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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to think that this is terrible !!!!!

107 replies

thecloudhopper · 14/02/2010 20:26

Was in Boots printing pictures and a man walkes up to the counter - lady behind counter asks man if she can help he replys with "yes I need something to shut the baby up"

I was horrified
The lady behind the counter fair play in my opinion said "WE don't sell anything like that here!!!"

As it happend the baby in question was teathing.

My thought was don't hve children if you are not prepared for them to be wingy at times.

OP posts:
janeite · 14/02/2010 21:31

Somebody once knocked on the door and said that they were collecting for Save The Children. My mum said, 'I've got four - do you want them all now, or in installments?' -but yes - it does depend on the tone.

Lulumama · 14/02/2010 21:32

show me a parent who has never complained , even in jest about their child and i'll show oyou a liar

YABU and judgey and condescending

a teething child who has been up for nights on end, inconsolable, screaming, whinging an dimpossible to settle will test even the most calm of parents

tethersend · 14/02/2010 21:32

Hmmm... I'm finding it hard to judge his parenting skills. Did he breastfeed?

UndomesticHousewife · 14/02/2010 21:36

Everyone of my kids were so whingy and annoying and drove me up the wall but I kept having more of them for some strange reason...

Booyhoo · 14/02/2010 21:37

my uncle has a very sour way about him and even when joking can come across very dry. sometimes i have to ask him if he is joking or not.

if he had done what is described in the OP, i would most definitely say he was joking.

kids can be a pain in the ass. i have offered both mine to my ds1's preshool teacher several times . she knew i was joking of course.

HellBent · 14/02/2010 21:42

Oh dear OP, have you honestly never said anything like this yourself? I tell DC's if they don't keep the noise down I'll put them in the wheelie bin (one for each of them you see ), but I don't really mean it! And when I have my sister's kids over they sleep really well in the cupboard!

I've also said similar to the save the children comment above. I wouldn't worry about it, keep your judging for something worthwhile.

Original poster
thecloudhopper · 14/02/2010 22:41

Im sorry I don't care how much lack of sleep you are suffering you should never say that in such a way about a child.

OP posts:
runnybottom · 14/02/2010 22:43

Why ask then if you'r so sure of yourself, Ms Smug?

lilolilmanchester · 14/02/2010 22:44

a big "holier than thou" thecloudhopper. I get where you are coming from, but then unless you have spent several weeks in that man's house, you have no idea what they might be dealing with.

Original poster
thecloudhopper · 14/02/2010 22:46

saying it as a joke is one thing and that wouldn't have bothered me so much- i surpose he did look shattered and I don't actually have my own children my experence comes from working with children.

OP posts:
Original poster
thecloudhopper · 14/02/2010 22:50

just wouldn't be a turn of phrase I would use with any of the children I work with... i guess it hit a sore spot.

OP posts:
lilolilmanchester · 14/02/2010 22:55

wouldn't be a turn of phrase I'd us either, but both my DCs slept well from about 9 weeks. But I do know people who hadn't had a full night's sleep even after their DCs had started school. I can't imagine how desperate you must get after so long without sleep. Can you?

runnybottom · 14/02/2010 23:01

That explains a lot. Come back in a few years when you are sleep deprived and half mad with a teething baby, see if you change your tune.

tethersend · 14/02/2010 23:01

It's been a while since we've had a good AmIBeingUnreasonableYesYouArex50NoImNot thread- thanks, thecloudhopper

psychomum5 · 14/02/2010 23:29

why ask if you are that certain you are NOT being unreasonable.

you might actually be the very first perfect mother I have ever come across.

well done you for never allowing yourself to be driven half mad thru lack of sleep and a poorly teething baby.

janeite · 14/02/2010 23:34

You have no children? Okay - why don't you borrow a couple who are teething for a week or two and then come back and tell us how you're feeling.

Kewcumber · 14/02/2010 23:36

"I don't actually have my own children" ah. OK then.

Yes I think its shocking that parents are sometimes driven insane by their children no matter how much they love them.

I hope you and the Boots assistant tutted at him appropriately.

(PS they do sell that kind of thing there - teething granules and dummies and teething rings, teething granules worked a treat on DS except for the worst of his teething)

lockets · 14/02/2010 23:38

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

chegirlshadabloodynuff · 14/02/2010 23:39

Perhaps, just maybe he was trying to buy something to soothe and help his baby? Painkillers, a teether, teething powders?

Because he loves his baby and he doesnt like seeing it in pain and distress?

Or maybe he wandered into Boots in order to get some assistance with his child abuse plans?

FFS. I love my kids. Doesnt mean I never say anything slighty off about them.

You dont have to actively enjoy sleepless nights, vomit and screaming to love your kids.

ToccataAndFudge · 14/02/2010 23:40

even if you did have your own children the way that you speak/act around the children you work with would be different to the way that you spoke/acted around your own children. Even if you weren't the sort of person to use that sort of speech with your children it would still be different.

Mumcentreplus · 14/02/2010 23:42

I think he was just frustrated and making a joke..

Kewcumber · 14/02/2010 23:49

lockets - after I had DS - someone asked me what it was like - my main gripe was "I'm nothing like as good a parent as I was expecting to be". Still makes me laugh about this lovely patient parent I was going to be - DS has the ability to push buttons I didn't even know I had before, would still happily murder anyone who hurt him.

psychomum5 · 15/02/2010 00:34

lockets, I am a perfect mother.

the shame of it is however that I didn;t get the children that went with my perfection.........probably to stop me becoming smug like the OP.

OP, I missed where you said you didn;t have children yet. I wish upon you the night that poor father had when you do, and await some other smug wotsit on here complaining about how you where overheard speaking in such a manner while asking for help. Maybe then you will finally see how unreasonable you actually are being right now.

I really would have thought tho that working with children would have givene you a little more sympathy and compassion......clearly not, and I pity the parents you come across daily.

gorionine · 15/02/2010 08:11

Ah OP you do not have children yet? that explains it a bit.

I have worked with children myself before having my own . Do believe me it is a bit different to look after children during the day and having your own. When your day is finished you go home and sleep (if you choose to) when it is your own DCs, it is relentless (even more so with a teeething baby) and sleeping (even if you really really want/need to) is not usually on the agenda so parents can at time be a bit "moody".

NOTHING prepares you for how tired you will be at times.

SchnoogleDyBroogle · 15/02/2010 08:20

Ah come on don't be so tough on cloudhopper, I remember very well not having children, desperately wanting them and feeling upset and saddened at how some people didn't seem to appreciate theirs.