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Did your parents make you stand up for adults on public transport?

(61 Posts)
MrsKen33 Sun 19-Feb-23 18:38:34

Yes of course. Children didn’t sit if there was a woman or old man standing. I’m afraid that act of politeness has long disappeared.

choughdancer Sun 19-Feb-23 18:32:32

I think they must have, because I always did stand up for anyone older, pregnant, disabled, with heavy shopping etc. I still do, but sometimes I think I may be older than the person I'm standing up for!

biglouis Sun 19-Feb-23 18:31:20

extrame = extreme

Shelflife Sun 19-Feb-23 18:31:00

We always had to stand up for any adult - it was just the way it was. I remember one occasion when I was about 15 and coming home from work ,the bus was full and a man stood up to give me his seat. I was so surprised that he saw me as a woman and not a child! and the situation had changed. I thanked him and sat down. I felt very grown up !

VioletSky Sun 19-Feb-23 18:30:22

I wouldn't expect a child to stand up for me and I would probably give up my seat for a child.

I wouldn't demand that of anyone though

biglouis Sun 19-Feb-23 18:30:06

I can understand that it might be undesirable for a child (that is small but too big to sit on mum's knee) to stand on a crowded bus or train as they might get knocked over or squashed. In that case the child could sit and the accompanying adult stand. In the case mentioned two of the children had seats and the mum was asking the OP to get up so that her child number 3 could sit down! A child of 10 is big enough to stand without risk.

This is helecopter parenting in the extrame.

Calendargirl Sun 19-Feb-23 18:27:38

When I started grammar school, at 11, we first formers were expected to stand up to give the sixth formers a seat on the school bus.

Urmstongran Sun 19-Feb-23 18:27:24

Yes indeed. Often.

ExperiencedNotOld Sun 19-Feb-23 18:26:50

I brought my children up to be polite to everyone, and have extra respect for the elderly. Sometimes the elderly would be so grumpy - and almost never acknowledge the held open door, the standing to one side or whatever, it was hard to make that a positive thing.
That was 25 plus years ago. I dread to do that today.

Grandmabatty Sun 19-Feb-23 18:21:08

Yes. It was considered the polite thing to do. Sometimes mum would let my younger brother sit on her knee

biglouis Sun 19-Feb-23 18:18:51

Mine did. It was just an understood "thing" that children did not sit while adults were standing. Not just disabled, pregnant or elderly adults but ANY adult. It was just a politeness thing about showing respect for your elders.

Very small children/toddlers sat on their mothers knee and older kids were told to get up. Or they got up automatically and offered their seat.

I was just reading a weird tale on Mumsnet about a women with three boys (aged about 10) who expected an already seated adult woman to stand so that one of her kids could sit down.

She would have got a very snippy reply from me.