To feel depressed at someone yapping on her phone while on a ride in Legoland with her daughter?

[whistlejacket]

After shelling out on a treat for the kids, you'd think she'd be keen to spend some quality time with them. I couldn't hear what she was talking about. Maybe it was "Let's discuss the Q1 sales figures, you'll have to excuse the background noise I'm on the Dino Safari."

Well I would rather talk to some boring client about boring work than be on a boring ride at boring Legoland so why not combine the two and have a really boring time.

Now if she was on the phone while in a nice spa having a nice glass of champange on her own she would be a bit of a silly moo.

OP, why weren't you on this ever so important ride...truely...why...come on if you udge a mum for just being on the phone whilst on the ride...you should at least be on it, showing your commitment...

God are people really this analytical of complete strangers in public? I'm usually too tied up with my own life to be the slightest bit interested in other people, unless of course they did have reason to catch my attention.

Unbelievable

It seems to me that everyone always has some terribly urgent and pressing business that means they have to be on the phone. Yet while they are on the phone, they are also trying to cook dinner/drive/take their kids on an amusement park ride/choose a bottle of wine/etc

I know a lot of people have busy lives, but I get a little tired of hearing about how busy/rushed/stressed everyone is. I seem to recall that the world turned just fine a few years ago, when being out and about meant maybe being uncontactable for a few short hours. I wish more people would concentrate on doing one thing at a time.

YANBU.

...us girls are meant to be able to multitask, salme....

So you have a stress-free life then Salme101? Lucky you.

I'd like to have a stress-free life. Whilst I'm working on that, I just try to know my limits. Multi-tasking? I'm more a work-to-rule kind of girl, myself

I hadn't discussed this thread with DH, or even mentioned it.

At Legoland today I was moaning to him about the new "Land of the Pharoahs" being 80% the old fairground rides given a coat of paint and a new name, and that I considered it a swiz.

DH said "Ah but maybe the roundabout's got a better mobile signal now."

He's never forgotten the bloke on his mobile either.

We were selling our house at the time we took a trip to Legoland - accepted an offer from there!

completely agree with Millie.. my dd is prefectly happy if i talk on the phone in her company whereever we are. We alos have annual passes , I spend half my summer at legoland, going there is not a big deal for everyone there you know and doesn't cost everyone a small fortune, sometimes we go for the last hour or so and I may take a call or two. Blimey , it's makes me laugh to think others are assuming i am an unfit mother

I've accepted job assignments and arranged interviws in my dd's school playground (agency rang me). If I'd not answered the phone, they would have rung the next person on their list.

I've also kept my phone on whilst going around Kew Gardens as my sister was being picked up from a chemo round that day.

I doubt if I'd use my phone for chit-chat on those occasions but I suppose some people might.

it could have been the other family or friends she came with asking her to meet them at the toilets or something....bit Judgey McJudgeson

A lot of local people have annual passes and view Legoland the same way they view their local park. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see people on the phone. Not sure what the problem is or would you also be complaining if they made/took a call in the park?

A lot of local people have annual passes and view Legoland the same way they view their local park. Wouldn't surprise me at all to see people on the phone. Not sure what the problem is or would you also be complaining if they made/took a call in the park?

Sorry

Well, just to sidestep away from it having been Legoland that you saw what you felt was inappropriate use of a mobile, on Sky News this morning, there was a woman in the background to the reporter laying flowers at a makeshift shrine to Jade Goody whilst jabbering away on her phone. Nice to see someone concentrating on the issue-in-hand of paying their respects!

I would quite possibly be that woman. I don't go into the office on Fridays, but the deal is that I do need to be available to take calls and respond to emails. I have been known to do it at playgroup, in the park, in the swimming pool changing room and at the Transport Museum. As the alternative would be being in the office, that seems a better option for the dcs. Didn't realise there were people judging me for it...alhtough, if I'd thought about it I probably would have realised people were judging me, as after a year or so on MN I've realised there's always someone judging me about something. I'm a bit like steviesgirl, far too busy getting on with my own life to notice what anyone else is up to

pombear I agree completely with your post, you made some very valid points.

I am sad to see the word depressed in the thread title. Unlucky OP if this is what makes her depressed.

What would you actually talk to your child about on the ride anyway???

"Oooh this is fast"

"ooh a corner"

"ooh down we go"

Not exactly earth shatteringly educational-emotional-enhancing conversation you can have at LegoLand on a ride, so I would guess the child is not missing out too much and probably was more interested in the ride itself and the 'thrill' than chatting to their parent. So I would agree with others, no need for depression to set in and really not to worry.

thing is, op admitted to not even be on the ride with her own kid...so....really either should know things aren't always what they seem (she may have very valid resons for not being on the ride, but should know just how easily she could be misjudged as uncaring mum of the year ) or she should be ashamed to take the moral highground, really....so...simples as the Meerkat says

well now, I don't know about the OP but the thread title did resonate with me.

When we were in the park with DS yesterday, there was a little boy in the playpark whose mum(?) was just sat at a bench on her mobile, texting or chatting, smoking a fag and not interacting with him at all - he, poor lad, was on his own on the equipment and then started coming onto every bit we were on with DS - unfortunately he must have been about 5, and DS is only 16mo so it was a bit tricky from our PFB pov, especially where climbing and slides were involved.

We felt really sorry for him because after we'd moved equipment a couple of times so DS could have a go without the bigger boy, he got the hint and went off again - and then we felt guilty (silly of us really) and cross with his minder/mum for not paying him any attention.

So in essence - it is not unreasonable to think that it would be nicer for a parent to be involved/interactive in the child's treat (imo)

hmm...but sometimes you just take them out to the local park to get some headspace and peace....

I know, I wasn't really judging, I just felt sorry for the boy because he had no one else to play with and he wasn't really being a pest, just getting on with it - he just seemed very alone.

I am just saying that seeing one sequence of someones life may well not be a true reflection of what is actually going on....and that goes both ways, really...plenty of people playin attentive of the year parent , but at home that all looks kinda different...

but a 5 year old loves independence, to an extend...iykwim...
I am not saying you were wrong in your judgement...but well...it might not be the usual situation...but there are families where that is the norm...