In thinking its a bit sad when a young child is out with a parent/carer who

[Jahan]

is having a really long chat on their phone. I've seen this quite a few times when in the park or out on the street. I'm not talking about a serious conversation but just light hearted chatter.
Yesterday I saw someone in the park who spent almost half an hour chatting on their phone. Its almost like they feel its too boring just to spend time with the child.
I always feel sorry for the child. Maybe I'm too sensitive.

right when you have a toddler, ideally you need a dedicated bag by the door

this should contain

good book
chocolate (good stuff)
phone

oh and call this "work" btw.

do you know, awful as it sounds, I would never take my kids to the park without at least a newspaper for me.

if it's not all the time, and you have only seen one example of this mother doing this, then i think it is a good lesson for children to learn that while mum is on the phone they must amuse themselves. bit like if you're talking children shouldn't interrupt without good reason.

Yabu!!!

I only felt sad because the child looked so sad. I'm probably being too sensitive but I just felt sorry for him.

I don't think chocolate would work. He'd see me putting something in my mouth and demand some. Best not to attract attention I feel ...

Ooh I feel all special - this is my first time on the wrong end of a MN JUDGING thread. Shame on me for catching up with my brother on the phone while I should have been... what exactly? Going down the slide with dd? Dangling upside down on the jungle gym and chatting about last nights episode of ITNG? [grin}

i am loving da wings and fillyjonk motherhod manual because.................

i have a bag by the door actually it contains

• mobile phone chocolate lippy wipesmy current book *book for bubba nappiesother fripperies dont have time to notice what anyone else doing as i am too busy blethering or reading or answering my own phone

If i was that child's mother i would've told him to bugger off go and amuse himself! Assuming the play area was enclosed, of course!)

My ds is more than capable of amusing himself in the play area while i have a nap read an edifying book! And he is 17 months, not 2.5, or however old this child was!

i don't see how chatting on the phone for half an hour whilst they are playing at the park is an different to chatting at toddler group whilst they play.

also my ds has a right face on him and looks sad/fed up but that's just a face he does. he knows it gets him attention.

If the child was happy and entertaining himself then I would have thought nothing of it.
Ok, I accept, I am being u and not to get so sensitive about such things

You know you could spend your time feeling sorry for those abused and neglected not making other parents feel shitty/looking down on them cos they don't meet your high standards.

I really hate this behaviour in parents (the constant judging). I really think it is a horrible way to view and treat others and is one of the reasons that parents, especially mothers can feel so isolated and depressed.

e.g. 'I felt, just so sad, I mean she gave him a fruit shoot. Doesn't she care about his health'.

It really is quite a nasty way of making others feel shite. Give your sympathy for those who need it.

Phone calls are impossible indoors, so I tend to make mine when we are in the park as ds1 can (gasp!) amuse himself for a bit and I can actually talk to another grown up. And by the time he has worked the phrase "poo poo" into proceedings for the 29th time that morning I need to talk to a grown up.

Anna, I obtained a mobile phone because I have children. But I only use it for emergencies because I am too mean to pay for other calls.

So the woman who spent half and hour chatting. She does this a lot does she? It was just real idle chit chat that could have waited until after child was in bed could it? You have absoluitley no idea who she was talking to, what she was saying, not a thing. Stop being so judgy.

Anyone who has never ever stared into space for a bit, read a book or newspaper, or Mumsnetted in the company of their child - give them some space!

yabu

YABU

Children don't want their carers hovering over their every move for every moment of the day.

The carers and children could have just spent four hours in a museum, discussing every exhibit in depth, for all you know.

Spare your pity for children who really need it.

If you had observed me today, and seen me on the phone, while my children happily entertained themselves in the sunshine, having spent every other minute of their waking day being entertained, loved, cherished, and cared for by me, I would have been giving my BF a bit of time, her boyfriend just turned out to be a lying cheat. I gave her some of my time, felt as her BF she deserved that. Didn't really feel like telling her to call back after 7pm.

You see first and foremost I am a mum.
But I'm also a girlfriend, a daughter and a friend, among other things.

Your children were happily entertaining themselves. You were consoling your best friend.
You weren't ignoring a toddler.

I've accepted I was being u but its just the way I saw things.

I have to remember to never start a judgy thread on mn as as the judger always gets a bollocking
(especially if a full moon...)

was the toddler actually trying to get her attention and she was telling him to go away?

LOL AIBU is a straight talkin tells it as it is thread,also fastest moving and most entertaining

And esp when the TC has her first period in 18 months!

Not saying go away but just shushing and generally giving more attention to the phone call.
Like most judgy things, I guess you'd have to be there.

And thats what I love about mn, SM