A woman who recently visited Chester Zoo was left upset and shocked when a ‘pushy mum’ asked her to move out of the way of an animal enclosure so her children could get a better view.
According to Cheshire Live, the woman had been looking at the jaguars when a group suddenly crowded around her. Before long, a mum allegedly made the comment for her to move out of the way.
The woman explained: “I was really looking forward to seeing the jaguars, and fabulously enough, one sat right near where I was walking, so I stopped just in front of the enclosure to admire it.
@chesterzoo / Instagram
“I was probably there for about five seconds when everyone started to crowd round, and suddenly this woman came out of the blue and said directly to me ‘Excuse me, coming through – I’ve got kids!’ heavily implying me to move out of the way.”
She went on to explain that she immediately moved out of the way but was quite shocked and upset by the mum’s manner.
Adding: “I don’t have kids, but I have as much right to stand at the front as anyone else, surely? I paid for my ticket and I was only there for a few seconds. If people wait their turn, there is plenty of opportunity for everyone to get a good view.
“Am I being unreasonable to feel annoyed at this, and to have the right to stand at the bloody front for a few seconds if I want to?”
@abbiechristinasmith / Instagram
Opinions were certainly divided on the matter. Some people sympathised with the woman, with one person noting: “Some people act like their kids are royalty and everyone else should submit to their desires.
“Everyone is entitled to stand near the front for a while, to enjoy a close of view of the animals, it’s a question of everyone having patience and parents teaching kids that sometimes they need to wait.
“You can’t win with this type of parent though, if you challenged her you’d get called a child hater.”
However, others sided with the mother, with someone else responding: “Are you only three foot four tall? If you are, then she is being unreasonable. If not, then step back 24 inches and let the children in front to see.”