AIBU to hold place in line for the kids?

[Dontjumptoconclusions]

At an amusement park. It's a timed entry so as many rides and things you can do for 2 hours.

One ride that the 3DC (5,3,3) wanted to go on, the bunjee trampoline one (whatever it's called). There were 4 trampolines. Quite a long queue as each kid is on the trampoline for 5 mins each. There were maybe 5 or 6 kids in front of us, so I guessed around a 20 min wait.

So I said to DH and the kids, I'll wait here and you carry on with the other rides with less/no queue and I'll call you over when we are near the front.

Then when we got close to the front, the 3DC came over and jumped on the trampolines.

It was only afterwards that I wondered if i should have waited with 3DC, missing out on the other rides out of principle that we are queuing up for this one? AIBU or would you also do the same to make the most of the time in the place?

I’m really surprised by the response you’ve had OP. With kids that young I don’t see the problem. I don’t think this is teaching your children to be spoilt or whatever a PP said.

5,3 and 3 is really little. With those ages it was probably better for everyone else in the queue that they did go off and do something else for a bit!

I guess some people are never able to wait patiently, and think the rules don't apply to them, or can be bent to suit their needs. 😳 In principle, we could apply that to other areas of life, such a waiting for a vital medical appointment, except we have told the person who's been given the appointment after us that we have two other relatives who need to see an oncologist too - so lucky them, they can have a full appointment with the consultant before. 😂

Guess it's one rule for OP, so other rules for us. Life isn't fair, but waiting is usually something most people realise is necessary. Maybe OP is in another, easier life...!😅

How nive for the single parent who doesn't have that option. Her kids get to queue whilst yours get to have fun instead.

And you are asking why? Self-centredness really comes to mind!

Tons of twats did this when we went to Peppa Pig World, it was awful, you think you’re joining a moderate queue and family after family push past you to get to the one person holding their place. I think its despicable that my two and SEN four year old tried their best to wait nicely in the queue while every two minutes another entitled wanker justified queue jumping with “He’s 7, he’s too little to queue.” You give me the rage OP.

Really? 🤔 I do and my kids were younger when we got screwed over by dozens of families doing it at Peppa Pig World.

YABVU. Even if you forget about how rude it is to everyone else in the queue, it is not sending your children a good message.

Being bored, learning patience, appreciating the beauty in the small things and the chat while you queue, accepting that there are times we have to wait for things in life and that we can’t just have constant stimulation (nor should we - it isn’t healthy) - these are all really important for children to learn.

Why wouldn’t you want to teach them that?

So you mean dozens of families also thought it was okay.

BTW there's 3 going during my turn" then it solves the problem

No! It highlights the problem - it's your turn, you don't get 3 goes. One go per person who queues. Them's the rules. Ridiculous to think otherwise.

It's just rude and shows a massive sense of entitlement.

I would absolutely have said something to you if I was behind you in the queue.

Did someone have a pop at you?
I am surprised you have reflected on this if no one drew attention to your selfishness at the time.

And what is that teaching the two and three year olds that did queue?

This has to be a reverse!

Just play by the same rules as everyone else. I don't get this new trend of entitlement and self justification. I miss the days of universal silent agreement on things. Not aimed at you in particular, OP. Just generally.

I suppose if it's one adult holding space that one child would take, then the adult watches and doesn't join them, then it makes no difference.

One adult holding space for more where everyone isn't classed as one ride (waltzers for example) then it's taking the piss. Everyone has a mental timeline of how long it is until their turn, to suddenly see that you're 'further back' than expected, I'd expect folk would be annoyed.

Not if they’ve been brought up correctly and haven’t had constant stimulation so are capable of waiting.

Mine are 5 and 3. They know how to be bored. They have the ability to wait and enjoy it instead of being desperate to run off to the next thing.

This is because we have taught them that skill. We don’t give them constant entertainment. They go on trains, planes, long car journeys and into restaurants and we don’t take anything with us. No toys, screens, books, colouring etc.

They interact with the world around them and see the beauty in it.

Where would you draw the line though? You have 3 kids, I have 4 but often go out with my two best friends who each have 4. Could I hold a slot for 12 kids? The 2 hours "all you can ride" thing will have resources and spaces allocated based on folk being able to do X number of rides with Y minutes of queueing in between, surely?

It is the equivalent of leaving your trolley in the line at Asda on Christmas Eve, and bringing shopping to it.

You were being a knob. Own it!

Are you seriously asking why? Are you actually for real?
How do you not understand why this is wrong on so many levels? People like you should not be allowed to have children.
Entitlement, laziness and selfishness on so many levels.

Queuing at theme parks is very boring and irritating. When we were there recently I couldn’t believe how many people were just coming and going from the queue- need to pop to the toilet (that one is understandable), dad brings back hot dogs for all, we’ve changed our mind, more children appearing having finished on another ride.

The only things that made it more tolerable for me was that I thought it would be a good chance for my children to be exposed to a bit of delayed gratification, managing their own boredom/ frustration, a bit of time to just chat and learn to be comfortable just waiting/ being.

I understand the arguments around ‘I’ve paid so much for this day out and I want my family to make the most of it’ but at the same time, I think you’re essentially saying to the children, there’s a queue here but you don’t have to wait in it. And I don’t think that’s going to be good for them long term.

Exactly, just sounds efficient to me.

I think maybe if you had one kid it would be ok, but holding the space for 3 is a CF move and caused those behind you an extra wait when they may have done something else with their time instead.
Imagine everyone in front of you was doing the same? The estimated 20 minute wait becomes an hour. Would you be happy?

Oh, and just in case anyone on here doesn't understand what queue jumping is. Here's one of the many signs up at Alton Towers.
We saw someone get kicked out for doing this in the rapids line. 99% of the queue were livid and trying to get staff attention. We all cheered when they were told to leave.

I have 2 children. One finds being still quite easy, the other is never still. If I had 2 children who found being still easy I would probably also wonder what was up with everyone else’s parenting too 😂

Oh and we don’t do screens or take toys everywhere either. It isn’t because they’re constantly stimulated, they’re not. They’re given lots of time to be bored. It’s their different temperaments, they’ve had the same parenting.

The fact you have 3 children is the issue. It would be fine if one adult substituted one child but not 3.

That’s not the main issue. The main issue is that you’re being selfish.

Entitled. If you did that and was in the queue, I would have told you to do one.

You could only pull this stunt because there were two adults. It’s a very selfish move.

Please don't. So selfish.