to wonder why a parent would get snotty with my eldest son because he didn't want their little girl to get on the zip wire without one of her parents there?

[OrmRenewed]

Girl was about 3 or 4. DS got off the zip wire and brought the seat thing back so that the girl could get on it but there was no parents in sight and he didn't think she should get on without someone watching here.

The dad turned up and when the girl complained the the 'big boy' wouldn't let her get on, he told DS#1 to mind his own business

AIBU to think that he was right to be cautious. She was so small she could hardly reach the seat.

how rude

god there are some tossers out there

wanker (the dad)

and I never swear ...

YADBU

YADNBU

Clearly the guy was an idiot, but your ds sounds a star and a very thoughtful boy. Hope this experience doesn't make him think he did the wrong thing because he totally did well.

I think your son was being very thoughtful. I bet the man was falling into the trap of pigeonholing every older child/teen as a social menace. Grrr.

was this guy married to princessparty ?

Well, I think your son was being very thoughtful and considerate. You should be very proud, he sounds like a lovely boy.

Your son was lovely to wait and check. I hope he knows thathe was right in spite of the dads reaction.

My DS1 offered to take DS2 out to the shops on Friday and some woman started lecturing him when she knows nothing about DS2 and DS1 was doing exactly as he should.
( DS1 asked her to explain exactly what was her understanding of, and experience with, atypical autism with OCD and echolaic speech patterns. When the woman went the shop manager started laughing at her and told her to mind her own business)
It makes me so annoyed that adults assume that older children are feckless/reckless/bad/bullies etc etc

Lolol @ AnyFucker - that's what I wondered too!

OP - well done to your ds for being responsible and caring!

LOL at MrPP

He likes little ones. But so many parents assume that teens are horrible and uncaring.

PMSL AF, VERY funny!

YANBU

Your DS sounds like an absolute star, very thoughtful.

Orm - I know this issue has come up for you before, and it deffo resonates with me (DS1 is 9) - people make such prejudiced assumptions about big boys

pag good on DS2 !

I never understand this because in my experience older boys are the nicest ones to my small boys

Meant DS1 (though obv DS2 is super too )

Your son sounds lovely, some people really are utter idiots

YANBU

yanbu: your son showed very responsible behaviour.

of course, you can guarantee that if your son hadn't noticed the girl, or "minded his own business" and she'd hurt herself, then the dad would have blamed your son for not stopping her.

Ormrenewed - what a wee star, well done your ds.

pagwatch - yay to your ds1 for taking on the old witch lady. My dd does this when people ask her why she's in a buggy, and it can be very funny!

That's what I though nickel. If it has been me I probably would have said 'go and ask your mum or dad if you can have a go' but he was too shy. He's at an awkward age and he got quite indignant after the event. Well he muttered a bit

Bless him.

Loads of parents (and some on MN) seem to view teens as being next to the antichrist in evil behaviour.

Good on him for being so kind.

YADNBU. Your son sounds lovely.

Orm he's a star

and the vbloke was a local of the local variety (YKWIM)

tell your ds he did very well and that he should be proud, poeple often react defensively when they know they are wrong and that's probably what it was.

I do peachy. This was in Watchet but I suspect the 'locals' are similar there

The man was wrong to tell your son 'to mind his own business' but sometimes I get fed up with older kids nannying small ones. My DS (3) is often suffocated by older kids (usually girls) picking him up, or telling him what he can and can't do, who are then often praised by their parents for it. I want to tell them to bog off (but don't).

But if he had helped her up and she had fallen off moomma?