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Been told my child is very weird and childish

359 replies

Gee54 · 23/07/2024 15:10

I don’t know where to go from here. I got told by a mum in my daughters class that people say she’s very silly and weird. My daughter is 10 years old. How can I fix this? Where to start from? She’s the eldest of 3 kids. I don’t want this to continue into secondary school. Not first time I’ve realised this but hearing someone else say it has upset me. I e spoken to her school and her lovely teacher but they all say it’s slightly immaturity but as a summer born (August birthday) it has been seen in others too. School don’t think it’s anything to worry about and the SEN lead observed her a few months back and said she’s fine and doesn’t think it’s anything ND related. It’s just hearing the mum say this today has upset me.

OP posts:
S1lverCandle · 24/07/2024 12:06

I was describing the behaviour as weird, @parkrun500club , not the child.

parkrun500club · 24/07/2024 12:04

S1lverCandle · 23/07/2024 23:59

The weirdness is not accepting that the other kids are not amused by her antics, and continuing to do it long after the joke's over.

Is that weird or is it just refusing to conform?

There's a fine line, isn't there.

There's also a spectrum of non-conformity - not conforming to social norms can make things difficult for you, not confirming with the law can land you in jail. So that's what she needs to learn really. Not that she's weird, but that complying with social norms can make life easier for you.

Gee54 · 24/07/2024 11:56

Thank you so much everyone. Some really lovely advice given. I felt so alone and down when I was told this but I’m feeling more hope ful. I haven’t fully spoken to my DD yet as I’m trying to find a good video as someone suggested about social stories

OP posts:
user1492757084 · 24/07/2024 11:53

Buy your daughter some riddle and joke books.
Help her expand her sense of humour.

I just remembered that, as kids, my parents often asked us to tell them some new jokes that we'd heard as we ate around the dinner table.
I remember that was fun and funny. Maybe your daughter would enjoy that activity too.

Butwhybecause · 24/07/2024 11:45

InnieSweet · 24/07/2024 10:11

I also think the mum could have phrased it more diplomatically. Weird is never a nice word to use about anyone and the other mother showed a lack of social skills herself by phrasing it this way, for sure.

She could have said that OP's dd makes the other children feel uncomfortable and confused and that they don't relate to this kind of random and rather silly talk about poo so leave her out as they don't want to be mourned such nonsense. She could have said that op might want to work on her dd's boundaries and socially acceptable things to converse about.

Yes, absolutely.

It is never right to call another child weird.

Some posters may think that this woman was doing the OP a favour by telling her that her DD is weird and very silly. I don't happen to think so.

The woman could have just mentioned that the child seemed a bit fixated on poo and was going around asking other children about it, did she realise.

But weird? An absolute no-no in my book

Presumably school has broken up now and she will be starting secondary school next term so too late to talk to her lovely teacher again about this.
It could be attention-seeking if the other children are unkindly excluding her from their friendship groups. They do tend to change friendship groups at secondary school anyway.

Best to observe her behaviour and, if necessary, ask for some professional help.

Ahhhmarsbar · 24/07/2024 10:42

As a late diagnosed ASD woman, I think there is a strong chance of neuro diversity here. I was the weird kid at school that no one liked, no one thought about it because it was the seventies, I was otherwise kind and compliant, so I grew up thinking I was weird and dislikeable. Even my own mum used to say why can't you be more like x etc. look more into neuro diversity it doesn't mean that your daughter shouldn't learn to perhaps modify her behaviour a little but it does mean she will know why she comes across differently sometimes. Chances are she's not causing any problems for the teachers if she presents to them as compliant and ' kind' many Asd girls do, it means they don't get diagnosed as much as boys because they aren't kicking off and causing problems for them and so get dismissed.
As for the mum 😠

robovacsareepic · 24/07/2024 10:20

I agree re other mum but I've observed with my kids and their friends that it's more accepted for people to lack empathy, express things somewhat insensitively but it is the acting in an unexpected way 'weird' that gets the most punishment, so making inappropriate jokes, singing, joking, fidgeting or laughing at the wrong time etc - these get the biggest social ostracism.

InnieSweet · 24/07/2024 10:11

I also think the mum could have phrased it more diplomatically. Weird is never a nice word to use about anyone and the other mother showed a lack of social skills herself by phrasing it this way, for sure.

She could have said that OP's dd makes the other children feel uncomfortable and confused and that they don't relate to this kind of random and rather silly talk about poo so leave her out as they don't want to be mourned such nonsense. She could have said that op might want to work on her dd's boundaries and socially acceptable things to converse about.

Sorrelia · 24/07/2024 10:04

Lots of helpful advice here OP. The mum was rude, no doubt about that. Maybe she was genuinely concerned and repeated what her kids told her rather than say it herself but in any case, that's not important. Maybe this unpleasant interaction was a blessing in disguise. I have been teaching to kids of this age, and walking around saying "I like poop" isn't typical, and something I would nip in the bud for her not to be ostracised (kids can be cruel, esp at this age!).
What if you simply told her not to say it anymore, problem solved? She might need a clear boundary and more of a frame in terms of social interactions - what's acceptable to say, what's not. Maybe she's feeling a bit anxious hence is "playing up", trying to elicit a reaction in her peers. It is not very different from a kid being mischievious and silly during a lesson, with your DD it just seems to be verbal rather than behavioural.
I actually think, if you could afford it, that 1-2 appointments with a child psychologist would give you the answers you need.
There is all sorts of reasons a kid doesn't behave appropriately.

S1lverCandle · 24/07/2024 10:04

It's fine that everyone doesn't like them
How could it possibly be "fine" that everybody doesn't like this child, @Acornsoup ?
Some people not liking you is just life, but when everbody dislikes you there's an issue. Quite a serious one.
Your insistence that bollocking on about poo to the point that you literally repel everyone around you is perfectly normal is actually quite odd.

JollyPinkFox · 24/07/2024 09:50

Butwhybecause · 24/07/2024 09:03

She's over-stepping the mark.

Hardly. OP's spoken to her before about her daughter being excluded. Other Mum hears the daughter keeps going on about poo, thinks OP might want to know (teachers might not be concerned but their judgement is not always right) so other Mum has told her, OP is already aware that her daughter keeps going on about poo. Other Mum probably thinks OP either isn't aware about poo issue or thinks it's typical 10 year old behaviour (it isn't) if I were OP I'd be grateful to be told my kid keeps talking about poo and it's putting the other kid off her. Do any of you seriously think the other Mum wants to have to tell OP this when they're clearly friendly enough that OP has confided in her before? There was a risk that OP would take it badly and not talk to the other Mum anymore, I don't know why everyone jumps to 'other Mum is a bitch' rather than she's had a difficult conversation likely out of respect/friendship for OP knowing it could turn things sour. She's done her a massive favour.

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 24/07/2024 09:41

The words chosen were harsh and inappropriate. ('People say she's very silly and weird.') A teacher would not voice concerns, if she/he had any, in this manner. Even if the other mother wanted to 'help'- and personally I feel it sounds like there were other motives in the mix - her actions were wrong. She overstepped badly.

saraclara · 24/07/2024 09:06

sadabouti · 24/07/2024 08:38

@saraclara I'd also ask you to consider what you would think of the intentions of a person who came up to you and said "people say" your child is "weird". It's straight up offensive, even if there is undiagnosed ND going on. And it's triggered anxiety or the OP would not be posting. I'm male, so maybe a different perspective, but I cannot imagine a group of dads thinking this was an acceptable way to comment on each another's kids, or encouraging the OP, if she was male, to think that the dad in question was anything more than a dick.

I'd ask you to read all of OP 's posts again, where she explains that she's talked to this parent on other occasions wondering why her daughter doesn't get invited to parties etc. The parent has finally been brave enough to tell her what the problem is.

This is not a random parent coming up to her and saying "your kid's weird"

Butwhybecause · 24/07/2024 09:03

JollyPinkFox · 24/07/2024 08:57

You’re all really missing the point that OP spoke to this Mum before about her concerns with her daughter so clearly she is someone OP trusts and I really doubt she’s just being a bitch for no reason given that context. Why is it so hard to actually read a thread

She's over-stepping the mark.

JollyPinkFox · 24/07/2024 08:57

You’re all really missing the point that OP spoke to this Mum before about her concerns with her daughter so clearly she is someone OP trusts and I really doubt she’s just being a bitch for no reason given that context. Why is it so hard to actually read a thread

sadabouti · 24/07/2024 08:38

@saraclara I'd also ask you to consider what you would think of the intentions of a person who came up to you and said "people say" your child is "weird". It's straight up offensive, even if there is undiagnosed ND going on. And it's triggered anxiety or the OP would not be posting. I'm male, so maybe a different perspective, but I cannot imagine a group of dads thinking this was an acceptable way to comment on each another's kids, or encouraging the OP, if she was male, to think that the dad in question was anything more than a dick.

Butwhybecause · 24/07/2024 08:35

ErrolTheDragon · 23/07/2024 15:18

I think the problem here is the other mum.Hmm

Yes, absolutely.
The other Mum is weird and immature saying this to you.

There can be quite a difference in maturity between a September-born Y6 and an August-born Y6 and even marked differences at that age anyway.

the SEN lead observed her a few months back and said she’s fine and doesn’t think it’s anything ND related
She/he is trained, unlike that mother.

They suddenly become far more mature when they start secondary school and you'll wonder then where that little girl went. 🙂

sadabouti · 24/07/2024 08:29

@saraclara I did read the post. I summarised that OP has a daughter who may be ND, or perhaps just young in behaviour, and that another mum has told her that "people" are talking it about it because it's implicitly wrong. I interpret that as bullying because (a) it doesn't sound like there is a genuine issue (b) it's not the other mum's place to comment (c) it's cowardly to tell another person that a community disapproves of her DD (with judgment on the parenting. Whether it's intentional from the other mum is immaterial. It's a poor way to behave.

Rosejasmine · 24/07/2024 08:16

We have been there with summer born eldest DD - immature and a bit different but it was never commented on by another parent and I would have found that upsetting.
Other children called her weird and she was excluded from her friendship group in secondary school, but she found another one and had friends.
Interestingly, she was later diagnosed in her teens with ADHD due to her lack of focus and terrible organisation which made her feel like she was drowning with anything she had to do, but medication really helped. As an adult, she now thinks she has autism and dyspraxia (which was not picked up on by the child psychiatrist that did extensive tests on her), Autism because she realises she is masking to fit in and dyspraxia because she’s all over the place (always has been clumsy).
I can say however, that she is a lovely adult with a happy life who has done very very well academically, has a job she loves and has a great future ahead of her.

InnieSweet · 24/07/2024 08:01

Talking about poo in public, past a certain age is not appropriate, nor considerate. If Op's dd has an obsession with poo, perhaps her mother needs to help her come to terms with, find out why and help her overcome it, it is not age appropriate. Going round school telling her unsuspecting peers how much she likes it, is self-centred and socially awkward. She is not responsive to the discomfort of others and is not respecting their boundaries. Why should others be made to feel uncomfortable to accommodate OP's dd quirks? Especially girls? I would tell my dc to be firm and assertive in expressing their boundaries and tell this girl that her behaviour is inappropriate and makes them uncomfortable. In secondary, she will just be told to shut up or fuck off.

footiemum3 · 24/07/2024 07:54

It sounds like your child is struggling socially. Wanting social interactions but not knowing how to properly instigate them. School should be giving some support here, setting up a social interaction group with her and a few peers. They would spend time playing games, learning how to make new friendships etc. this should be once a week over a few terms. You need to speak to school and ask them to put support in place not just monitor the situation.

eggplant16 · 24/07/2024 07:41

Can I just say, in 6 months or so this child will be different and all will be well.

That spiteful Mum will still be spiteful.

InnieSweet · 24/07/2024 07:40

Acornsoup · 23/07/2024 23:45

Waterstones has 682 books about Poop. They have 5 for ages 9+ including 1 for teens. There are entire books of poetry dedicated to poop. Also there's the diarrhoea song and Dr Poo from the Viz which definitely isn't aimed at kids. Tell me again random stranger how Poo or Poop is not a topic for 10YO.

Waterstones educating a whole new generation of poo trolls 😂odd to be so obsessed with something so ordinary. Shit, get off the pot and get on with your life, no one is interested in anyone else's 💩.

Suzieandthemonkeyfeet · 24/07/2024 06:41

mathanxiety · 24/07/2024 01:58

I disagree completely.

Suicide rates are at crisis level among autistic people, especially among autistic women and girls.

It is not fine that everyone doesn't like this child. It is not fine that her efforts to connect are so misjudged by her and unappreciated by her peers.

It is absolutely vital that everyone who loves this child finds out what is going on so that they can support her and advocate for her, and that includes helping her navigate social norms as successfully as possible, and being happy in her own skin.

We now have a potential suicidal autistic child no one likes….. off the word of a 10 year old child.. ffs. Despite her teacher and the SEN teacher saying she is completely fine - just a little immature. Immaturity doesn’t mean autistic. This thread is bonkers

And I’d like to point out being happy in your own skin actually means moving away from external validation. Being happy in your own skin comes from within.

mathanxiety · 24/07/2024 01:58

Acornsoup · 23/07/2024 20:37

It's really not healthy to raise DC to be people pleasers. It's fine that everyone doesn't like them. It's normal to not like everyone you meet. It is unhealthy to teach a child to modify their behaviour so that people will like them. Especially if it's for something as basic as invites to parties.

I disagree completely.

Suicide rates are at crisis level among autistic people, especially among autistic women and girls.

It is not fine that everyone doesn't like this child. It is not fine that her efforts to connect are so misjudged by her and unappreciated by her peers.

It is absolutely vital that everyone who loves this child finds out what is going on so that they can support her and advocate for her, and that includes helping her navigate social norms as successfully as possible, and being happy in her own skin.