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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In thinking that I can provide material for all your judging needs..

156 replies

retiredgoth2 · 03/07/2009 23:16

....look no further!

We here at Goth Towers will provide all the material you need.

Here are a few greatest hits;

Helmets The twin urchins (8) cycle a mile to school daily along path and cycle track sans said devices. Not because I have read and digested all the research on the matter, and come to a reasoned conclusion, but because I cannot be arsed with the argument any more.

Trampolines We have a large trampoline. It has no net I have also elected to largely ignore the safety advice that came with the trampoline, that may be reduced to this precis: (1) stand, alone, on 'x' in centre. (2) only do so if you are an adult (3) only do this if you are an exceptionally light adult (4) For fucks sake don't bounce.

Lack Of Adult Supervision I frequently leave the larger urchins (10 and 12) unaccompanied for up to an hour. Not to do so would make simple things very difficult indeed. Sometimes I will leave all four when the younger two are abed for essential trips to the local emporium. Such as the essential trip earlier to buy the wine that is fuelling this post.

(it may further interest the Health and Safety freaks to learn that I am an A and E Charge Nurse. So I should know better)

...there are many, many more that would garner opprobrium here. I've left out the best stuff.

Why this post? I was just remembering a family holiday in 2006, a Eurocamp in Brittany. I recall the feral urchin befriending two boys of similar age, who were there with their Dad (their Mum had recently died). They were perfectly pleasant boys, but Mrs Goth and I were shocked at the astonishing amount of latitude they were given. They were going to Eurodisney afterwards....

To my eternal shame, I recall uttering the words 'life insurance cash being spent, methinks'. I wasn't to know that Mrs Goth would snuff it 6 weeks later, but am still paying penance.....

OP posts:
random · 04/07/2009 00:16

Pot noodle surely?..no need for a plate

Alestorm · 04/07/2009 00:17

Which I actually take as quite a compliment, as on closer Google images inspection, they all seem quite young.

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:17

i dispair - how the hell can you mispell E.M.O.?

retiredgoth2 · 04/07/2009 00:18

...sadly, these days I feel I am more Emu than Emo.

OP posts:
MrsFlittersnoop · 04/07/2009 00:19

My DH is a genuine Retired Goth. He took me to the Intrepid Fox in Soho on our first ever date and spent most of his 20s hanging out at Slimelight in Camden Town . He had shoulder length hair and wore a purple velvet frock-coat on our wedding day (and was REALLY old enough to know better at the time! )

A holiday in Whitby a few years back cured him for good. The sight of so many overweight balding middle-aged chaps in Victorian undertaker-style garb skulking around made him decide to cut his hair short and hang up his silk shirts for good.

He still reckons fat Goth girls are the best shags ever though, so I haven't chucked out my waspie corsets and black lipstick yet!

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:19

i think they are 20p now

mrsboogie · 04/07/2009 00:19

nah the Cure never got as far as the glamorous North West of Ireland in the 80's...

UB40 did though, although that's going off topic a bit...

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:22

my kids didn't wear helmets on a cycle either.

i have some real horror stories of bad motherdom

wrinklytum · 04/07/2009 00:23

AwwvMrs Flittersnoop,Whitby is lovely,Gothic or not.Fish n chips are a must

Alestorm · 04/07/2009 00:23

If i was an EMU i'd have Rod Hull's hand up my arse, surely? Urgh...

DidEinsteinsMum · 04/07/2009 00:24

Custardo - dyslexic and just googled emu as given. It only kicked that it was probably emo afterwards. Being a bit dense tonight and giving up for sleep.

Alestorm · 04/07/2009 00:24

PS - Custy, it's despair...

wrinklytum · 04/07/2009 00:24

Alestorm,it really doesn't bear contemplating.

DidEinsteinsMum · 04/07/2009 00:25

meant clicked but kicked might be more accurate anyway.

thumbwitch · 04/07/2009 00:26

I also heart RG2 and love the phrase-turneology (also quite fond of neology )

BUT would suggest that you do please get a net for your trampoline? Please? I was at a party a few years ago where there was a large trampoline in the garden and various guests were having a go - anyway, one bounced off and landed in a flower bed and knocked himself out. Got up, didn't make a fuss, didn't want to go to A&E but the hostess and a non-drinking friend insisted - they got there, they x-rayed him - he'd fractured his neck. Landing on a soft flowerbed. I don't do safety paranoia in general, I really don't, but this is my one bete noire now.

Cooking unsupervised? no prob - I was frying bacon and eggs at the age of 7 before my parents were out of bed in the mornings.

Was a very closet goth - loved the look and the Cure and Siouxsie and the Banshees (do they qualify??) - really wanted to do it, but Dad Didn't Approve and I was too much of a wuss to go agin his wishes.

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:26

as an A&E nurse RG - this will make you partic judgey and make you feel v. better.

after a partic trying summer holidays with 3 kids ending up in casualty with banged bits and cut bits - at waiting between 4-6 hours a try - ds2 had a nasty head wound caused by a thrown stone.

instead of waiting for it to be glued and given a leaflet on concussion - i held it together for ages with my own bare hands. and stuck a plaster on it

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:27

pmsl @alestorn despair! but sound out EMO go on

DidEinsteinsMum · 04/07/2009 00:28

Always make my ds wear his helmet and safe pads if on his skate board. But he has lasting damage from a stone in the head incident and get super stroppy with him if he doesnt. I don't want another night from hell. PLus he is four and my rules still sit. No helmet no bike. interesting how the key to garage has misteriously disappeared when he gets the idea not to wear one

But then again he makes his own toast and makes an evil coffee that will wake the sleepiest individual. Instantly.

onebatmother · 04/07/2009 00:30

Lololol Emu.
I saw Bauhaus maaany times and was obsessed with Pete Murphy .. Now, the only thing I can remember is 'maxell: breaks the sound barrier'.

RustyBear · 04/07/2009 00:31

wrinklytum - Rod Hull fell off a roof in 1999.

Alestorm · 04/07/2009 00:31

It was what I thought they said!! I'm not down wiv da yoof (was one of my patient's daughter's)

MrsFlittersnoop · 04/07/2009 00:31

Competitive Bad Parenting thread eh?

Drank and smoked while BFing and co-sleeping (well, not simultaneously).

Turkey dinosaurs for breakfast.

Hardly ever use sunscreen (DS hates the sun and never goes out in it anyway).

Ferrying DS around in taxis without a carseat when younger.

Allowing 99% of all meals to be consumed on the sofa in front of the 42" flat screen telly.

TV on EVERY morning before school.

That's just a few things I can bring myself to admit to on a public forum. There is worse.

Alestorm · 04/07/2009 00:32

Rusty THAT MAKES IT WORSE!!!

wrinklytum · 04/07/2009 00:33

Lol at Custardo.

Tortington · 04/07/2009 00:34

dinosaurs for brekkie?

oh no

i can't abide the telly on in the morning - in fact i can't abide speaking in the morning