Child reading while mother on social media

[SuperGinger]

I saw a mum on the tube with a small boy, he was doing his reading to her, she was not listening at all, just doom scrolling through rubbish on Instagram. He would finish a page and she didn't notice (until about 10 seconds had passed, during which he just sat there), she would then turn the page.

I know that listening to your small child reading can be boring but AIBU to think she should try to pay attention and be present? It is setting a bad example to her child and is disrespectful and frankly sad.

Then on the Today programme they are discussing the negative impact of phones on children and how helpless parents feel, but you read what you sow.

Voted yavu because reading on the tube isn't quality time together. For.all you know he's been reading that out lout to her, on repeat, for months

some of us have crazy verbal Children Who never stop talking. So yabi to judge that.

YABU to judge based on a two second snapshot.

I used to read the same stories to my mum over and over as a kid, I must have driven her insane.

You don't know anything about them other than the brief encounter you witnessed so I'd say yabu. Maybe she had spent the day actively engaging with him and just wanted 5 minutes to sit down.

I voted YABU because it’s not your business OP. Parent your own kids the way you want them raised, you can’t expect others to do the same. plus you saw 1 small snapshot of someone else’s life.

And on the flip side, maybe she's an absolutely useless parent and you're right to judge that if it is an accurate picture of her as a parent.

But you just don't know.

Everyone has their limits.

None of us can be present and involved and enthusiastic 24/7.

Or did you want her to put on a performance for you?

The things people find to judge others on!

It was in the morning they were heading to school and it was something that probably should have been done the day before. Leaving things to the last minute is not great either in my opinion and yes I judged her harshly she was immaculately dressed in athleisure wear with carefully applied make up.

She can wear what she likes but it hardly looked like she was a stressed mum heading into work

WHAT????? SHE HAD CAREFULLY APPLIED MAKEUP??????

That was a drip feed and a half and changes absolutely everything.

Wow, so many assumptions based on one tiny snippet of someone's else's life.

How do you know it wasn’t done the day before too? From your posts you sound awful

Ah well done. You've just made yourself sound like even more of a judgemental dickhead.

Some children prefer to do their reading in the morning, rather than after a long day at school and activities.

Unsure how her clothes and makeup are relevant here.

Yep, must mean her kid was rolling around in their own poo whilst this neglectful mother was doing her make-up.
I bet she has an XL bully too.

Heaven forbid!

I think this is crap tbh and I can see why a parent might do it, but I’d be pissed off with myself if I did it too.

And she's on benefits no doubt.

Probably a fraudulent claim as well.

Sorry but I personally think YABVU for judging a two minute glance of someone's life you don't know.

Was it Biff, Chip and Kipper? Or have reading books moved on since then. If it was, I don't blame her.

She was probably the nanny any way.

Did you happen to see any fathers escorting their children to school on the tube?

Went too far with this bit, but I nearly fell for it so.... 7/10

Oh for goodness sake, the point was she clearly had time to sort herself out before leaving the house so why not make time to pay attention to her child while he read. It isn't that hard.

You sound very judgmental. Are you the perfect mother?

So bloody what?