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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be annoyed by some people's lack of 'playground etiquette'??

48 replies

LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 20:45

at the park today with my friend's partner and their daughter, plus my 2 dc.

DC1 ran towards the swings the moment we got to the playground, while I was still unstrapping DC2 from his pushchair. When I headed over to her, she had her hand on one of the swings and was asking to be put in it.

There were a few other parents/ children hanging about so I asked DC1 if it was her turn or if she had pushed in? was anyone else waiting? A mum, there with her partner and dd (who, tbh, looked too old for the baby swings) huffily said yes, we were actually, but whatever.

I said, not at all, my daughter can wait her turn and explained (not for the 1st time) to DC1 about waiting, not pushing in etc etc. In the meantime, my friends' child was whining to go on the swing too and friend gave her the same spiel.

So we waited for a bit (only 2 swings you see, and there was another little boy ahead of us too - his father had been very chilled about it though) and then encouraged our 3 dcs to go and play on the climbing frame/ slide.

Meanwhile, a good few people went on swing 2, but the couple and their daughter kept a firm hold of swing 1.

20 minutes passed and it was time to get the kids home for dinner. But they weren't leaving without a swing. So we headed back over. One swing was free but the couple still had their daughter on the other.

So we announced that all 3 were going to get to have a turn and then we had to go. So the couple stood there and kept pushing their daughter while each of our 3 kids had a tiny turn on the other swing, one after another. Meanwhile a new queue formed behind us.

AIBU to be really annoyed by this? Honestly - warm day, playground rammed with kids - should you really hog the swing for near on 30 minutes????

OP posts:
LotsOfLovelyShoes · 26/04/2009 20:52

yes YABU and you need to relax

juneybean · 26/04/2009 20:52

I don't think you're BU, when I take my charge to the park, I get really annoyed when older children hog the little ones swings, and it's a fairly busy park.

There's no need for childishness from parents.

traceybath · 26/04/2009 20:54

And this is why i hate parks.

Ohforfoxsake · 26/04/2009 20:56

You ANBU, but you need to let it go.

Thoughtless and selfish, but not worth losing sleep over. Have some wine or chocolate. G'wan.

Original poster
LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 20:56

oh, traceyb - why? bc of people like me or people like the others?

please do tell me if I am BU - am willing to blame my preggo hormones!!

OP posts:
compo · 26/04/2009 20:57

well yes it reads a bit petty, why didnt you say 'do you mind if my dc has a go now?'

rubyslippers · 26/04/2009 20:57

you just say politely "would you mind if my LO has a turn"

don't stew on it though ...

Toffeepopple · 26/04/2009 20:57

I don't think you are being unreasonable. The stuff is there to be shared, isn't it?

Original poster
LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 20:58

thanks fox - I think I'm pretty much over it now Just wanted to know if I was BU in the first place, since I (ahem) often am, tbh

OP posts:
traceybath · 26/04/2009 20:59

Not because of people like you but because of rude 'swing hogs'.

shootfromthehip · 26/04/2009 21:00

Petty, rude buggers. YANBU IMHO.

blueshoes · 26/04/2009 21:06

letthem, YANBU. It is always the swings, lol.

ThingOne · 26/04/2009 21:07

YANBU. We usually ask, or speak loudly about it. Being subtle has its place. And that's not in a thirty minute wait for a swing!

ThingOne · 26/04/2009 21:08

Tracey, do you seriously not go to the RVP? Shoorly 'tis the whole point of the place?

Original poster
LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 21:09

with hindsight, I think that I wouldn't have been so bothered if they hadn't so clearly been out out by my 2yo daughter's lack of playground etiquette (she would be swing hog extraordinaire given half a chance)

Anyway, hey ho. About to watch Come Dine with Me, am sure someone on that show will irritate the life out of me and put the whole incident firmly at the back of my mind!!!

Am definitely a mass of simmering moral outrage in this pregnancy ....

OP posts:
traceybath · 26/04/2009 21:17

RVP is the land of the devil - i have been once and hated it.

We're very rural outside of Bath and go to local ones which are quiet/empty or Alice Park which is much nicer.

Yurtgirl · 26/04/2009 21:21

OP - I dont think you are being unreasonable at all

I would have said politely "Oy please let some one else have a turn"

Original poster
LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 21:23

I should have, I know, but some awful part of me kind of wanted to leave it and see what they'd do if no one said anything to them. I think I want to be outraged!! I think I want to have something to rant about!! I am a mental hormonal pregnant woman!! help me!!

OP posts:
KERALA1 · 26/04/2009 21:25

YANBU

But YABU to say RVP the land of the devil! Is a fabulous park just avoid weekends and after school. Had a magical day there last week - played in the park then picnic next to the Botanical Gardens. Being able to walk there one of the reasons we picked this area to live in.

traceybath · 26/04/2009 21:25

I've been a bit like that during this pregnancy 'my serene phase' as my sister called it!

I wish i would say something in that situation but know i'd have just internally seethed.

Although think how boring for the parents just pushing the same swing for half an hour.

macdoodle · 26/04/2009 21:26

YANBU, but why on earth didnt you say something !
I would have just said, you have been on there a while now could you let some others have a go - I have done exactly this before!

cupofteaplease · 26/04/2009 21:36

I do understand 'park rage' so YANBU.

The other day we went to the park after school and my dd2 (22 months) was trying to climb the steps to go down the slide. There was a little boy around her age, I'd assume, who kept pushing dd2 away by shoving his hand in her face to stop her climbing the steps whilst he stood firmly at the bottom of them.

I watched this happen from a short distance about 5 times (dd2 is a tough cookie), before I began to get a little cross. Not with the little boy, obviously he was too young to know better, but with the parent- wherever they were. Why can't people watch their children's behaviour?

Luckily we got called away by a friend as I was just about to go and have a gentle little chat with the lad or steer dd2 away.

Sorry, went OT then didn't I?!

rasputin · 26/04/2009 21:47

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

traceybath · 26/04/2009 21:59

How many children did you take though rasputin?

I personally find that with more than one child its just too big and busy.

Original poster
LetThemEatCake · 26/04/2009 22:09

What is this RVP of which you speak?

OP posts:
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