Twisbrogan Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 Without wishing to turn the forum into Mumsnet, is anyone else's kid scared of Chaddy Owl? Mine is and it's tearing us apart. My son is 5 and we have season tickets for the Chaddy End. Soon after he started school, a few of his new friends had declared themselves as City or United fans so, blind to the pain that I'd suffered since my first match 31 years ago, I chose to sit him in the Chaddy End to tell him "See that hospital? I was born there. You were born there. THIS is our team" Together, we did about 10 games last season and all go them this. He's now football potty, would live in his Latics strip if he could and loves the vast majority of our afternoons at BP. From watching the warm up; having a small kick about at half time through to laughing at "I'm a bastard" and practising his Shefki dive when we get home - he's as keen as any child could be at that age. However, he is terrified of that owl. He tries to sit in the middle of a row so that Chaddy can't get to him. He doesn't take his eyes off him whenever he's in view - just in case he makes an approach - and constantly asks for reassurance that it's just a man dressed up. He started football training this week on Clayton Playing fields and wanted promises that Chaddy wouldn't turn up. I, on the other hand, am very much in the 'fan' camp and I can it bothers me that he's not getting the most from these "I'm in Chaddy's Gang" years. He does have previous in terms of being scared of other 'characters' (Disneyland would be his worst nightmare) but as far as I can see all the other kids are crazy for him. Are there any others that react in this way? If so, can we sit them together to discuss their 'issues' so that I can go and give that big bird a high five? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
singe Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 (edited) IVe been lucky, my son who is 5 I dece has only seen the pictures. I am sure if he saw him in real live he'd be terrified! I;d go the reward route. I am sure the "real" Chaddy could arrange something in advance like taking a bow, or doing a pirouette, so tell your son if shouts asking chaddy to do a pirouette then he is in control. You might not want to ask him to ride a bike for him though! Failing that. I;d go the treat route, if he goes to the touchline to see him he gets a sticker. If he does not cover his eyes in the match a sticker, if he gives Chaddy a real good wave 2 sticker till you get to 5 or whatever and he gets a treat and the praise of course You could do this a few times until he forgets about it Personally, for our son it is getting his read round it and what to expect, so a bit of a chat prior about what Chaddy does MAybe a sweet when he waves etc see if he can guess what he is going to do next maybe? Doeshe have a poster at home? Yours sincerely Supernanny !! <Mumsnet mode over> Edited September 20, 2011 by singe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
c.hill12 Posted September 20, 2011 Share Posted September 20, 2011 my girl is now 6 but has been going to latics since she was 3. she started off being terrified of him but is slowly but surely coming round to the idea. she has always loved the concept of chaddy but i think the idea of going near such a big creature was overbaring. she will now have a picture taken with him as long as i am in the middle of them. just give them time and as they get older and bigger they will come round. my 2 boys did exactly the same. now my 7 year old fights with him and allsorts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boboafc Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) Without wishing to turn the forum into Mumsnet, is anyone else's kid scared of Chaddy Owl? Mine is and it's tearing us apart. My son is 5 and we have season tickets for the Chaddy End. Soon after he started school, a few of his new friends had declared themselves as City or United fans so, blind to the pain that I'd suffered since my first match 31 years ago, I chose to sit him in the Chaddy End to tell him "See that hospital? I was born there. You were born there. THIS is our team" if only all in oldham were like you I was born there. You were born there. THIS is our team" Edited September 21, 2011 by boboafc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
outoftheblue Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Having seen Chaddy with and without his feathers, my daughter is more scared of the man than the suit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ackey Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Ask Wayne to break the golden rule and take his head off - in private - to show the nipper he really is just a daft sod in a suit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Im not a parent so this could be bollocks , but when I was younger I had a huge phobia of the michelin man . There was a giant blow up one in chadderton and I wouldnt go anywhere near the precint with my mum as I would be too scared, anyway my dad took me to the shop where it was an kindly one of the managers showed me the man "deflated" to prove to me it wasnt real. After that I was fine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
yarddogs Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Just as well the little man never saw the old chaddy the owl suit you wouldn't have got him to come again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davemathieson Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 wouldn't worry to much about it being chaddy, an owl or the suit, a lot of kids just don't like people in big suits. father christmas, people at disney land, some kids just don't like them. any fan of teddy from the show bob's burgers will understand, it's their souless eyes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beag_teeets Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Just as well the little man never saw the old chaddy the owl suit you wouldn't have got him to come again. What do you mean? This isn't the stuff of nightmares! Also, I chose to sit him in the Chaddy End to tell him "See that hospital? I was born there. You were born there. THIS is our team" To many this would be classed as child abuse but good on you! As has previously been said, if only more people did this we would be safely in the Championship. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardy Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Im not a parent so this could be bollocks , but when I was younger I had a huge phobia of the michelin man . There was a giant blow up one in chadderton and I wouldnt go anywhere near the precint with my mum as I would be too scared, anyway my dad took me to the shop where it was an kindly one of the managers showed me the man "deflated" to prove to me it wasnt real. After that I was fine So you want to deflate Chaddy? You can suck the air out if you wish, ill let him know. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 So you want to deflate Chaddy? You can suck the air out if you wish, ill let him know. I meant more if the child could be shown Chaddy is actually Wayne then he might not be as scared Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twisbrogan Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 Thanks for the replies. Without wishing to find comfort at the thought of children recoiling in horror when Chaddy appears, it's good to know that there are at least a few others that have been through the same - I hope their night screams are dulled these days. It's true that all of these oversized beings have a similar effect. Seeing Billy Bear at Butlins caused hysterics and there was also a recent incident with Mr Tumble (CBeebies stalwart - not strictly as much of a costume but was enough to trigger 'flight' mode). It had crossed my mind to see if it was possible to see the costume 'at rest' and he himself has mentioned that without the head, he'd be OK but I'm not convinced - in fact, it just sounds weird. Most likely the problem is me. His reaction is probably typical when seeing these things in formative years and sitting in the middle of a block is the was to go. Being honest, I wanted to meet Mr Tumble and I want my picture with Chaddy at the Boundary Blues Christmas Party. I'm 39. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opinions4u Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Ask Wayne to break the golden rule and take his head off - in private - to show the nipper he really is just a daft sod in a suit? He's not a real owl? <quivering wreck> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oafcmetty Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Mr Tumble is :censored:ing scary though! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JonesyOAFC Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 "You're tearing me apart Chaddy" As someone pointed out, the Chaddy back in the 90's was even scarier. Those cold, dead eyes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIKI1234 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 What do you mean? This isn't the stuff of nightmares! Also, To many this would be classed as child abuse but good on you! As has previously been said, if only more people did this we would be safely in the Championship. PMSL i forgot about the old owl. That has to be the worst mascot costume in the history of football... Looks like a homeless owl Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 PMSL i forgot about the old owl. That has to be the worst mascot costume in the history of football... Looks like a homeless owl Frank Gallagher of the owl world. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie_J Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Without wishing to turn the forum into Mumsnet, is anyone else's kid scared of Chaddy Owl? Mine is and it's tearing us apart. My son is 5 and we have season tickets for the Chaddy End. Soon after he started school, a few of his new friends had declared themselves as City or United fans so, blind to the pain that I'd suffered since my first match 31 years ago, I chose to sit him in the Chaddy End to tell him "See that hospital? I was born there. You were born there. THIS is our team" Together, we did about 10 games last season and all go them this. He's now football potty, would live in his Latics strip if he could and loves the vast majority of our afternoons at BP. From watching the warm up; having a small kick about at half time through to laughing at "I'm a bastard" and practising his Shefki dive when we get home - he's as keen as any child could be at that age. However, he is terrified of that owl. He tries to sit in the middle of a row so that Chaddy can't get to him. He doesn't take his eyes off him whenever he's in view - just in case he makes an approach - and constantly asks for reassurance that it's just a man dressed up. He started football training this week on Clayton Playing fields and wanted promises that Chaddy wouldn't turn up. I, on the other hand, am very much in the 'fan' camp and I can it bothers me that he's not getting the most from these "I'm in Chaddy's Gang" years. He does have previous in terms of being scared of other 'characters' (Disneyland would be his worst nightmare) but as far as I can see all the other kids are crazy for him. Are there any others that react in this way? If so, can we sit them together to discuss their 'issues' so that I can go and give that big bird a high five? Great post! My children are yet to meet Chaddy but they are nearing that age. I'll have a hard time convincing them Latics is their club, living in Scotland. I can but try and I'll be :censored:ed if they're having anything to do with that Old Firm nonsense. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
futchers briefs Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Having seen Chaddy with and without his feathers, my daughter is more scared of the man than the suit. It is alleged to be true that many (well, a few.....) females (obvioulsy older no doubt than your daughter) have been seen running in the opposite direction once the man has been met. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zorrro Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Mr. Tumble is ace Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cmr Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Flippin eck I'm 55 and for me,Gerry Taggert scares the crap out of me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
razza699 Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 (edited) Mr. Tumble is ace on an educational note , his signing is garbage according to the missus Edited September 21, 2011 by razza699 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beardy Posted September 21, 2011 Share Posted September 21, 2011 Mr Tumble is fluent in Deaf! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twisbrogan Posted September 21, 2011 Author Share Posted September 21, 2011 I have an intuition about these things and it's starting to look like my thread may be veering off topic. However, for the record, Mr Tumble is ace and it's only with moderate embarrassment that I'll declare that I once watched an entire episode of Gigglebiz....without the kids even being in the house at the time. http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2011/feb/03/meeting-mr-tumble-justin-fletcher **Bows head. Gets coat. Walks out of the door** Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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