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Original poster

Visiting children jumping on arms / back of my sofas

38 replies

Poodlelove · 12/08/2025 13:52

Two occasions this week.
Mum and two children aged 10 and 12 .
Mum sits crossed legged on my sofa with sandals on , the children lie on the arm of sofa, the two children then had an argument and chased each other by running along the back of my sofa.

Other occasion children visiting throw ball for my dogs inside after me telling them not to , and hitting the TV.Ths mum says nothing .

Is this normal ?

OP posts:
FancyCatSlave · 12/08/2025 14:06

Not in my circles no. But the sandals would’ve been taken off at the door!

Createausername1970 · 12/08/2025 14:06

You need to speak up!

"Hey, brats, can you stop that please! Not sure what you are allowed to do at home, but I don't like it"

You don't have to shout or "tell them off" just make it clear that it doesn't happen in your house.

ThejoyofNC · 12/08/2025 14:04

Open your mouth and say something. 10 and 12 is way too old to be behaving in that way, although it's pretty obvious where they get it from if their mother has her shoes on your sofa.

2dogsandabudgie · 12/08/2025 14:04

A 10 and 12 year old ran across the back of your sofa? They must have good balance that's all I can say.

bringbackthespira · 12/08/2025 14:02

10 and 12?
what on earth?

grumpygrape · 12/08/2025 13:59

Poodlelove · 12/08/2025 13:52

Two occasions this week.
Mum and two children aged 10 and 12 .
Mum sits crossed legged on my sofa with sandals on , the children lie on the arm of sofa, the two children then had an argument and chased each other by running along the back of my sofa.

Other occasion children visiting throw ball for my dogs inside after me telling them not to , and hitting the TV.Ths mum says nothing .

Is this normal ?

It's only normal if you allow it to be.

Mum with feet on sofa 'sorry we don't allow shoes on furniture '

Children on back of sofa 'you mustn't do that here.'

Ball hitting TV 'I think you need to go home now'. To mother, and don't bother coming back.

hmmimnotsurewhy · 12/08/2025 13:59

No it’s not. Clearly their bad behaviour comes from the mother who sits their with shoes on your couch and useless.
I would even tell her off!

I had some badly behaved guests recently, kids aged 5 and 6.
I gave them a firm ‘hey, no behaving badly on the couches. Sit nicely like X’ who is my toddler and was so well behaved.
Another useless mother sitting there watching her kids do this and say nothing! She was really embarrassed and probably the first time anyone told her kids off.

WhereIsMyJumper · 12/08/2025 13:59

I’m curious as to why you didn’t just tell them to stop?!

arcticpandas · 12/08/2025 13:57

If it's normal? No, at that age they should know better. But it's all down to crap parenting. I would be fuming if my kids behaved like that but they know that so don't even do that ar home. I wouldn't even consider having that excuse of a mother in my home again. If you do you will need to be the parent to all of them and lay down some ground rules and then sternly enforce them. But why would you want to do that?

TheCrasher · 12/08/2025 13:55

If that happens, a normal reaction is to say 'Feet off the chairs, please' in a firm voice.
You shouldn't need to have to say it but you do.

With the ball throwing, they'd have been asked to leave.

lalaloopyhead · 12/08/2025 13:55

No, not normal in my house but if the Mum didn't comment on the running across the back of the sofa (i'd be mortified!) then it must be normal in their house.
If my friends kids did that on my sofa though I would tell them off myself, or at least a 'please don't stand/run on my sofa, you'll ruin it'

Peaceandlabradors · 12/08/2025 13:53

No. It’s not. My youngest loves climbing on the sofa - he was told off constantly for it.

Just say ‘please don’t let them mess around on the sofa’

SunnieShine · 12/08/2025 13:53

Just tell them to bloody stop.

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