I was told-off for "inappropriate behaviour" by another parent while supervising my 2 young children at an indoor play cafe this week. Apparently this is what I did wrong:
1. Entering the play equipment
2. Sitting down inside the play equipment
3. Talking to another child.
in my defense, here were the circumstances...
1. My 4 year old asked for help retrieving a toy car that he had dropped through a gap and he couldn't reach.
2. The equipment is cramped... I can't stand up in there, and in any case I needed to almost lie down to reach the car.
3. I returned polite conversation with a small child who asked me a question, within sight and earshot of his mum.
It is good and right for parents to be vigilant, but I thought the reaction was a bit over the top. I never went out of sight or earshot of the parents area and was accompanied by my kids the whole time.
What do people think?
Sounds pretty normal. I think normal human behavior these days is to want to be the one that sees something bad happen so that you can tell everyone about it, and thus make themselves feel important.
Similar to this, people now seem to want to film everything with their phones instead of running away or helping. Why do they film it? So they can be important and the centre of attention.
Don't worry about it. What you did was fine, its just the other person that has the problem.
If you where sitting in there for a long period in a small space I could see her point.
If it was a quick in and out then what ever.
On speaking to kids my little girl talks to everyone and everyone talks to her teaching her stranger danger is high on the list because she thinks everyone's her friend. If your only replying to the kid and not drumming up a conversation I don't see the harm. But every parent will do what they think is right and if they feel something is inappropriate or threatening I think you need to respect that even if your left scratching your head.
Were you wearing a I love kiteboarding shirt because that may be where you went wrong.
Yeah but don't forget that parents who act like the above have no problems with their kids running wild in most places and taking no responsibility for such.
Windsurfing example: how many times have you seen kids climb all over gear on the beach, shore etc, you politely ask them to stop and hop off only to have peanut parent say "They are just playing".
Select to expand quotemick14 said..
I was told-off for "inappropriate behaviour" by another parent while supervising my 2 young children at an indoor play cafe this week. Apparently this is what I did wrong:
1. Entering the play equipment
2. Sitting down inside the play equipment
3. Talking to another child.
in my defense, here were the circumstances...
1. My 4 year old asked for help retrieving a toy car that he had dropped through a gap and he couldn't reach.
2. The equipment is cramped... I can't stand up in there, and in any case I needed to almost lie down to reach the car.
3. I returned polite conversation with a small child who asked me a question, within sight and earshot of his mum.
It is good and right for parents to be vigilant, but I thought the reaction was a bit over the top. I never went out of sight or earshot of the parents area and was accompanied by my kids the whole time.
What do people think?
I'd have got stuck into her and told her she's an ignorant pratt for not getting involved and playing with her child/ren and to mind her own bloody business and take her bratt back to it's bubble where it will be safe from the clutches of pedo Dad.
Watched a movie a while back called "Bad Words" All about a spelling bee.
Anyway, those who have watched it, will recall a disgruntled mother, approaching the main actor in a restaurant, to give him a piece of her mind.
His response to the mother would have been fitting as a reply in this case I believe. 
B.I.G.M., I used to take my nieces and nephews to the jungle gym thingo's all the time,
Awesome places for a bit of fun
Until till they dobbed on me and told my sister and brother about the mums that were chatting me up 
Apparently I was supposed to be supervising the offspring 
stephen
Judging by your experience I must be a freak for pulling faces at a 2yo to stop her screaming in a supermarket queue. However she did stop screaming and yes the checkout ch-loke got a laugh out of it bcoz 1)the mum didn't realise what I was doing 2)it stopped her screaming.
Society is becoming more buggered all the time.
Some people are so restrained and worried they must be constipated.
IMHO it is perfectly normal to engage with children as they discover things and ask questions.
Some of these parents are frightened of everything.
You did nothing wrong that I can see.
Keep it up.
ET.
Select to expand quotecRAZY Canuk said..
If you where sitting in there for a long period in a small space I could see her point.
If it was a quick in and out then what ever.
On speaking to kids my little girl talks to everyone and everyone talks to her teaching her stranger danger is high on the list because she thinks everyone's her friend. If your only replying to the kid and not drumming up a conversation I don't see the harm. But every parent will do what they think is right and if they feel something is inappropriate or threatening I think you need to respect that even if your left scratching your head.
sorry mate but if we spend all our time letting idiots set the agenda then we are farked and needing blue cards to go to the supermarket
given the proportion of actual fiddlers this is just another media scare campaign that has gotten out of hand due to mechanisms like those Nova listed
Select to expand quotewintortree said..
Were you wearing a I love kiteboarding shirt because that may be where you went wrong.
Or possibly that bag of lollies and wearing a hoodie with 'Trust Me' embroidered on the back may have set off alarm bells ????
Select to expand quoteslammin said..
Judging by your experience I must be a freak for pulling faces at a 2yo to stop her screaming in a supermarket queue. However she did stop screaming and yes the checkout ch-loke got a laugh out of it bcoz 1)the mum didn't realise what I was doing 2)it stopped her screaming.
I also do this at the shops, however it doesnt end well. The Kid usually goes ape s**t and I then get strange looks from the mother.
Select to expand quotemick14 said...
What do people think?
Were you wearing a Community Protection Act tracking device on your ankle
I love pulling faces at kids in the supermarket. or a great burp. and if we're getting on well a good fart can be fun
i go climbing through the indoor jungle gym all the time with my 3 year old and interact with other kids . Luckily i have never had anyone come up and tell me off . I love going down the slides
wow society is f#%^&ed up.
Maybe I could use this as an excuse not to change my daughters nappies.
over the top. wouldn't have happened if you were female. Just because you are a bloke doesn't mean you are a paedo. you were their with your own kid FFS. What does she want you to do ignore her kid? teach him rudeness? stupid bxtch
I'm amazed the other parent even noticed you, most parents eyes these days are on their phones and not their kids.
I don't think you did the wrong thing.
I wouldn't have fared much better, I'm usually looking for an excuse to go down the slide with my kids, and they love me for it. I can't see anything wrong with what you've done.
www.smh.com.au/opinion/why-men-must-not-be-terrorists-of-the-playground-20131109-2x8bo.html
I blame the lawyers, and TV.
