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Behaviour/development

Is your Five-year-old mindbogglingly argumentative? Come share, make me feel better!

28 replies

NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:16

Today, I had a big fight with DS1 about whether 'to-may-toes' and 'to-mah-toes' are the same. He was explaining to me that he didn't like one, but liked the other (cue me being very confused), when I realised he thought they were different things. Apparently they are both vegetables, but one is red, and the other isn't.

Am a mix of and at this, but he really wore me out (I had a bad afternoon.).

So, what arguments have you had lately with your five-year-old?

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hana · 26/02/2007 18:18

I've stopped arguing with my 5 year old ( girl) she thinks she knows everything, along with her adored father. He can do noooooo wrong!
just agree with him next time, he won't know what to do

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:22

Hmmm, but he wasn't trying to be argumentative (this once) ... i don't think.

I know I should just ignore, but it's tricky ... particularly when it's an accent thing. (he likes to tell me not to say 'erbivore, I have to say Hhhhherbivore ).

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southeastastra · 26/02/2007 18:23

how does he say vehicles

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Aloha · 26/02/2007 18:23

Oh YES! My ds drives me wild by flatly contradicting me. I shouted at him on the way to a party on Sunday over this very issue. Told him it was rude to argue with people, especially their mothers who were RIGHT!

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hana · 26/02/2007 18:24

I get you on the accent thing
dd does a really annoying american accent to wind me up ( and I'm Cdn ) and she knows I hate it. does a great hip shake at the same time ( shudder)

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chacha3 · 26/02/2007 18:28

five year old! ive got that problem with my three year old! do you get charged for posting messages on mumsnet?

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hana · 26/02/2007 18:29

and she always need the last word

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Kbear · 26/02/2007 18:38

Yep, my DS argues just for the sake of it. I have told him now that when a grown up tells him something is right that should be the end of it. We'll thrash out the exceptions to that when he's a bit older!!! I also say "do you argue with your teacher?" to which he says "no" - obv, she can do no wrong, she is 25 and knows FAAAR more than mummy!

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:41

Bizarrely, DS1 has picked up a fake southern US accent thing, but he doesn't do it to wind me up, he does it to copy his very cool classmate. It does wind up his gran and grandad, though, when he claims it's a Liverpool accent (that being where they're from).

chacha3, I think my DS1 was arguing at three, but he's much better at it now he's five.

(Um, I don't think anyone gets charged to put messages on MN ... am I missing something here?)

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:42

Hmm, and I'm not really comfortable saying 'grownups are always right, you're always wrong, end of'. Not just because of the obvious abuse concerns, but also because I like him coming up with goofy things and arguing, I just want him to stop when I tell him to! (Yeah, like that'll happen.)

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FrannyandZooey · 26/02/2007 18:44

As you know, ds is only 3, but is a very promising pupil at this game

today alone we had a stand up fight about whether or not I had seen some dog shit on the path (I know dog shit when I see it, and I definitely did )

My problem is that I give a fuck

most parents would say "oh really darling? Ok" and carry on reading the paper

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Kbear · 26/02/2007 18:45

NQC - I've obviously reached a point of exasperation you haven't reached yet then, I would say anything to conclude the argument at times!

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Kbear · 26/02/2007 18:47

And I really mean I want him respect an adult's opinion.

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:50

Hmm, I'm not sure I do want him to respect adults' opinions, unquestioned.

Yes, there are times when I would absolutely do anything to stop this particular argument, but not all arguing ever.

Frances, did I tell you my best DS2 argument? I pointed out the moon.

DS2: 'no moon. biscuit'
me: 'no, it's not a biscuit, it's the moon'
DS2: 'no moon. biscuit'
me: 'how would a biscuit get up there, obviously it's the moon'
me: (giving up) 'ok, what sort of biscuit is it?'
DS2: 'chocolate'
me: 'it looks lovely and tasty.'
DS2: 'no biscuit. moon'
me: (shreiking and wailing)

Now, I just point at the moon and say 'look at the biscuit/ball/elephant/whatever'

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FrannyandZooey · 26/02/2007 18:52

LOLOL

Ds once had a VAST, HEADSHREDDING tantrum because he wanted me to get the moon down so he could eat it

I think our boys must be separated in future, the possible consequences are too risky

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northerner · 26/02/2007 18:58

My ds is 5 in April and always correcting my north esat acces. 'Don't say Shoe-er say Sure'

And tonight we had an arguemnet because he insisted it never rains in LOndon and london is not in England. No matter how many times I corrected him he bacame more angry and insisted even more.

I ended up saying 'OK darling' just to shut him up

Then he stops and revels in the fact he is right.

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hunkerdave · 26/02/2007 18:59

DS1 just has a fine line in patronising...

I asked him for a cuddle on the sofa, he looked at me and said, with a twinkle "Not possible!" and got on with playing.

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 18:59

I don't think there's anything wrong with giving up and saying 'ok darling'! I'm just not very good at doing it, myself.

I think our boys will be a good handful together when they are bigger - when are you visiting again, I have socks, trousers, a shirt and some cutting boards for you!

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 19:00

Oh dear, that is patronising. DS1 defines 'sarcastic' as 'the way daddy talks'

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hunkerdave · 26/02/2007 19:02

DH was doing "what do lions/cows/pigs/sheep/giraffes/rabbits say?" with DS1. He got the requisite noises (rabbits sound a bit like lions...!), then said "what do mummies say?"

DS1 wagged his finger and said "nah-nah-nah!" and grinned his face off.

[wails]

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mumtogusnalbie · 26/02/2007 19:08

This thread is really making me laugh!! My DS1 is 4.8 and our best arguments are usually over what day of the week it is tomorrow. Of course I am always right but at the same time always wrong - according to him!! Not really important I guess but I wish he would learn the sequence of the days in a week!!

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NotQuiteCockney · 26/02/2007 19:28

Yeah, we used to have 'day of the week' arguments. Now we have conversations about months and years. He clearly doesn't understand months and years, oh, and Chinese astrology.

He has gotten better at saying 'well, I'm not sure, but this is what I think'. He doesn't always do that, but when he does, I find the whole experience a lot more tolerable.

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mumtogusnalbie · 26/02/2007 19:48

oh I can't even begin teaching him the months of the year - seasons are bad enough. If he has asked me once "is it winter?" he must have asked me a hundred times!!!

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FrannyandZooey · 26/02/2007 20:01

"I don't think there's anything wrong with giving up and saying 'ok darling'! I'm just not very good at doing it, myself"

Oh, agreed. What I meant when I said "my problem is, I give a fuck", was, "I am an idiot who wants to win every argument, even with a 3 year old."

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Pruni · 26/02/2007 20:05

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