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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To want to wrench toddlers away from overprotective mothers and set them free?

55 replies

lindsaygii · 30/10/2009 20:44

You know the ones. You are at a group, drop-in or whatever. The only people there are mums and kids. Lots of kids are running about, having fun. They go up to other mums and kids to say hello. Their mother runs over and snatches them away. You aren't sure - are you a paedo or is the child a mini-psycho?

Or - the mum sitting next to you keeps a tight hold of her toddler. Whenever it tries to escape and join in the fun she pulls it back, berating it for 'having ants in its pants'

IF I'M AT A PLAYGROUP I DON'T MIND CHILDREN COMING UP TO ME!!. It's the possessive/ protective mums that do my nut in...

OP posts:
independiente · 30/10/2009 20:48

Well, I might initially wonder why a mum might act the way you describe. This would probably lead me to wonder if something had happened to make the mother overprotective. Why don't you print the words IF I'M AT A PLAYGROUP I DON'T MIND CHILDREN COMING UP TO ME!!. on at-shirt, and wear it next time you're at playgroup? But don't be surprised if no one brings you a cup of tea and a biscuit...

LynetteScavo · 30/10/2009 20:50

I've never met/seen these mums.

TombliBOOOOOObs · 30/10/2009 20:56

I haven't come across anybody like this either.

MillyR · 30/10/2009 20:58

I have never seen this happen.

madamearcati · 30/10/2009 21:00

Not like this at the toddler groups I've been to

independiente · 30/10/2009 21:02

And actually, come to think of it, I don't know what you're talking about either. In reality.

Original poster
lindsaygii · 30/10/2009 21:53

Weird, I see it quite a lot. The 'ants in your pants' example happened last Friday, for example.

In reality.

OP posts:
thisisyesterday · 30/10/2009 21:55

maybe you're one of those sour-faced mums who looks like she hates kids coming up to her?
so they come and take the kids away before you faint or something>

Ghouleez · 30/10/2009 21:57

I havn't any experience of this myself. All the places I've been to, the mothers are happy to let their children come running up to me. Most are way too relaxed about letting their chldren loose and don't even bother to remove them from a scuffle with another child!

lockets · 30/10/2009 21:59

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Original poster
lindsaygii · 30/10/2009 22:01

thisisyesterday "maybe you're one of those sour-faced mums who looks like she hates kids coming up to her?
so they come and take the kids away before you faint or something"

Aaah right. WTF would I be complaining about mothers holding their kids back if I objected to their kids? Doh.

I'd give you zero for logic there...

OP posts:
rasputin · 30/10/2009 22:02

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Ghouleez · 30/10/2009 22:04

thisisyesterday- That was a bit uncalled for don't you think?

suwoo · 30/10/2009 22:04

I perhaps look a twat like one of those mums at toddler group. My nearly three year old is often sat on my knee despite me desperately trying to get rid of him. We don't call him velcro boy for nothing you know.

Should you try and speak to him or encourage him to play he would spontaneously combust into a massive pile of temper, nerves, snot and 3 year old angst.

thisisyesterday · 30/10/2009 22:04

i give you zero for reading properly..

i said maybe you were sour-faced. not that you dint' want them to come up to you.
you m ight be more than happy to have them there, but you might not look like you are.

JeremyVile · 30/10/2009 22:05

Never seen it either.

suwoo · 30/10/2009 22:06

Oh, and he is always spotless and fashionable dahling. He keeps his clothes beautifully clean whilst sat on Mummys knee.

thisisyesterday · 30/10/2009 22:07

yeah maybe it was uncalled for. but then again, maybe it's uncalled for having a go at other mums who may have very good reasons for parenting the way they do

my 2 yr old is, despite his protestations, kept on reins./in buggy for school pick up.
if he isn't he runs amok. in the classroom, in the playground, running into the road. as i have a 5 yr old and a baby as well i can't have him tearing around the place like a loon.

so y'know... cut these mums some slack

rasputin · 30/10/2009 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

MillyR · 30/10/2009 22:10

I generally found that women who criticised me for having my 3 year old sit in a buggy owned a car. If you have to walk or use public transport to get around then you need a buggy, because you are often going to go further than a 3 year old can walk.

lockets · 30/10/2009 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

scottishmummy · 30/10/2009 22:11

you seem like a stress monkey stop SHOUTING and gawping at other mums

Original poster
lindsaygii · 30/10/2009 22:12

Well I seem to see it quite a bit. Maybe I'm just unlucky enough to have found a couple of groups with weird mothers at them....

This one last Friday really brought it into focus for me. Poor son was held on her knee while all around him other toddlers were having great fun. But then I realised he wasn't the only one, and quite a few mums were chasing after their offspring to bring them back. When we were sitting in a circle of mums and kids in a locked community hall!!

Going by her totally unjustified and bitchy shit on this thread I'd say thisisyesterday is one of them. I knew there'd be one somewhere. Looks like I found her.

OP posts:
Original poster
lindsaygii · 30/10/2009 22:14

Okay, that last post was written while tiy was also posting. I take it back since you seem to have. Peace?

OP posts:
MillyR · 30/10/2009 22:14

I don't think I have had any prior online experience of either the OP, or TIY, but the accusation against TIY is so absurd that it should win some kind of MN award.