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Original poster

Is this acceptable?

44 replies

Burtrix7 · 19/07/2025 18:15

A quick query to settle an argument. Is it ok to say your 9 year old child is acting like a knob when he is in earshot?

Thanks in advance.

OP posts:
FrenchandSaunders · 19/07/2025 18:50

Yep I don’t see anything wrong with that tbh. Sometimes they do behave like knobs and need calling out 🤷🏼‍♀️, as we all do from time to time.

YourSnugHazelTraybake · 19/07/2025 18:48

Saying they're acting like a knob, yes, saying they are a knob, no. Different context imo.

RachelsPeeves · 19/07/2025 18:46

Absolutely fine.

StellaLaBella · 19/07/2025 18:46

If DH and I hadn’t been able to have a good - private - bitch about the kids on occasion, we’d have lost our minds. But it’s not really on to call them names, especially within earshot. I actually think it’s worse than saying it to their faces. I don’t care what age you are, no one wants to hear themselves being denigrated to someone else, it’s humiliating

StrawberryCranberry · 19/07/2025 18:39

The voting isn't clear but I would say it depends. Some families would say that sort of thing in a jokey way and the child would recognise it as such. If said in anger then that's not ok.

whispycloud · 19/07/2025 18:39

Not acceptable

Greencustardmonster · 19/07/2025 18:38

Not a word I’d use about anyone. But I have told my kids at that sort of age that they’re behaving like idiots to their face, forget in earshot. Depends what kid is supposed to have done as well - are they actually being an idiot (thinking of the time my kids fought over who got the blue cushion on the sofa vs the otherwise identical teal one and in the process broke the TV) or are they being age appropriate albeit difficult for the adult.

FluffyRabbitGal · 19/07/2025 18:35

I call my pet bunnies knobs to their faces when they misbehave & they’re only 3! I’ve got a feeling that this a completely different kettle of fish though…

anrom1969 · 19/07/2025 18:34

No , probably not , however going into another room and giving them the v and calling them a knob quietly is perfectly acceptable, because 9 year old boys don’t actually know everything even if they think they do and it’s very frustrating. Then go back and parent in the way the other perfect parents do .

JudgeBread · 19/07/2025 18:34

I mean probably not while they're in earshot lmao but I don't think it'll scar them for life.

Brokenforsummer · 19/07/2025 18:33

For me no. I fine to think that and say it when they’re not around. It’s fine to tell them directly that you’re unhappy with their behaviour. But it isn’t acceptable to talk about them negatively in ear shot.

FreyjaOfTheNorth · 19/07/2025 18:33

Definitely not.

yeesh · 19/07/2025 18:32

Were they being a knob?

Seeline · 19/07/2025 18:31

I wouldn't use that exact phrasing, but yes, if they are being a pain, or silly to an unacceptable level, they need telling.

Howtotrainarabbit · 19/07/2025 18:29

No I don't think so, if they can hear you.

Strawberries86 · 19/07/2025 18:28

Sometimes they are knobs.

cyvguhb · 19/07/2025 18:18

It's not something I'd say about any age child in their earshot but I don't know how you're going to settle an arguement by knowing that

ninjahamster · 19/07/2025 18:16

Yes, if they are!

Hadalifeonce · 19/07/2025 18:16

IAM not sure of the voting criteria, but it's not OK.

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