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My ds keep shaming me

285 replies

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 10:17

My 4 and 5 year old DS have taken to calling me the worst fattest mum in the world every time I don't give in to TV or snack demands. They also tell me to shut my mouth and hit me. But the calling me fat all the time is relentless.

They come from a loving home and me and my husband parent seemingly the same as our other parent friends. Giving boundaries, organising things like baking and days out and socialise.

Where have we gone wrong? How do we fix this? We have done time outs and explained this language and behaviour isn't acceptable.

It makes me very sad and resentful.

OP posts:
happinessischocolate · 08/02/2026 12:35

Try the book 1,2,3 magic - it’s perfect to start at that age.

it explains what to do, how to do it and also explains the psychology of why the children do misbehave and why the method works.

saved my sanity for over 10 years, my dc are now in their 20s and laugh about how it worked on them

Calliopespa · 08/02/2026 12:32

CmonBobby · 08/02/2026 12:31

Have you tried going absolutely fucking mental?

Gosh these threads are depressing.

CmonBobby · 08/02/2026 12:31

Have you tried going absolutely fucking mental?

TheJoyousHiker · 08/02/2026 12:31

Have you talked to them about how it’s unkind to call people fat or any other name that’s designed to hurt ? That hitting is wrong and never acceptable. I’d also ban Mario & Pokemon for now, or anything on YouTube unless you have watched and censored it first.

IwishIcouldconfess · 08/02/2026 12:30

BoxingHare · 08/02/2026 12:29

It's appalling that anyone thinks it's fine to physically assault children.

Its appalling to think a 4 year old speak to their mother like that and their mother takes it!

Cerialkiller · 08/02/2026 12:30

Natural consequences of this behaviour happening when screens are removed is to not return screens until the behaviour changes.

My nephew turned into an angry little boy when he had screen time and was asked to turn it off. As a consequence he was told he obviously wasn't grown up enough to have a screen time and so he couldn't use a tablet 'until he was a bit older'.

People talk very lightly about screen 'addiction' but I do genuinely think there is a dopamine hit to the reward centers with all these bright flashy shows and clips. Removing that will of course cause a reaction and if they can't handle it they can't handle the screens.

I've seen it a few times. Reducing screen time in general improves behaviour. If the bad behaviour is connected to screen time then they just aren't mature enough and it is worth considering removing them entirely.

After a detox period, if you must occupy them, swap out for longer form tv shows, films with an actual storyline. Older programmes that are slower and there's no shouting and fast cuts.

BoxingHare · 08/02/2026 12:29

ramonaquimby · 08/02/2026 12:08

That's 5 mothers that would smack just in the first 2 pages
good grief

It's appalling that anyone thinks it's fine to physically assault children.

TheAutumnCrow · 08/02/2026 12:29

ImPamDoove · 08/02/2026 12:15

For God’s sake. 🙄

Something has gone horribly wrong here, OP. Where are the picking this up from? And at 4 and 5 they should not be making any ‘demands’.

You Tube, presumably. Crazy.

IwishIcouldconfess · 08/02/2026 12:28

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 12:24

I said no TV today. If they do not behave badly I will consider it tmrw but if any misbehaviour then the ban will continue

You will consider it!!

I am considering giving up wine.

Well we all know who runs the show in your house

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 12:27

Nearly50omg · 08/02/2026 12:26

NO 4 year old should be watching YouTube!!! My teenager has only just been allowed to start watching limited things on it as it’s not suitable for children! Ban it completely and make sure you have parental controls locked down on any tablets etc and also only you/husband know the password for it and all your screens

It is kids YouTube which has parental controls

OP posts:
Nearly50omg · 08/02/2026 12:26

NO 4 year old should be watching YouTube!!! My teenager has only just been allowed to start watching limited things on it as it’s not suitable for children! Ban it completely and make sure you have parental controls locked down on any tablets etc and also only you/husband know the password for it and all your screens

Balloonhearts · 08/02/2026 12:24

You need to be sterner. Really tell them off. They know good and well its not acceptable, you've explained it hurts your feelings so now it's consequences time.

Time out is for tantrums. Willfully nasty behaviour needs punishment. Take away whatever they will miss the most, whether that's a toy, console, book, playdate etc. Tell them directly that it is a result of their behaviour and warn them that one more incident of nastiness towards you or anyone else will result in that item being binned. Follow through. Never threaten anything you won't carry out.

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 12:24

IwishIcouldconfess · 08/02/2026 12:20

So I have just had a very stern word with them removed their yoto their favourite books and no TV for today. If they say it again they get extra time no TV

Well I am confused by this so your children must be, you have said no TV for today, but if they say it again, they get no TV?? But you have already taken it away??

Sorry OP you need to step up here and be a parent!

I said no TV today. If they do not behave badly I will consider it tmrw but if any misbehaviour then the ban will continue

OP posts:
BloomsburyBelgravia · 08/02/2026 12:21

popcornandpotatoes · 08/02/2026 12:17

It's not fairly standard small children naughtiness though, I actually think it's rather shocking behaviour and Op's tactic so far of time out and explanation doesn't seem to be working

I agree. Of course it's not fairly standard small child naughtiness

IwishIcouldconfess · 08/02/2026 12:20

So I have just had a very stern word with them removed their yoto their favourite books and no TV for today. If they say it again they get extra time no TV

Well I am confused by this so your children must be, you have said no TV for today, but if they say it again, they get no TV?? But you have already taken it away??

Sorry OP you need to step up here and be a parent!

Zov · 08/02/2026 12:18

ramonaquimby · 08/02/2026 12:08

That's 5 mothers that would smack just in the first 2 pages
good grief

I know right. It feels like we've been transported back in time 150 years.

Windday · 08/02/2026 12:18

ramonaquimby · 08/02/2026 12:08

That's 5 mothers that would smack just in the first 2 pages
good grief

The majority of children would prefer a quick slap than technology taken from them.
Absolutely no need to be slapping children.

No treats, no technology whatsoever, early to bed, and children aren't long learning what's what.

Children that age shouldn't be on you tube anyway.

popcornandpotatoes · 08/02/2026 12:17

dampmuddyandcold · 08/02/2026 11:53

There are a lot of extremely odd people on here.

To be honest, the responses here seem mad to me for what is fairly standard small child naughtiness, I am reading it going ‘hug’. The suggestions the OP must be in an abusive relationship because otherwise how would a school age child know fat is an insult - really Hmm

It's not fairly standard small children naughtiness though, I actually think it's rather shocking behaviour and Op's tactic so far of time out and explanation doesn't seem to be working

toomuchfaff · 08/02/2026 12:16

My 4 and 5 year old DS have taken to calling me the worst fattest mum in the world every time I don't give in to TV or snack demands.

What do they have to do before they next get TV or snacks? Because if they dont have to apologise and commit to a change in behaviour- theres your issue. If its just - time has passed so tomorrow, here's a snack... All youre teaching them is that words mean nothing, they dont have ramifications, we will get TV tomorrow, we will get snacks later before bed.

Think about bad behaviour of an adult, would you just go back to everything's fine just because the time passed? No, you'd be waiting for an apology, you'd own your side, they'd promise a change of behaviour and then you'd build a bridge; watch and wait and then resume normal when you saw an improvement.

Why any different with kids? No snacks, no TV, food is basic, nothing sweet - because their behavior doesnt warrant the nineties until the show that they have understood the behaviour wont be tolerated, and that it isnt to be exhibited.

FullLondonEye · 08/02/2026 12:16

I consider myself strict but fair as a parent and haven't had to deal with bad behaviour very often. However if I have come across things that I would say are very bad and really need a lid putting on pronto, such as described by @Sunshining20 , I have gone absolutely nuclear. I have never and would never hit my children but if I've had to make a very strong point I have made sure I've taken advantage of my physical size compared to theirs by looming over them, I've spoken loud enough to be called shouting and I've used very strong language, including being as nasty as they were if that's what the problem was - as in if my daughter said something horrible I told her that what she's said is horrible, disgusting etc. and that if she went around behaving like that she would have no friends because no-one would want to be around her, and that she would be lonely and miserable. Really mean stuff. I made myself intimidating to make it clear that she doesn't have a choice in this, she is obliged to comply. I'm always very clear to focus my anger on the behaviour rather than the child, as in I haven't told her she is nasty, I've told her that what she said or did is nasty. I admit I've used fear to control the behaviour - not in terms of her being scared for her physical safety but that her wlife would change in ways she wouldn't like in order to make clear the magnitude of the problem. A bit dramatic and yes, she has ended up crying and incerdibly upser, but not for her physical safety.

It's not nice. It's awful - but it has worked and it's only ever had to be a very, very rare occurrence. I've also been very clear that if threats are made then I follow through on them - my husband was in the habit of threatening to remove privileges for lapses in behaviour but then not following through, whereas I made sure that whatever I threaten (even if I maybe went too far in the moment and later regretted it) gets carried out.

I'm not saying my kids are perfect but in general I'm pretty amazed by how well behaved they are. I sometimes wonder if they're even mine because I know I was never that good. However none of it will work if it's a constant process of shouting and nagging. This is for the worst of the worst (which I would argue the OP is) and has to be a M.A.D. situation, the end of days.

NeverDropYourMooncup · 08/02/2026 12:15

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 10:24

Time outs and taking toys away. What do I do next. How do you tear a 4 year old a new one?

An almighty bollocking from you and one from their father about how dare they be so nasty and rude to Mummy, you DO NOT say those things to her, you DO NOT say those things to anybody else and you NEVER EVER hit just because you don't get your way. NO SNACKS, NO TREATS, until you learn to treat Mummy and everybody else with respect.

And when they demand a treat or a snack 'No'. If followed by more shouting and hitting, they get to see all of the treats get swept into a binbag with 'No. No treats or snacks until you learn to treat people nicely'. And then you let them cry and scream about it. 'No. No snacks or treats.'

They need food, not crisps, sweets or cakes. So they still get their meals, of course. They just don't get the things they're kicking off over.

ImPamDoove · 08/02/2026 12:15

DurinsBane · 08/02/2026 10:26

Mine would have got a smacked backside if they were constantly doing that.

For God’s sake. 🙄

Something has gone horribly wrong here, OP. Where are the picking this up from? And at 4 and 5 they should not be making any ‘demands’.

Windday · 08/02/2026 12:15

No technology, no treats, no tv.
Early to bed.
I would have come down on this the first time I heard it like a tonne of bricks.

This behaviour is the result of children not being corrected the very first time this happened.

They need an extended period of zero tolerance and firm consequences.

I have come across children like yours, that had nice, but ineffectual parents.

I kept my children so far away from them.
I didn't want my children around that type of behaviour, and the parents who would accept being spoken to rudely.

Unchecked it gets worse and they are actively avoided by nice families.
By the teenage years they are totally out of control.

Take their behaviour so seriously because what it morphs into unchecked, is a disaster.

Apologies if that sounds harsh.
But believe me when they start speaking to you like that in front of other parents, word will get around.
Your children will pay a heavy price for not being taken in hand.

Make their lives a lot less fun and comfortable.

Not treats, no technology whatsoever, no outings, early to bed.
Zero tolerance.

Children are very smart.
They will very quickly catch on that their bad behaviour will have consequences.
Good luck.

Reallyneedsaholiday · 08/02/2026 12:15

Remove all sweet treats from the house. Full stop. Nothing at all. No treats outside either.
As for the hitting, move fast, catch and hold their hands until they calm down. Explain that hitting doesn’t solve anything and that other people’s feelings matter.
Where are they learning this behaviour? Do they go to school/ nursery? Watch TV? I’ve always hated “The (name) Fat Controller” in Thomas the Tank Engine and that Daddy Pig is mocked for being “fat”. Just because the regulators agree that a programme aimed at children, is “suitable”, doesn’t mean that it “is”. Limit screen time, to when you can sit and watch with them. Speak to the staff, in any setting they attend, and check that a) they don’t behave this way there, and b) whether they are copying it from another child.
They are very young, and it’s not late to change this behaviour, but you need to be consistent.

lemonraspberry · 08/02/2026 12:14

My child would call me fat and to shut my mouth only once. Instant removal of snacks and TV. Absolute zero tolerance for this.

OP you said They do watch YouTube - do you let them have access to the internet as this is a major cause of poor behaviour. Is this restricted with parental controls and time (30 mins a day)? No 5 year old needs direct access to the internet.