In the last few months DS has started doing a niche sport. Yesterday was a national (kids) tournament in that sport for the older kids (12-16 year olds) and it was a very strong field with many of the kids looking to go further in the sport.
The event organisers also ran an unofficial event for younger children (10-12 year olds) DS's club encouraged everyone in either of the age groups to sign up and give it a go. It was explained to the newer kids that they weren't going to win (some kids have trained for years for these events) but that it's a fun day and just to go along, try your best and if (when!) you lose, you lose - its all good experience.
They were absolutely right. It was a really good fun day - the weather was beautiful which helped - and some of the older kids from the club (who have been training for years) did really well. The newer kids - as predicted - finished last, but they all had a great time and learned a lot. All the coaches and parents were really supportive and I think we were all very proud of the kids. Except for one..
There was one parent of a very new kid who kept repeatedly telling her DS (maybe aged about 10) that coming last was not good enough. Her DS is a really nice, quite quiet kid who seems quite anxious. Mum sat slightly apart from the group (but not far - we could still here every word). She seemed to spend most of the day (loudly!) on her phone.
In between being on her phone she was constantly telling her DS that he wasn't good enough and that finishing last was absolutely not OK.
The club coaches and officials kept repeating to all the kids that they were doing well and as long as they tried their best, it was fine if they finished last. This one Mum kept saying that no that wasn't OK.
She kept saying this really loudly in front of other kids both from our club and other clubs and it was really noticeable and was beginning to impact some of the other children.
Some parents mentioned it to the club staff and some parents from another club mentioned it to them as well. The club staff seemed to try to talk to her and get her to stop but she just kept saying no. At one point she said it was because of her son's ADHD.
On the phone she was (loudly) critical of the club staff.
It all just left a very nasty taste in what was otherwise a lovely day, and I think several of us are quite worried about how she speaks to her DS.
So I guess that brings me to my AIBU. Am I being unreasonable to think the club/event organisers should have done more to get her to stop and maybe asked her to leave? And AIBU to think that saying your child has ADHD is no excuse for talking to them like that?