To all you olympia baby haters!

lizbet said:
Every time i go anywere i get someone fat sweaty,smelly,loud,know it all,talks a lot usually rubbish,someone with a great big head in front of you blocking your view. How annoying .My point being am i or you one of those people to someone else.Children are the horse worlds future wether you like it or not.
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There's no problem that I can see taking a well behaved child anywhere. But I completely cannot understand taking a baby, who may scream for hours through no fault whatsoever of his/her own, and who can't possibly enjoy the show any more at that age than they would enjoy being at home with their teddy bears.

Not to mention the risk of the adult that took the child there wasting their money on the ticket by having to take the child out.

Really, why does anyone want to do it? Saving money on a baby sitter? Or what? A baby at Olympia? Just, why?????
 
cptrayes said:
There's no problem that I can see taking a well behaved child anywhere. But I completely cannot understand taking a baby, who may scream for hours through no fault whatsoever of his/her own, and who can't possibly enjoy the show any more at that age than they would enjoy being at home with their teddy bears.

Not to mention the risk of the adult that took the child there wasting their money on the ticket by having to take the child out.

Really, why does anyone want to do it? Saving money on a baby sitter? Or what? A baby at Olympia? Just, why?????
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As an earlier poster said, it is a case of knowing your child or baby. We had already taken our daughter out to various places and knew she was placid and easy to entertain when out and about so the chances of her having a screaming fit we're very low. If she was a sensitive or colicky type then it would have been a different matter. We had always gone to Olympia as a group of family and friends so our regular babysitters were at Olympia with us and I wasn't going to leave her with a stranger. I didn't have to miss the show which I had gone to for many years previously, no one else was annoyed by a screaming baby, so I can't quite see what the problem is!
 
TGM said:
As an earlier poster said, it is a case of knowing your child or baby. We had already taken our daughter out to various places and knew she was placid and easy to entertain when out and about so the chances of her having a screaming fit we're very low. If she was a sensitive or colicky type then it would have been a different matter. We had always gone to Olympia as a group of family and friends so our regular babysitters were at Olympia with us and I wasn't going to leave her with a stranger. I didn't have to miss the show which I had gone to for many years previously, no one else was annoyed by a screaming baby, so I can't quite see what the problem is!
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Well there wasn't any problem with your party was there? We're you going to take it In turns to miss the show of she cried?

There isn't any problem with you choosing to do what you did, I just don't understand why anyone would.
 
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Attitudes to children vary greatly outside the UK, they are by no means uniform. In Greece children are indulged by absolutely everyone around them in a way that would probably put off most British people. For example, children are free to run around in restaurants, they will go up to strangers in other tables, expect to be fed by them, play with them, etc. If, as an adult, you have a negative attitude towards this every other adult will frown and tut at you. By contrast in France children are expected to be very quiet in public and all adults in the restaurant will comment on their behaviour, telling them, and their parents, what to do (again I am not sure the British would welcome this kind of interference with their personal parenting ideas!). Just different ways of doing things!
 
Well on Friday night there was a child screaming through a lot of the performance, and all I could think was 'thank goodness they're not sat by us'. Instead I was squeezed next to a woman who kept saying that of course they were going to knock that fence down, there was too much negative energy. Both entertaining and annoying at the same time!
 
I think that if you come across a quiet well behaved child you think how sweet & forget all about it the next day. If a revoltingly behaved child ruins an outing you never forget it, that is why there is such a bad perception of children at events.
Personally I wouldn't have taken either of mine to an evening event at Olympia - the eldest would have behaved but been bored as he isn't into horses & the youngest would have loved it but as a child was definitely past his sell by date by 7/7.30. Afternoon performance would have been great, lunchtime restaurants fantastic but never, ever would I even have contemplated an evening event/meal (shudders at the thought).
 
Also there is no such thing as a "well behaved child", it really depends on the situation and what we expect of them. We did a 2 hour flight the other day. During all the hassle of security checks, queues and boarding we were close to another family with a child that seemed to be the same age as MiniBoo, i.e. about 2.5 years old. In the airport MiniBoo was a pain because she wanted to be carried, would cry if popped down and it was touch and go whether she would agree to walk through the security check...while the other 2 year old toddled around everywhere happily, looked at things, kept herself busy and gave her parents a very easy time. Then we got in the plane and rule following MiniBoo strapped herself in her seat and never budged for 2 hours, while the other, much higher energy, child walked up and down the plane the whole flight and screamed when confined to her seat for take off and landing.
 
I would never have taken mine at such a young age, all those steps and the ticket prices are enough to put me off that idea.

Nothing against children at all, but old rude people drive me nuts!
 
You know your child. Mine's very easy going and everywhere we go we get comments about how happy and smiley and engaging she is, but if I had a colicky screamer I wouldn't contemplate half the stuff I do with her. I also know that evening things are off the menu as she has a 'sell by date' of about 7pm! Other kids like being up late though?
 
cptrayes said:
Well there wasn't any problem with your party was there? We're you going to take it In turns to miss the show of she cried?

There isn't any problem with you choosing to do what you did, I just don't understand why anyone would.
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The point is that we knew it was unlikely she would cry in the first place but yes if she had we would have taken her out and I suspect Granny would have offered to help out taking turns if necessary. I do wonder whether you have actually been to Olympia as the format is unlike normal showjumping events and it is not the norm to stay glued to your seat for the entire performance. The showjumping is punctuated with family orientated entertainment such as dog agility, Shetland Grand National etc and most people skip bits to browse the shopping village or get refreshments etc.

I went with baby in tow because I didn't want to miss something I had attended and enjoyed for years and years. If I hadn't been before then maybe I would have made a different decision, but I really wanted to go and knew the format of the event was suitable for our needs.
 
FestiveG said:
I tink you misunderstood me, I did not have coke and crisps in the car because my parents ensured that family outings were just that.
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Likewise we never had coke or crisps in the car. If we went to the pub as a family the visit would begin with my dad going in alone and asking the landlord whether he would allow well behaved children in. Invariably he would say yes if they are quiet and don't climb on the furniture, run around etc. We would select a table out of the way and sit and talk nicely with the adults over our soft drink. We grew up with an understanding and appreciation of the traditional pub culture and our parents were able to take us out to suitable places without fear of us disrupting anyone.

You have to train your child to be socially acceptable to others and part of that involves taking them to appropriate places at appropriate times. Personally I didn't have any problems with children at Olympia and I took my nephew who had a lovely time. But I don't think it is really an event to take a child under about 4 to it doesn't provide the right environment or level of interest and once they get bored they are bound to be unhappy and potentially disruptive.
 
KristmasKat said:
Likewise we never had coke or crisps in the car. If we went to the pub as a family the visit would begin with my dad going in alone and asking the landlord whether he would allow well behaved children in. Invariably he would say yes if they are quiet and don't climb on the furniture, run around etc. We would select a table out of the way and sit and talk nicely with the adults over our soft drink. We grew up with an understanding and appreciation of the traditional pub culture and our parents were able to take us out to suitable places without fear of us disrupting anyone.

You have to train your child to be socially acceptable to others and part of that involves taking them to appropriate places at appropriate times. Personally I didn't have any problems with children at Olympia and I took my nephew who had a lovely time. But I don't think it is really an event to take a child under about 4 to it doesn't provide the right environment or level of interest and once they get bored they are bound to be unhappy and potentially disruptive.
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Totally agree and if someone is being a Pratt whether it be child or adult I tell them. I don't just sit there.

Social behaviour is learned behaviour take my kids out and they are perfect with excellent manners. When kids are running about and the parents just sit there I will say something. It's about behaving in the situation your in not stuffing them with chocolate for distraction.
 
I can understand taking a baby, they are portable/need breast feeding? I don't think a mum or a baby should shut themselves away for the first part of the childs life, I do agree that if the baby kicks off that they should be taken to an area the noise is not an issue and then come back when things have calmed down.

How do we expect kids to learn to behave when in public if we do not take them out with us-strict rules on behaviour have to apply to set grounds rules and create a knowledge of good behaviour.

A friend of mine has put some footage on facebook of her olympia visit and there is a little girl in front of her who is completely silent as she is so engrossed in what is going on in the event ring-great you think. Her mum however has the child stood on her seat next to her meaning those sat behind have a very restricted view a true case of seen and not heard not working
 
i rarely go to big events like olympia, badminton etc as people are annoying on the whole! be they adults or children!! much rather stay at home and watch it on TV where the only thing to walk in front the tv and spoil my viewing is the dog :p only big event i do is Crufts, kids and dogs everywhere all making a noise, just like home!
 
cptrayes said:
Your daughter didn't. A thousand kids would. Perhaps you were just lucky that you never took her out when she would have had something justifiable to cry about, like colic when she was a baby lof the age of the .poster's baby?

Not all children who cry have bad parents.

I want to know if this mother would have taken that child out if it had cried, and wasted her money on the tickets, or just allowed it to annoy everyone around, that is why I asked. I'd still like to know the answer.
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I've taken mine everywhere since we got out of hospital when she was 2 weeks. I'm on my own with her and have no choice for starters. She has never created a scene in any restaurant, public place or anywhere I've ever taken her and she has been to loads of things. I don't really like kids and I don't like badly behaved ones so I wouldn't tolerate it in my own. If she misbehaved I'd have taken her out but the situation never arose.

Last night for instance I was really unwell and fell asleep from 5-7pm. She played quietly so as not to wake me up and got herself ready for bed before I woke up. How many 4 and 3/4 yr olds would do that, probably not many I admit. She's just a good girl and always has been.
 
I have no issues with noisy, excited small humans. Heck, I don't even mind the associated smells and puddles of sick, etc. They are still learning after all.

It's the parents who scream at, thump, or outright ignore their children that get me angry. Why did they have them in the first place? And how come they get to have children that they so clearly despise and I can't have any?

Life sucks.
 
TandD said:
Yes I said I dislike small children. I find them irritating, noisy and disruptive. Perhaps I have only met these sorts of children, as I'm sure there are nice ones out there.....however the ones in tescos on a Wednesday evening at 10pm screaming their way around with 1/2 their clothes off with their hand shoving biscuits in their mouth is not really helping my perception of them.....

I was never allowed to eat in public (apart from in a restaurant/pub) when out with my mother, nor was I allowed to walk anywhere but by her side. Once old enough to understand I was not allowed to scream or cry, I was expected to sit correctly and not fidget. I was also severely told off if I stared at anyone!
I don't think these are big things to ask for a polite, well mannered child and if more children were like this perhaps I would like them more!
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Yeah I hate that too lol. I will never forget some relatives saying when my Mum said we needed to get home to give my 8 month old exclusively breast fed home made food baby her tea, did we want a packet of wotsits to keep her quiet til we got there. Er no, thanks :D:eek:
 
Arizahn said:
I have no issues with noisy, excited small humans. Heck, I don't even mind the associated smells and puddles of sick, etc. They are still learning after all.

It's the parents who scream at, thump, or outright ignore their children that get me angry. Why did they have them in the first place? And how come they get to have children that they so clearly despise and I can't have any?

Life sucks.
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It sure does.
I cherish my children...it breaks my heart when I see what you describe.
 
I remember watching a programme a few years ago about the welfare generation. This couple had 4 kids, the oldest was about 8. They clearly had no interest in finding work, they'd got a huge tv, mobile phones, games console fags and booze and their little girl of 8 was practically bring up her siblings. The kids were living on egg and chips and they didn't even have winter coats :( I would starve before I put myself before my children. I'll say this and be done with it. If people want to take their children to Olympia or whatever, and providing they remove their children if they create a disturbance, then it's nobodys' business why they chose to take them in the first place.
 
doriangrey said:
If people want to take their children to Olympia or whatever, and providing they remove their children if they create a disturbance, then it's nobodys' business why they chose to take them in the first place.
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I totally agree with you, unless they post on a public forum about it, in which case I assume that they are happy to discuss it.
 
I think its great if you can take your child to somewhere like Olympia. Personally, I wouldn't take my 19 month old son anywhere near something like that as he's no good at sitting still due to be extremely active (he very very rarely just sits). I love that about him though, it's not bad parenting thanks - he's very well behaved but I know he'd get very bored in a situation like this (he gets bored at horse events already, would rather run about!). In fact I'd think most very young kids would do, but if yours loved it OP then that's great. Nobody can get stroppy with you if your child hasn't even done anything!

The comment about chocolate shocked me though - you give a 13 month old chocolate?!
 
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Glad all went well OP, I have to admit I wouldn't have been able to handle my 17 month old at Olympia as it's too crowded and he has found his feet which means he wants to be running around on them all day :) Instead, I enjoyed a rare "mummy only time" event this year and he stayed at home with the OH.

However, I think it's really important that we do as much as we can as a family and I like to include him in most of our days out. He has even started to come with me when I compete. He loves seeing the horses and being included in the day.

It's not the children that should be blamed (or banned!!) at these places, it's the parents. Bad parenting can ruin even the most child orientated event.
 
Went this afternoon and didn't have any issues at all with the children in close vicinity. The gentleman behind me however...
 
I have read this post with interest. I have a 16mo daughter and decided that I wasn't going to go to Olympia this year (I didn't go last year either) as I just wasn't sure how she would behave. She is a happy lovely baby (I would say that as I'm her mother!) but she's still teething and has the most frightful cold and I couldn't guarantee how she would be on the day.

I also have a 3 year old youngster who I have worked hard to turn into a well behaved and well mannered horse. I pretty much bring up the 2 of them same. Sometimes they are badly behaved and sometimes superbly behaved. They both need socialising in order to achieve this, I would hope that people wouldn't judge when they were having a tantrum as no doubt I would be dealing with it as best I could.

Not all parents want to annoy other people with their children just like not all people with youngsters want to either. The upshot is that if you don't like children, fair enough, but don't assume we are all awful parents.
 
One of my daughters (now grown up) was a quiet delightful little thing until she hit the 'terrible twos' - she then went through a phase of tantrums and screaming fits. Had I bought a ticket for Olympia, in advance, when she was eighteen months old and actually gone when she was two, I would have ended up seeing about two minutes of the show before taking her out, so it would have been a complete waste. Nothing to do with bad parenting. It was a phase she went through, perfectly normal. But crying and screaming are, by nature, distress calls - so why would I want to inflict that on anyone else?
I avoided taking her to any similar event until she was a little older as I myself found it stressful worrying about whether she would be OK or not. But it was a temporary state of affairs.
I don't personally think that Olympia is an ideal event for babies and toddlers but if parents take their screaming tinies out then no problem. I do find crying and screaming distressing and I don't think I should be vilified by anyone for admitting that.
And I agree that some teenagers and adults at Olympia were infinitely more irritating than a quiet toddler!
 
Rudeness such as banging chairs, kicking & noise is unacceptable whatever the age of the exponent. I'm probably far too rude & would ask them to refrain no matter what age or if parents were present (just adjust the language level to be easily understood). If I've paid to come watch professionals compete, then it is resasonable to expect the audience to behave. Not only has it cost me money, but what about the riders? The costs they have incurred to enter are far higher, & as an audience we should be expected not to put them, or their horses off whilst they are competing. It's basic respect for others. If a child is well behaved & will get something out of the evening, even clapping to music, great. The minute that someone (including adults) can't be respectful to others, they sould be asked to be quiet & settle down or leave. Not to do so is selfish.
 
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