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?

Do you understand parenting?
It's not linear.
However, it sounds as if your children were too young for this.
Maybe choose activities where you don't jump the queue.

Exactly! I'm glad they had to go to the back. How cheeky.

No that’s very bad etiquette. Unless you are repeatedly yelling “I represent 3!” All the way to the back of the queue otherwise anyone else joining has no idea how long the queue is. Particularly frustrating if their children are actually in the queue patiently waiting their turn then get shafted as soon as they get to the front by others who are not actually queuing jumping in.

Do you think you may have misunderstood cause and effect? Perhaps some adults can’t manage delayed gratification because they didn’t start learning it as young children.
As others have said, if they are too young to queue, they don’t go on that ride/activity.

Are you joking? I hope so. Don’t be a knob. It’s queue jumping and you know it.

And then I imagine the staff will tell you to leave.

How do you FORCE someone to go to the back of a queue? Physically assault them?

I can understand the frustration in somewhere like a theme park where you are waiting for a defined service - a ride. Or in a supermarket where you await your TURN for service. (I once pushed a left trolley out of the way when someone nipped off and left it).

However sometimes you are simply waiting for something where there is no defined service or object to receive. For example to get into a building for a performance where tickets or seats are already allocated. Then the "first come first served " rule is not necessarily fair. The people at the front may have arrived earlier or come by car. That makes it unfair on those who live further away or have to use public transport.

That might work (but you’d look like a fool), but what about the queues that snake round for 45 mins. How will the people at the back know that mummy 1/2 way down is saving the space for her 3 children.

Why do you think your children are entitled to skip the queues above other people. Why are your children more important than anyone else queueing as they are meant to & then having to wait longer because you are being so entitled.

Your children are not too young to learn. People have much more understanding of 2 years old moaning about a long wait than a 10 year old BECAUSE THEY WERE NEVER TAUGHT HOW TO QUEUE

I also think there is also some contradiction in what you are doing. You are happy to do this but wouldn't want others doing it..you yourself counted the number of children in front to estimate the 20 min wait. Therefore you yourself are expecting that those in the line are those going on the trampolines.
As others have said, how would you have felt if these children in line got closer and then beckoned siblings/friends to join them? I expect you would feel annoyed at having waited 20 mins to realise you would be waiting longer because of this.

Delayed gratification is something that even adults don't have, which is why so many people buy things on finance /klarna etc because they can't wait to afford anything.

Something some adults don't have thank you very much. Teaching things like this should start as early as possible so it becomes second nature. For example, you are teaching manners alongside potty training, yes? Or is it two weeks on potty training, two weeks on manners and so on?

Your kids will turn out as entitled and vile as their mother.

I'm stood in front of you at a supermarket with my trolly of shopping, there's 2 people in front of me, we wait probably thinking we've better places to be. The 2nd one is just finishing their packing ready to pay and I then call my 2 DC, who both shop separately out of another longer queue to go infront of me with their shopping, would you find that acceptable?

one person can hold a queue place for 1 (2 at a push) and 2 people for 2, more than that is taking the piss.

I once witnessed a near riot in open House day before they had ticketed entry to the Gherkin where one woman tried holding the queue for a group of 10. when the hordes arrived they where quickly told to go to the back and people did call staff members to make sure it happened

She probably does that already

There's also the issue that people waiting for the other ride have 3 more kids in front of them while your kids are having their turn on that so it leads to bigger lines and longer waits for people who don't skip the line

Most theme parks are pretty clear that saving a place for additional people falls under their definition of queue jumping and is not allowed. It gives a misleading length of the queue for other visitors, who judge the length and decide whether or not to join on that basis. Don't do it.

You ARE being unreasonable, @Dontjumptoconclusions, as well as selfish and entitled.

Learn some manners.

"Anyway I appreciate many think IABU."

This is a lovely subtle flourish to leave on and deserves a bit of recognition.

Same at paultons park

3 vs 1 people waiting

This is something you can teach as early as 18 months. You will find it much harder to teach as they get older because it won’t be natural to them.

Yep this!

So they are too young then!