful to your son for teaching him .

JackieDaytonaLuckyBrews · 16/04/2025 15:51

No, I'd be pleased! He's obviously having a great time and learned a new skill. I'd be thankful to you for taking him.

TotallyAddictedToCoffee · 16/04/2025 15:53

Can he teach my DD13? She simply will not learn 😂

Poppyseed14 · 16/04/2025 15:53

I'd be happy he'd learnt to ride. Don't tell me they have the hump. I can't believe he's got to 8 and they haven't taught him already.

Original poster
whosaysthat · 16/04/2025 16:00

Obviously it’s hard to gauge how annoyed someone is over text but we sent a photo of him on the bike and reply was just that they didn’t know we were taking bikes.

Neighbours I mentioned to it to agreed they would be upset if they’d missed their child’s first time riding a bike so I’m feeling like I’ve done something terrible and upset them.

OP posts:
WinWhenTheyreSinging · 16/04/2025 16:01

Surely if they were that bothered they'd have bought him a bike and taught him before he was 8?

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/04/2025 16:02

That’s great - no I wouldn’t be annoyed at all.

As long as your DD isn’t missing out on chances to ride her own bike, it all sounds positive

popandchoc · 16/04/2025 16:02

I would be happy, it's stressful teaching how to ride a bike!

ShillyShallySherbet · 16/04/2025 16:03

How sad for the little boy, his parents should be thrilled he’s learnt a new skill. Very strange reply.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 16/04/2025 16:03

whosaysthat · 16/04/2025 16:00

Obviously it’s hard to gauge how annoyed someone is over text but we sent a photo of him on the bike and reply was just that they didn’t know we were taking bikes.

Neighbours I mentioned to it to agreed they would be upset if they’d missed their child’s first time riding a bike so I’m feeling like I’ve done something terrible and upset them.

It’s a really weird response from them. Are they not grateful you took their child on holiday?

Maybe they have an issue with bike riding in some way?

Gymmum82 · 16/04/2025 16:05

Well if they were that bothered about being the first ones to teach him to ride a bike they should have bloody well done it before he got to 8 years old shouldn’t they!

OatFlatWhiteForMe · 16/04/2025 16:05

I would be overjoyed someone had cracked it… DC3 took forever!

Coffeeishot · 16/04/2025 16:06

It's not a huge deal the parents might think it Is but they really should have introduced him to a bike before he was 8 or maybe sent a scooter with him instead, I'd just brush it off reply oh the bikes were here the kids were playing on them.

I would be thrilled that my dc had learned so easy.and was having fun with their friends.

MissHollysDolly · 16/04/2025 16:06

How do you know they are upset? They might just feel bad they didn’t send him with one?

Coffeeishot · 16/04/2025 16:07

OatFlatWhiteForMe · 16/04/2025 16:05

I would be overjoyed someone had cracked it… DC3 took forever!

Dc 2 was 9 and it was an older child that taught them, they wouldn't let us take the stabilisers off.

Obvnotthegolden · 16/04/2025 16:07

I bet they want to be annoyed but know they don't have any good reason to be, so they're being a bit passive aggressive with their reply.

Because how can they say they wanted to teach him and now their missing out when he's eight already!

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/04/2025 16:08

It’s lovely that your DS was able to teach him, and sometimes kids learn much better through their peers. I’d just be delighted that his friend has been able to learn, it’s a great skill to have.

Oldandcobwebby · 16/04/2025 16:08

I think your son is brilliant. Teaching his pal how to ride a bike is a real bonding experience. It's a great life skill for the boy to have, too. If the parents have an issue with this, it's only because they are weird. If they were that concerned, they could/should have taught him themselves.

Enjoy the rest of your holiday, and don't give them a second thought.

Jellycatspyjamas · 16/04/2025 16:08

They might also be embarrassed that he hasn’t learned thus far, or hasn’t had the opportunity to learn.

DappledThings · 16/04/2025 16:09

I'd be thrilled. It's something we've utterly failed to teach so if he got it from someone else I'd be relieved.

Some people have weirdly ongoing lists of things that are significant "firsts" and assume everyone shares them. Not your fault you don't subscribe to their secret list.

QuillBill · 16/04/2025 16:11

Gymmum82 · 16/04/2025 16:05

Well if they were that bothered about being the first ones to teach him to ride a bike they should have bloody well done it before he got to 8 years old shouldn’t they!

Quite. My dd2 was three when she learned because she was mentored by her older sister.

Instinct1 · 16/04/2025 16:11

I'm wondering as a PP said if it's more that they have a issue with him riding a bike - that they think it's dangerous or something, perhaps due to a past incident in one of their lives. Or maybe as he'll want a bike and they can't afford one / afford one for all of their kids if they have more than one.

Moonnstars · 16/04/2025 16:13

I am not sure they sound upset. Maybe they simply can't afford a bike..maybe their child hasn't shown a particular interest before in learning to ride so they felt no need.
In either of these cases I don't think it's a problem you let them have a go and they were able to master it.

Hufflemuff · 16/04/2025 16:14

They'd be the most unreasonable CF people in the world to be annoyed, after you took their son away on holiday for them! That's a massive thing to do.

ShillyShallySherbet · 16/04/2025 16:15

The boys parents must have know that bike riding would potentially be a part of the holiday when they were asked if he wanted to bring his bike along.

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