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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

toddlers in the cinema...

119 replies

thehillsarealive · 17/02/2010 16:26

took my 2 DC (10 & 6) to the cinema this afternoon. We were sitting quite happily watching the movie when a mum came and sat with her toddler on the steps next to my seat. They had previously been over the other side and causing a fuss as he wouldnt sit still or shut up and I was rather annoyed as all I could hear was the toddler stomping up and down the steps shouting 'night night' and generally being a nuisance to the rest of the room.

AIBU to expect the mother to remove her toddler from the cinema completely and not just move from one side to the other? Or not have taken him at all as he is too young?

OP posts:
rainbowinthesky · 17/02/2010 16:27

What was the film? If it were anything other than Barney or the like then I would have complained to her.

3littlefrogs · 17/02/2010 16:31

This is symptomatic of the current trend for having no manners, no social skills and no idea how to behave in public.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/02/2010 16:31

YANBU. If the child won't sit still and be quiet -then it's too young for the cinema and should be taken out.

What film, BTW ?

Original poster
thehillsarealive · 17/02/2010 16:32

it was alvin and the chipmonks sequel. Although it was a U - it said suitable for children age 4+.

the cinema is a rip off in its own right it cost £15 for the tickets and another £16 on popcorn and drinks.

should really have bought sweets etc before we got there but the only shop nearby was Asda - and I just cant stand the smell in that shop.

OP posts:
rainbowinthesky · 17/02/2010 16:34

ALvin and the chipmunks isnt toddler material.

Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/02/2010 16:35

I saw that yesterday too - weird hybrid of very small child and teenage film (why were the Chipmunks going to High School - surely they are younger than that ? )

Butterfly99 · 17/02/2010 16:36

That is annoying considering how expensive it is to go to the cinema nowdays. We had a similar experience when we had found some good seats and a couple with their PFB came and sat next to us and insisted on explaining the film all the way through to their child! Did you speak to the mother though? Some people are so wrapped up their kids they dont seem to notice how irritating they are to other people. There is a mother of four who brings her kids to our local pool during swimming lessons, who has been potty training her youngest two and just lets them wander round with no knickers on peeing all over the new carpet, totally oblivious.

post · 17/02/2010 16:36

Rofl at not being able to stand the smell of asda!

youremindmeofthebabe · 17/02/2010 16:37

Had a friend who went to see it with kids and said it was quite sexual?!

Wasn't sure i believed him, is it true?

Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/02/2010 16:39

It was quite "kissy" (DS1 - age 9- was squirming like I squirm when a child has a giant bogey).

They female chipmunks were a bit sexual in their gyrations to the music. I'd despair a bit if I had little girls .....

Original poster
thehillsarealive · 17/02/2010 16:40

thanks all, I didnt speak to the Mum, by the time she came over to 'my' side i think she couldnt be bothered any more so sat on the steps and just let him run around up and down and making noise. I gave her a look though.

Re the Asda thing - it smells funny in that particular shop. A mixture of curry and stinky people. cant abide stinky people it makes me gag instantly; I dont mean doing a work out and needing a shower, the other 'stinky' clothes, hair and body havent seen soap or water since Jesus was a boy!

OP posts:
LaDiDaDi · 17/02/2010 16:42

at not being able to stand the smell in Asda.

I took dd (3.9) to see that film yesterday. It was a bit above her head tbh so she did get wriggly but hopefully was not annoying others.

As for BU, it's quite likely the mum was there alone with dc old enough to watch the film quietly but not old enough to be left alone so that she couldn't remove the toddler. If it was her first time taking toddleer to the cinema then she wasn't to know how they would behave.

IMO these are the risks that you run going to see a film like this during half-term so YABU imo.

RustyBear · 17/02/2010 16:43

Judging by a recent thread on here, if you had braved the ASDA smell & bought sweets & drinks, you may not have been allowed to take them in anyway

Original poster
thehillsarealive · 17/02/2010 16:43

it wasnt sexual - but the female chipmunks had sparkly dresses on and were doing the routing to Beyonces "shoulda put a ring on it" I have seen worse on kids tv at home!

and yes i do have a daughter who is 6 going on 16... dont even want to go there today.

OP posts:
Original poster
thehillsarealive · 17/02/2010 16:45

really rusty? well there was a lady there (granny i think) who was passing out drinks, sweets, chocolate during the trailers to her Gs and 3 of his friends. They were all in different seats and it was quite funny to watch and it was in full view of the usher.

OP posts:
Jamieandhismagictorch · 17/02/2010 16:46

I am glad I got to experience "You Spin Me Right Round (like a Record)" sung by chipmunks though .........

SpicedGerkin · 17/02/2010 16:48

OP YANBU

Ladidadi - If the mum could move from on side of the cinema to the other without the other children you have invented that may have been there, then surely they would be capable of meeting her outside the door when it was over?

OtterInaSkoda · 17/02/2010 16:49

On the subject of cinema prices, lots of cinemas do Kids Club showings which are far cheaper than usual - Odeon and Vue near us do anyway.

That's by the by - YANBU to think she should have removed the toddler from the cinema. Did she have an older dc with her perhaps, whom she felt she couldn't leave alone?

LaDiDaDi · 17/02/2010 16:50

At my nearest cinema there are lots of signs up saying children under eight years old must be accompanied by an adult whilst in the auditorium so not an unlikely scenario imo, Spiced Gerkin.

RustyBear · 17/02/2010 16:51

Thread here

2shoes · 17/02/2010 16:52

yanbu and should have complained to the manager

nigglewiggle · 17/02/2010 16:54

I am taking my 4 year old tomorrow and I have gone to great lengths to make alternative arrangements for my wriggly 21 month old because I know, like just about every other child that age, she will not sit still for more than about 3 minutes.

So even if she did have real (or imagined) other children, then YANBU.

violethill · 17/02/2010 16:58

YANBU and I would have complained

How utterly selfish of the woman

SpicedGerkin · 17/02/2010 17:07

Being at the other side of the auditorium is hardly accompanying them though.

macdoodle · 17/02/2010 17:10

Hmmm not so sure about this TBH!
I am single mum to a 8yr old and a 2 (and a bit)yr old, if I didnt take them together, poor DD1 would never get to go!
Alvin perhaps a bit old, but it IS half term, it is raining, so I think YABabitU!

Yesterday, we went to Princess and the Frog, and DD2 did get a bit irritable and squirmy, luckily DD1 is very mature and sensible and can be left, I took DD2 out for a bit, then stood with her in the entrance aisle (so not next to anyone)!
But the cinema was FULL of kids, including loads of toddlers!