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)

Ooh, your judgemental opinion will really hurt them…. Hopefully your kids will have people other than you (at school) to teach them that you have to respect other people, and you are not the most important person in the world by virtue of age.

Not sure, I think it varies. London Zoo site is showing all kids under 3 are free (which is great).

And adult tickets are £35 child tickets are £24.50.

Honestly, it was so good. I'd become a bit of a recluse after being widowed and having bits of health issues three years previously.

A chum let me know that she was going along with her kids and asked did I want to meet up. I got there a bit earlier and went looking for a coffee.

I was just enjoying watching the world go by, when I was set upon by the reprobates in my previous post. It was the best day I'd had in some time.

I agree with you. We are the minority, it seems. I find it odd when adults go to these places without children. Before I had kids I wasn’t standing in line to feed a goat. Each to their own I suppose……….but I still find it odd.

I only visited my local city farm after I had a child because I thought it would look weird without one, but now I’ve been, I regret not going before! I was missing out on so much (including the v nice cafe)! I admired people I saw who, without kids, were unashamedly admiring the lovely animals.

You sound fun.

Best answer of the day 👍🏻

No, not even the OP.

Same with my rabbit, doesn't mind been stroked but hates been picked up. Gets grumpy when you try 😆

I'll admit when I read your post I did think, you sad bastard.

YABU, sometimes me and DP go to farms/petting zoos without DC :/ why can’t adults do that in your opinion?

Funny enough I find children at wildlife parks and aquariums irritating 🤣 I actually want to look at the animals and read the information, they just want to pound on the glass and yell.

You should, might shake out the stick up your ass.

I definitely think it can apply the other way. And I don't think dogs belong everywhere either. Shock horror, I even sometimes think it was better when scouts and guides were single sex. Everyone (and their dogs) go absolutely everywhere now and I sometimes I feel nostalgic for when we were more repressed by constraining societal expectations on who should be where and when. Now it's a free for all and everything is acceptable.

I didn’t say you can’t, I said I think it’s a bit sad!

Just spotted your name.

Anne McCaffrey fan?

Oh that's made my day 🥰

Yep it’s a bit weird op, I get it.

Now that drinking isn’t trendy they are lost as to what to do.

Oh right. Your four year old had to wait and didn't like it. Because of some adult. Possibly even some childless single adult? (spit)

Spending time with animals is nice OP. The feel of their fur. Their big, wondering eyes. Their simple take on life. They are not reserved for four year olds. The world does not simply revolve around kids, no not even when you have chosen to have them yourself. Adults deserve nice things too.

@ExtraHotDoubleShot

Stroking animals is well known for relieving stress.
Many adult care homes, as well as schools, now have therapy dogs.
I was diagnosed with cancer this year, I would have been lost without my cats when I was in the trenches with chemo
In the summer I went with my 22 year old son to the donkey sanctuary on the Isle of Wight. Best day for a long time, also the piglets at the monastery.
Hopefully next year I'll be feeding the meerkats.

Why?

you have yet to explain why you think it’s sad

Adults petting animals isnt infantising them. Infants dont pet animals as a childish thing.

We let children pet animals to learn about gentleness, the environment, the cycle of life, relationships, the emotional connection to other living beings. Its an educational thing for children.

Not a childish one for adults

Why is it sad to enjoy petting cute fluffy critters? If anything I think it's quite the opposite

I love going on the teacups, you should try it OP, might turn that frown upside down.