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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would you have moved seats?

75 replies

LittleCarrot12 · 21/07/2025 20:53

Went to McDonald’s today as it was youngest child’s treat day. We arrived just after lunch rush and most empty seats were dirty . One section a worker was cleaning and he offered me a table for 4 just cleaned. There were only 2 of us but not busy at this point and I couldn’t see any clean 2.

Around 5 minutes later a lady with 3 young kids came in and Sat at the 8 table. She got tablets out for kids and put youngest in a high chair. We were ordering our food on my phone so didn't pay much attention. Food arrived and shortly after so did her food. She then took the tray and sat it on the empty 2 table next to me. I was confused as they had plenty of space where they were. She then pulled the high chair over and sat baby facing me at the end of my table. the two older children sat at the two table. I looked around and the worker had cleaned all the tables by this time and there were at least 4 tables for 4 and the table she had just left as well.

She seemed to be avoiding eye contact but clearly she wanted my table as she’d sat baby next to me and a drink beside my tray.
I didn’t move and she finally turned the high chair around and hovered over the other the table. My son was was eating and colouring so we had took up space over the whole table .

It was so awkward and although she didn't ask me to move she clearly wanted my seat . Why mine when she had one already and there were others I don’t know. Would you have moved mid meal to a smaller table even if there were other options for her? I can’t help but feel I missed something.

Yes YABU
No YABNU

OP posts:
Dangermoo · 21/07/2025 20:56

No. She tried to intimidate you into moving. That would have made me dig my heels in. CF.

LittleCarrot12 · 22/07/2025 12:50

Thank you. It was so odd.

OP posts:
AntiquePenguin · 22/07/2025 12:54

I'd have got my phone out, called my DH and started swearing a lot and having a generally non-child-friendly discussion 😂

Astrak · 22/07/2025 12:55

Definitely not!

neverbeenskiing · 22/07/2025 13:15

So she put her DC's highchair facing you and facing away from her and the other DC, and put her drink on your table? Or have I misunderstood. I may need a diagram 🤣

Really odd behaviour from her if so

GrouachMacbeth · 22/07/2025 13:35

Do you think she would have done it if you had been male?

mondaytosunday · 22/07/2025 13:38

Yes I’m not understanding exactly what happened, but if she started using my table I’d have said ‘excuse me we are using this table’. It doesn’t matter that there was only two of you sitting at a table for four. At a push if it was busy with no available seats and she asked if you minded sharing fair enough but obviously not the case here.

Coconutter24 · 22/07/2025 13:39

AntiquePenguin · 22/07/2025 12:54

I'd have got my phone out, called my DH and started swearing a lot and having a generally non-child-friendly discussion 😂

In front of your own young child? I’m not sure how that would of helped the situation tbh

Coconutter24 · 22/07/2025 13:41

GrouachMacbeth · 22/07/2025 13:35

Do you think she would have done it if you had been male?

What a stupid question. OP doesn’t even know the woman so how would she know the answer to that!!

Coconutter24 · 22/07/2025 13:42

If she had 4 people on her table and her table seats 8. Why does she need another 4 seats? That’s the strangest thing. Are you sure you didn’t want you to entertain the young child?

SprayWhiteDung · 22/07/2025 13:43

She sounds like one of these people who is permanently on the look-out for any pointless arguments they can start and trouble they can needlessly make.

Deeply irritating at the best of times, but even worse when she's looking after three young children.

miniaturepixieonacid · 22/07/2025 13:45

How weird. I might have moved for my own comfort just because I'd feel really intimidated and awkward.

But ideally, no, I wouldn't have moved. If she'd asked nicely and explained why then maybe.

cyvguhb · 22/07/2025 13:47

AntiquePenguin · 22/07/2025 12:54

I'd have got my phone out, called my DH and started swearing a lot and having a generally non-child-friendly discussion 😂

So rather than act like a normal person and ask her if she was wanting your table for some reason you'd start behaving in an unhinged manner?

Surely no one would do that

purplecorkheart · 22/07/2025 13:48

No I would not have moved. Maybe she was afraid her children would misbehave and she did not want to be associated with them. Or maybe she was lonely and wanted some adult company. Either way I would not have moved.

NewsdeskJC · 22/07/2025 13:49

If someone asks/I can see a need id swap seats without any issue.
In the circs you described she neither asked, nor was a need obvious. As pp said, I'm wary of odd behaviour and people just looking for a row.

Icanttakethisanymore · 22/07/2025 13:51

Coconutter24 · 22/07/2025 13:42

If she had 4 people on her table and her table seats 8. Why does she need another 4 seats? That’s the strangest thing. Are you sure you didn’t want you to entertain the young child?

I don't get this either. She had a table for 8 but she wanted your table for 4?

ConnieHeart · 22/07/2025 13:51

purplecorkheart · 22/07/2025 13:48

No I would not have moved. Maybe she was afraid her children would misbehave and she did not want to be associated with them. Or maybe she was lonely and wanted some adult company. Either way I would not have moved.

Adult company by sticking her baby next to the op and not saying a word?

PassingStranger · 22/07/2025 13:53

AntiquePenguin · 22/07/2025 12:54

I'd have got my phone out, called my DH and started swearing a lot and having a generally non-child-friendly discussion 😂

How passive aggressive snd horrible.

whohasthetime · 22/07/2025 13:54

I would have looked pointedly and said ‘can I help you’ then raised an eyebrow.

but then I’m a grumpy old woman…

purplecorkheart · 22/07/2025 13:56

ConnieHeart · 22/07/2025 13:51

Adult company by sticking her baby next to the op and not saying a word?

Maybe she hoped the op would make a comment on the baby like saying it was cute etc and starting a conversation. I am only guessing like everyone else.

BeltaLodaLife · 22/07/2025 13:58

I don’t understand. They all sat at a table for 8. They gave the kids tablets. Then they abandoned the 8 seater table and she sat the baby in a highchair at your table, and then two of her other kids moved to a 2 seater nearby you, and she just hovered around?

LittleCarrot12 · 22/07/2025 14:02

The tables aren’t far apart and I genuinely don’t know why she moved. Whilst baby is sitting facing me (with back to her siblings) she was busy sorting the food and moving their stuff over. She seemed to click I wasn’t clearing space for her after a while and turned high chair around but in a huffy way.

Wish I’d said something now.

OP posts:
LittleCarrot12 · 22/07/2025 14:03

BeltaLodaLife · 22/07/2025 13:58

I don’t understand. They all sat at a table for 8. They gave the kids tablets. Then they abandoned the 8 seater table and she sat the baby in a highchair at your table, and then two of her other kids moved to a 2 seater nearby you, and she just hovered around?

Yes! She did eventually turn baby but she stood .

OP posts:
LittleCarrot12 · 22/07/2025 14:04

whohasthetime · 22/07/2025 13:54

I would have looked pointedly and said ‘can I help you’ then raised an eyebrow.

but then I’m a grumpy old woman…

Wish I had now.
It was annoying as we rarely get days out and I was trying to ignore her and focus on my own child

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 22/07/2025 14:05

No, I wouldn’t have moved.
I would have either asked her why she’s encroaching on my table, or at the very least I’d have given her my death stare and rolled my eyes.