Parents who "own" parks... - Real Mum story on MoM

My little darling is not crash hot on the sharing aspect of life, but she is slowly learning.

I try to enforce the lesson whenever we are at the park and she is on the swing or flying fox and another child wants a turn, or when there is a queue, she knows 2 turns of the flying fox only.

I also make sure she is aware (ish) that if she takes her toy into the park, other children might want to play with it too. At which point she usually puts the toy back in the car.

Therefore it is so frustrating when other parents will either allow their child to hog the play equipment, or worse, leave toys scattered around then get highly indignant and huffy if another child picks one up.

A few weeks ago, we had an incident with this dreadful woman screamining hysterically at my daughter for running off with her sons toy car.

Today we went to the park, and the same woman was there again. I nearly turned and left, but thought no, I am not teaching my child to run away.

So we marched in, and mine went straight for the swing. 10 seconds later, her boy is at the swing, with her there demanding we get off and let him have a turn.

For once I was a naughty mummy. We spent half an hour on the swing! I kinda felt it was justified!

Posted by , 19th June 2013

12 Comments

- - june11 said
  - 20 Mar 2016
    3:42 pm
I wonder if the other Mother and son treat others the same way. It annoys me when kids of about 10 y.o. or more claim swings that are designed for toddlers. One day one of them is going to get stuck in one. I wouldn’t try to help becuase I know I am physically unable to do so. I can no longer easily pick up my toddler. I only do it in an emergency now. I couldn’t pick my eldest up by the time he was 7 y.o. If other kids get on the slippery dip I tell my kids to “slide down now please so that the other children can come down”. They also have to wait their turn on other playground equipment. Some equipment can easily be shared. My youngest tends to get scared it they go too fast nd some of the others who are older jump on and push it really fast. Sometimes I have to yell for them to stop so I can lift him off. I usually then give it a couple of brief pushes to help them get up to speed again. I like to be fair about it.

- - BellaB said
  - 29 Feb 2016
    11:40 pm
I always let other kids/ parents know we’re waiting, but also loudly instruct my kids that they have to wait their turn.

- - Meghannn said
  - 18 Jun 2015
    8:53 am
My gosh people are rude! Go you!

- - 191joannes said
  - 17 Feb 2015
    2:01 pm
I find it so annoying when you just get your child on the swing and other people stand around and wait this is the thing my child loves the most and I will take him off when im ready not because other people are standing there with in reason of course. good on you

- - mom93821 said
  - 08 Feb 2015
    6:07 am
Screaming over a toy car seems somewhat of an over reaction. Parks and play areas are for kids to meet and play and enjoy being with each other.

- - mom57522 said
  - 04 Jan 2015
    7:39 pm
Provably would have done the same thing!

- - miranda_blackmore said
  - 07 Apr 2014
    12:33 am
Good on you! I probably would of made her wait an hour lol

- - shazzbot said
  - 06 Apr 2014
    10:19 am
Some people are so rude, I would have done the same thing.

- - alioop said
  - 25 Mar 2014
    9:50 pm
Good on you. My little boy always takes toys to the park and I offer to the other parents to let their children play with them as I think it’s a good way to teach my son to share

- - jodie80 said
  - 22 Mar 2014
    4:10 pm
who wouldn’t do the same thing

- - mummahcj said
  - 20 Jun 2013
    6:24 pm
I would have done the same thing… good on you for standing your ground

- - lisacran said
  - 20 Jun 2013
    10:16 am
Good on you!!! How rude of the other Mother though!