There is a 'new' dad at the school gates who irritates me...

[EnidVorhees]

outside the school is a small park with a climbing frame and a swing. There is also a tyre on some chains - the tyre is on its side IYSWIM so about four kids can sit on it, then if you push it, it swings.

The dad has this kind of thing going on where he pushes four or five children (including my dd1) who all sit on the tyre. He pushes them very hard and fast - they all love it. Its a potential nightmare as the tyre swings very wide and fast - I saw a child get clunked on the head with it once and it totally floored them - eg it is quite dangerous, also the girls cling on and could easily fall off.

Before he came along the kids used to do it themselves which was fine as they werent really big and strong enough to push it that hard. It really irritates me that he does this but I don't quite know whether to say anything. I dont really know why it irritates me either as I have pushed dd1 hard on it before. I just find it quite...presumptious.

actually I should just say something to him shouldn't I

I think I will tomorrow

there is a similiar park near us and those tyres make me suck my breath in, could you try saying loudly..oh dd make sure you dont go to high on them, or careful you dont hit someone.

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I'd be worried about the safety aspect and say something too Enid.
I suspect what he's trying to do is say "I can't stand around and talk about tablecloths but I can entertain some of your children while you do" - kind of trying to find his niche at the gates of doom? Or is he one of loads of dads?
Out of interest Enid, what would you say to a mad dad who turns up to collect his preschool child brandishing and firing his cap gun at the little boy? (who loves it btw but is the only one who does)

no

I would hate that

and say something

I am afraid I snapped at a little boy today who pointed his toy gun at dd3 and said 'shoot the baby'

although I think dd1's school has banned even pretned guns which I think is ludicrous

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lol

yes thats true

he is a bit odd tbh

just something about him

If he does it again I will. Amazed he is still standing after basilisk stare from head of nursery tbh.
Let us know how "I'm your playground pal" dad takes to being asked to stop sending the under 7s into orbit...

@ shoot the baby

i agree it will wear off

one day he just wont do it and all the children will be so disappointed

I don't think men see the danger quite like women do. You know, like rocking the seat on the big wheel - that's men that is!

I think this will make DH glad that he doesn't - erm - engage with anyone when doing the school run.

no we have other dads who are chatty, they are great.

this one never talks to any adults only children

there is a dad somewhere who is thinking "oh god ive started this thing at the park - how do i stop? i dont want to not push hard and appear unmanly, but im bored of it also"

on some football forum, he will have started a thread about it, ill bet you

I know this doesn't reflect at all well on me but I have a horrible feeling that if it was my child I would be sending a message through them to New Dad "no darling, you had better not go on the tyre, it's going too high and too fast".....

agree with naily

my DH posts a lot on fiso and I'm always asking him what the threads are about

football and occasionally one about buying the DW a rabbit, apparently

But Enid, your dd loves it, and she will never talk to you again if you put a stop to it and she will think newdad is the bees knees and whine on at you about him forever and a day and then he will irritate you EVEN MORE!

I think it sounds fab, and I bet none of them will fall off!

(but I am a bit reckless)

could you get to the swing first and push it slowly? Maybe he'll get the message that there are other ways of pushing it.

I really can't see the problem tbh

If you really don't like it you don't have to go to the park!

we do have to go to the park it is next to the school and you park your car/walk through it to get to the school

I suppose teh point of the thread was to say isn't it weird when something happens that makes you uncomfortable and you want to stop it but because on paper it seems totally fine it is almost impossible to say anything.

Ah but Blu, you allowed yourself to be hurled around a circus ring and onto a moving horse missus. Not letting you swing my kids on tyres ! You're not risk-averse enough for me!

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