to think parents coudl play with their OWN kids?

[MrsPotiphar]

i generally playw ith mine say at a pool.

then some lazy fekcers think by bringing their own kids to the pool/park/wherever that is IT
and that I would want to play with their kids
no i dont LIKE your kids, at all

What happened to all the worries about stranger danger then, you who let your children roam around to molest other people's partners?
My DS is a magnet for the under fours. It's because his attire is black and shiny silver. he finds them fascinating and doesn't mind them climbing over him and sharing food, or helping them out.
Cue wet-knickered panic when mummy spots what's happening because he's a teenager.

Yes Goblinchild - all very well but most of the adults are with their friends or family and don't want a strange adult to join them

yes it's because they are only children
we parents have to sit down occasionally, taking them to the park and letting them wander around is sometimes only way

when i go to soft play i have to watch ds2 and i get loads of random children approaching
i say "no i don't want to play, i am watching ds2"
it's fine to be blunt - i tell ds1 not to pester other people but sometimes you just have had enough and turn a blind eye to it

I think it can be difficult to keep wandering-age DC on a 'rein' if you are say, picnicking in a park or whatever

What are you meant to say, "No, sit here with us and stay here. Don't approach or talk or play with any other DC" ?

Most would be bored shitless, wouldn't they?

I was at the children's library with DD (2.7) the other day and there was another 2 year old with her grandparents, the granddad fecked off onto the computers round the corner and the grandma was probably in the big library looking for a new Maeve Binchy. I meanwhile was slumping on the kiddies sofa trying not to throw up, not playing with the kids as such, but mediating their games and stopping them throwing books and screaming (DD not generally naughty but they copy each other and get boisterous at this age). This two year old was a really snotty kid too which doesn't endear me. Half hour later the grandma came back and grinned at me and said 'We're surplus to requirements at this age aren't we?'

I don't mind other kids coming up to mine to play with, say in a park, etc. What I do object to is the kind of parent who hasn't been keeping an eye on their own kids and then comes up in a huff as if you're the big bad wolf about to snatch the kids away. I have said things to them in the past, and they get grumpy and hysterical with me because I've caught them out not paying attention. I may appear to be sat there not watching, but believe me, I do watch! And intervene if necessary.

Only if the beach has bar service. I can't be sitting on a beach without a frozen daiquiri or something.

OP, those other kids don't want to play with you, they want to play with your kids. Which is a good thing and to be encouraged. Isn't it?

I think OP has just exposed herself as a

LOUD

PLAYING

parent. What are you doing fgs? You're shouting 'well caught!' too loudly, and being enthusiastic. Of course you're a bloody magnet.

Stoppit.

Pick up a book.

Stop with the loud perfect parent playing in public spaces.

I once went to a playdate where the other mother wanted to play with the children. Was like the twilight zone.

Too right Ahundred.
And how exactly does the OP play in the pool? Is she actively encouraging splashing and diving ?

I don't play with my children, thats why I had so many of them, to play with each other. I;m surprised that as grown women some of you have such problems saying go away to other peoples children.
Take up a new hobby, backbone growing for beginners.

I find this thread a bit depressing. If we're in our local park and playing a game any other children there join in, too. I wouldn't dream of excluding other children to be with my children only. It's usually more fun with more people, anyway.

No wonder there's such hysteria about stranger danger, lots of children must never get the chance to play with adults who aren't in their family.

You play with them just long enough for other kids to come and join in so you bugger off and read book because they now have proper playmates, right? I mean, unless they're like 2 or 3 or 4 and still need supervising (I have older children now and forget age that constant supervision is unnecessary).

lol
i was playing water polo
i know
have outed self.
btu three boys fgs you HAVE to excercise them

nothing wrong wiht kids
btu i amNOT entertaining YOURS while you make no effort to do anything witht hem

"proceeded to casually bite my arse as he walked past me"

wtf?

lequeen
i too have expereinced this
the mum wouldnt leave the kid alone
he is now avery annoying kid.

Lequeen - I have found that suddenly remembering something I just HAVE to pick up from the shops works remarkably well in those circs.

I mean who wants to sit around playing snap with 4 year olds. ffs.

Lol at water polo, btw. Do you all wear the caps?