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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Feral kid in same class as DS

143 replies

gymthenbeach · 13/09/2024 13:58

There's a boy in my DS's class who also lives near us... I couple of streets away. Both are 8 years old.
Ever since pre-school his mum has been talking non-stop about his "special needs" and how she's waiting for CAMHS to assess him (not sure what for, I don't ask). But her son and his "problems" are all this mum talks about whenever I (or any of the other school mums) see her. It's never "hi, how was your weekend?"... It's always about her son and his alleged "problems".
I have every sympathy but I have a lot going on in my own life and don't really want to hear about him all the time. It's draining.
Trouble is, this kid has been over to our house a few times to play with my son but is so feral each time, I've had to ask him to leave. Issues include no manners, no respects, snatching things from my DS and other friends who are there (the others are all lovely kids with good manners) and pushing some of the smaller kids around. His language is shocking too, F*k this, F*k that.. Also uses sexually explicit language that no kid of his age should be using.
I've told my son this kid isn't welcome in our home or garden any more and have been clear about my reasons for this. My son agrees, he's not so keen on him anyway.
The kid has taken to hanging around in my front garden, jumping up and down on my (expensive) fence panels and making a nuisance of himself with the elderly housebound neighbour who lives directly opposite me.
I've tried a few times to raise this with the boy's mum but she's very dismissive and resorts to talking about "well, he has this problem and that problem and is under CAMHS" but doesn't really seem to do anything about parenting him and stopping him being such a nuisance.
Feel so fed up of seeing him outside our house and hearing about him. He claims he has "nowhere else to go" whenever I say he can't come in our house or play in our garden. AIBU in saying that's not my problem or my responsibility?

OP posts:
oakleaffy · 13/09/2024 15:40

An under parented child.
Sounds like the mother is using “ Special needs” as an excuse not to parent him properly.

No one wants undisciplined kids around them

Sounds like he needs boundaries and proper parenting.

Sheeparelooseagain · 13/09/2024 15:39

"Well if he is using language like that it's safe to assume that is the language he hears at home."

Not necessarily. He could be hearing it elsewhere like in the playground and repeating it around adults whereas the other children know not to

mathanxiety · 13/09/2024 15:37

Call the school safeguarding lead about the sexual references. Something is amiss.

Mintgum · 13/09/2024 15:37

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Mugcake · 13/09/2024 15:35

Just to echo PP sexually explicit language at such a young age is a big red flag for abuse. Also the swearing and "nowhere else to go" I'd be worried he's not being looked after at home. Obviously he might just be a little shit but I think I'd report this to social services or at least the school so they can safe guard.

Kingsleadhat · 13/09/2024 15:35

MintyNew · 13/09/2024 15:31

Wow what a reach. This is how horrible rumours about people start. How on earth did you get to that?

Because I'm an adopter of children with early trauma and some of those behaviours can be associated with trauma.

Alalalalalongalalalalalonglonglilong · 13/09/2024 15:32

First off if the child does something disruptive on your property you need to take control. If the parent is not disciplining then there is no need to tell tales. Just bollock him out of it a few times and if his behaviour changes then you can tell its discipline related. You can tell him he isn't allowed play in your house because he did XYZ. Be really specific and clear with him. Explain he is responsible for his own behaviour. If he is NT he will understand and you might be doing him a favour.

I wouldn't be totally dismissive of the parent though, some kids really do have serious behaviour issues. It's all very well saying 'My DC has a diagnosis but wouldn't do THAT..' Every child is different. I have 2 boys with the same ND diagnosis and one is a sweetheart, one is very difficult. There were times I really despaired of it, it was embarrassing and stressful and there was no parenting techniques that could change him, he has grown out of most of it but it could have gone either way. I remember attending a parenting course on certain behaviours and hearing ODD being discussed. It was shocking what some parents ensured and I felt lucky by comparison. My Dc had 'ODD traits' but not a diagnosis as such. It sounds like the Mum is obsessed but maybe she is right to be, maybe she is being assaulted daily or is at wits end. Maybe she has no support, (no one ever supports a mum with a difficult child) and really needs to get guidance from someone who has a well behaved child.

MintyNew · 13/09/2024 15:31

Kingsleadhat · 13/09/2024 15:30

I'm wondering if he's an adopted child with a background of early trauma.

Wow what a reach. This is how horrible rumours about people start. How on earth did you get to that?

Insta80 · 13/09/2024 15:31

I know a kid like this. Completely disrupted the class for all students. We moved DC as the impact on learning for the whole class was severe, but I also feel sorry for the kid as he was obviously struggling and unsupported. Similar language issues and it came out later that he had a lot of access to apps (which he was legally too young for) via his smartphone. His mother was also hopeless and made random complaints about the school.

I would call SS. If he is out unsupervised he is vulnerable to abuse and a professional needs to look at whether this is a reason for some of the language.

Can you take DC out for a while when he is around, in the hope he doesn't latch on to DC/your place.

sunseaandsoundingoff · 13/09/2024 15:30

Anti climb paint may be useful too?

Kingsleadhat · 13/09/2024 15:30

I'm wondering if he's an adopted child with a background of early trauma.

Youcantcallacatspider · 13/09/2024 15:24

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Tahlbias · 13/09/2024 15:23

Call his mother to come and collect him, I would.

Sia8899 · 13/09/2024 15:22

Aggressive behaviour, says he has nowhere else to go, sexual language (what context does he use this in OP?) would make me think of trauma or abuse before a SEN problem. I agree with PP you should seek advice from NSPCC about whether it would be appropriate to speak to the school ir SS

mamakoukla · 13/09/2024 15:22

It’s hard for you and for your child. As a number of concerns have been, I would probably speak with the school.

Franjipanl8r · 13/09/2024 15:21

This kid sounds neglected.

FuzzyDiva · 13/09/2024 15:21

Some of these posts show absolutely shocking ignorance of neurodiversity.

Parents with ND children would generally far rather have a NT child than benefits, colourings doesn’t cause it and not everyone has some level.

GoldenLegend · 13/09/2024 15:19

He sounds as though he's neglected at the very least. I agree with the PPs who are saying give social services a call.

TheNavyQuail · 13/09/2024 15:18

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Jom222 · 13/09/2024 15:17

WombatStewForTea · 13/09/2024 14:05

I've said it before and I'll say it again.... sprinklers!!

I was muttering 'I'd put the hose on that brat' as I read your comment 😂

TheNavyQuail · 13/09/2024 15:17

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NiftyKoala · 13/09/2024 15:14

Readytoevolve · 13/09/2024 14:10

If he has no where to go, report to SS. It doesn’t sound like a behavioural problem it’s a parenting problem first and foremost.

I also second sprinklers.

Agreed. Whether he is under cahms or not she still has to parent her child. And yes sprinklers.

Bandstander · 13/09/2024 15:13

T1Dmama · 13/09/2024 14:32

I think we all have a certain level of it, but we are socially conditioned … my parents were strict. School was strict and we were told what to wear, what time to go to bed etc… children now aren’t socialised in the same manner, don’t get one to one like we did because parents mainly work long hours now to keep up with rising costs… schools are over stretched… kids are on tech, don’t play out, food is also full of stuff that increases the symptoms of hyper activity… we are good clean food, now it’s so processed!…. Lots of factors!

This is not how neurodivergency works.

FuzzyDiva · 13/09/2024 15:12

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That’s actually not true. A diagnosis and problems, in quotation marks or not, does not equate to DLA. DLA is needs based and required evidence to obtain. Carer’s allowance is only for those with a certain eligibility and who earn very little.

FuzzyDiva · 13/09/2024 15:10

Accbabymom1994 · 13/09/2024 14:26

I've been wondering about that , has it become common or did children have it before as well but people didn't notice as much ?

People had it before but it wasn’t known or supported. Just like the same number of people used to be left handed as are currently left handed, but they tried to hide it because it wasn’t acceptable so the stats look lower.