Adults at petting zoos/farms/kids days out

[ExtraHotDoubleShot]

Has anyone else noticed a massive uptick in grown adults (many in late teens and 20s) going on days out aimed at kids/young families? I’m finding it increasingly irritating - small children having to queue behind grown adults to stroke rabbits or see tanks of fish.

(Exception where there is clearly a disability at play)

out of interest, at what age should stop
watching Disney movies
petting goats
playing with Lego

asking for a friend...

Obviously you were always going to get flamed for this OP because this is mumsnet. But I do slightly agree with you. I went to a children's play park place over the summer and was really surprised how many adults without children there were there. I mean, I enjoy it because I enjoy watching my kids have fun but I wouldn't want to go without kids. There were theatre shows throughout the day with stories very much aimed at preschoolers and primary aged kids and there were big groups of adults jostling to get the best seats. There is a boat trip you can go on and they tell a funny story along the way. Again, very much aimed at kids. It lasts about 10 mins but you queue for up to an hour or so to get on it. I try to steer my kids away as couldn't be arsed waiting that long but they insisted. Again groups of adults in the queue holding it up and making the kids have to wait ages. Of course they have every 'right' to be there but honestly wtf?! So yeah it did annoy me a bit although mostly I found it a bit weird and quite funny.

oh piss off.

This has made my day
Thank you so much!

Maybe you should! It might spin the bile out of you!

Yes that’s exactly what I’m thinking

OP is clearly v.serious and all sense of wonderment and joy from interacting with animals is frivolous and initializing. We should be reading War and Peace and doing our taxes instead.

You’re a bundle of joy, aren’t you.

I have, but it was after a night out and it was in the dark (I may have gone down the slide 😂)

What a load of rubbish.

I've always adored sealions, since I was tiny. I was having a rubbish time of it, so i booked a day off to go to the zoo by myself.

I got to the pool 30 minutes before feeding time to get a good spot. I waited patiently.
The looks, comments, buggies rammed into my legs etc. by families that wanted my spot for their kid was absolutely mental!

How fucking rude and entitled do you have to be to treat an adult like shit because you've rocked up with 2 minutes to spare? Telling their kids that I was a nasty lady etc for not moving. Fuck off with that.
Your child won't remember yet another zoo by next week. I needed that trip.
You can queue behind me thanks.

I paid full price for my visit, you are not worth more than me. Get over yourself.

But that's in your own garden, so fair enough. You aren't making the kiddies down the park wait while you have your turn.

nope. curiosity must die when you turn 12. no fun should be had except for activities in which you act solely with dignity and decorum whilst dressed appropriately.

Stroked these little cuties this year. No child was around at the time.

I think this is what the kids call "a you problem".

They should queue behind anyone who has paid.
Depending on age of the child etc I'd probably let them in front of me.

But you don't get to decide who is allowed in

The whole set up is for children. The sinks are at children height, the cafe sells children’s food, the activities are for children. We do lots of things as children that we don’t then do as adults. I don’t pop to the park to go on the swing or slides as an adult. I’m sure that would be good for my mental health too.

Like I said, each to their own! But I am still allowed to find it odd.

I'm a proper grown up so when the cat bunts my leg when I walk in the through the front door later I'll tell him to get lost. When I sit down and he jumps on my lap I will not stroke him, brush him or even look at him, that's how adult I am.

Please can you clarify whether I'm allowed to go to the zoo OP? I'm autistic, but I'm not sure I "clearly" have a disability, so I'm not sure if I meet your exemption. Am I allowed to go and pet a rabbit or is that reserved for people with specific kinds of disabilities?

You just get worse.

What "issues" would that be?

What about the elderly? My old dad loved coming along to a farm park and holding/feeding animals, why the hell shouldn't he? It's not childishness, it's about being able to enjoy simple pleasures in life. Science has shown that humans of all ages benefit from engaging with animals and nature, and playing!

Anyone who doesn't like doing these things is sad if you ask me.

Op just make sure you don’t pass on your rigid options on ‘appropriate’ behaviour to your child.

But you are welcome to share your list of dos and don’ts for adults here.

I have no objection then!

The Lego cut off used to be on your 100th birthday but they scrapped the age limit because it was deemed cruel to have to remove beloved bricks on someone's birthday 😂

It’s the same category as adults that are obsessed with Disney
Too far OP. Too far.