For pulling over briefly to watch a Hare?

[AintNobodyHereButUsChickens]

I was heading home on a long drive earlier today and I was on a very long, very straight road and I spotted a Hare loping across the road about 100yds in front of me, when I got to where I’d seen it go, I saw it sat in the field so I pulled up and watched it, and I even took a little video! As I mentioned, the road was very long and straight so I could see a mile in both directions and there was nothing coming whatsoever so I wasn’t inconveniencing any other drivers. All in all I was on the side of the road for no more than a minute before it bounded off and disappeared.

DH rang me a little while later and I excitedly told him about the Hare and that I’d sat and watched it and he made me feel a bit silly for being excited about seeing one. He said they’re ‘not exactly rare’ and that he sees them all the time. The thing is, he used to be a roadworker and now he’s a builder so he’s spent years and countless hours driving endless country roads, so no doubt he has seen loads of Hares over the years. But I’m a SAHM and rarely go out of town. I obviously don’t see Hares on the school run, or in the gym or in town at the shops so it is a rare sighting for me!

Would anyone else have been excited to see a Hare like I was? Here’s a screenshot of the video, sorry it’s so grainy, by the time I’d grabbed my phone it had gotten much further away from me so I had to zoom in!

As long as you do it safely, you can pull over to stare into space!

Yes, hares are lovely to watch. I never got tired of seeing them when I used to live rurally.

Every time! Hares are wonderful.

I don’t really know how to reply to this. Of course it’s fine to pull over on a quiet road to watch wildlife. Your DH is right in that hares are common but clearly they aren’t to you so it’s perfectly reasonable that you were interested in it.

I get excited to see a squirrel never mind a hare so you shouldn't feel bad for what you did!

Yes! We have some locally to here and I often walk out to try to spot them at dusk. I'd absolutely pull over if safe to do so.

if you were allowed to stop there legally - it’s fine.
As to him laughing at it … some people are just like this - they don’t appreciate nature. I love to watch squirrels in our garden and often call DH if he is at home. Sometimes he comes sometimes not. DD is not bothered she stays on her phone.

Your loved ones don’t have to be excited about the same things as you, but they should never make you feel bad for feeling excited yourself. YANBU and you DH was being a miserable dick.

Hares are beautiful OP. Nature is wonderful, enjoy it as often as possible!
We stop to look at deer all the time, sadly don’t see many hares.

I have done the same many, many times. It’s a wonderful little pause in all the madness. I’m glad you had those few moments. Absolutely priceless.

My 17yo DS takes photos of glorious sunsets and interesting cloud formations. And the odd squirrel!

I've only seen them when I've been visiting countryside

Of course it's fair that you wanted to stop and watch. It's a joy.

Feel sorry for your DH that he can't see that, to be honest

DH is unreasonable for crapping on your joy. It doesn't matter if they're common or not, you found something delightful. Whether he meant to pull you down or not, he was an arse and I hope karma sends him a fly in his tea.

I've seen lots of bunnies but never a hare! Your DH is very unreasonable to pooh-pooh your excitement at seeing one, as I would be thrilled to see a hare myself. Imagine seeing a pair boxing! Thankfully my own DH would never try to deflate me like that. I would be having frank words with your own on how unkind and unnecessary his own dismissal of your experience was. Couples shouldn't make each other feel crap.

I was born in a large city but moved out to a rural area. When the first lambs are in the fields I always stop to watch them springing as it really gives a lift to my heart. A neighbour said this was because I am a ‘townie’ and I would grow out of it.

Well 35 years later I still do it and also stop if I see hares or deer etc.

I see hares fairly regularly because I live in the countryside. I still stop and watch them when I see them, as I do with deer, foxes, owls, lots of common birds. I love to spend time observing what little wildlife we have left. Hares are on the red list so your husband is not entirely correct when he says they’re not exactly rare.

I saw one at the weekend and was excited to see it!
As long as it was safe to pull over, which it was in your case, it's fine. It's lovely to be able to take time to enjoy the natural world.

when I had dogs and walked them early mornings, I used to love to pull over and watch the wildlife.

YANBU, we have loads of these gorgeous things in the fields around our village.

YABU to have not zoomed in a bit more though!

How magical. I'd have been absolutely thrilled! I adore hares but hardly ever see them, so I would definitely have stopped. Have you read Chloe Dalton's book 'Raising Hare'? If not, I can't recommend it enough!

this is one of "the little things in life". you had a moment where you were at peace and happy to see this hare. you were safe when viewing it. no issue whatsoever 🥰 you enjoy these little things.

I would do the same, hares are beautiful and a joy to watch.

Why would you be unreasonable to do something that makes you happy?

It always amuses me because my partner will excitedly point out every single squirrel he sees if were out walking in the woods.

Our garden is full of them (we have several trees) but there he calls them The Little Bastards because they eat the food from the bird feeders 😅

We also have owls and bats. We see/hear them every day but we still get excited and point them out!

We also have rabbits but it doesn't stop seeing a wild rabbit being exciting.

send him this

I would have been so thrilled in your shoes I would have been bubbling over with excitement. I have never seen a hare but I live in hope.

You are not a bit U. Your DH was though. He should have been pleased for you.

There’s a field I drive past on the way to work which often has a hare in it. I don’t pull over, but traffic is generally at a standstill anyway! I love seeing what is happening in nature.

They're not rare where I am - I see them every single day - but I still always stop and watch them if I can!