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DH blames me for DDs behaviour

209 replies

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 17:07

Me and DH are married 10 years we have one DD6. She is smart and funny she does well at school/sports has loads of friends etc but like most 6 year olds she can be hard work at home sometimes. She can sometimes react disrespectfully shout and give snappy/rude answers to me and DH usually if she is tired/hungry/frustrated.

Somehow DH blames this on me.

Today DH collected DD from school as he was off I wfh so would usually have her snack ready when they get home and would come down from work for a few mins when she gets in to see how her day was but I couldn't do that today as an urgent work call was scheduled during that time
I asked DH to explain that to DD on the way home (as previously she has had a loud meltdown when I was unexpectedly not available when she got home).
Anyway when my call finished at 4 I went down and DD ran to give me a big hug and squeeze I asked her a few questions about her day and she told me a couple of stories about school.
I noticed DH in a bit of a sulk and when we were alone he said she hadn't told him anything about school and had been snapping at him/being disrespectful. He told me that it was my fault because I made him the bearer of bad news (because he had to tell I was on a work call and would be unavailable)
He told me thar I need to have a chat with her about how she treats him.

Dd has always had a strong preference for me but if I'm honest I think DH without realising it can come across as constantly criticising and negative e.g coming in from work and the first thing he will say is "turn down the music" "pick up those toys" etc rather than having a nice interaction with her first after not seeing her all day. He does it to me also.

I don't think he's being reasonable blaming this on me. I will talk to DD later but honestly I think he should be having the conversation as I wasn't even there to see what she said

OP posts:
TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 23:17

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 23:12

You're making things up to have a pop at the OP's parenting.
Very strange behaviour.

Edited

The OP literally started a thread because her and her husband have different rules and boundaries. It’s right there in black and white. I will not be responding to you again because you seem to be having difficulties with comprehension.

Timeforachange26 · 31/08/2026 23:17

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 19:03

She's 6, when she's had a long day at school she likes a hug from her mum when she gets home. She is understandably disappointed if she can't get that, her disappointment manifests in crying and loudly vocalising her disappointment " i want mum! Why isnt mum here, its not fair etc etc" for a few minutes until she calms herself. Since I was on a work call and wanted to avoid a loud crying child in the background I opted to give her a heads up in which case I was able to avoid the crying entirely. It's not exactly indulging....

It's not usual either. And many parents wouldn't tolerate it

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 23:14

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 23:10

I was more focused on the tantrums.

And you didn't listen to the answer regarding a 6 year olds developmental behaviour.

Tantrum - once, last year while the OP was on a work call, the OP said.
So you had a go at the OP for having a parenting method to avoid any tantrums for the future.

Why?

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 23:12

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 23:00

But the OP and her husband don’t have the same rules and boundaries. That’s kind of the point.

You're making things up to have a pop at the OP's parenting.
Very strange behaviour.

BlueFluffKin · 31/08/2026 23:10

Would it be beneficial if you all sat down together and talked, and you can see how DH communicates with DD?

Is he actually pleasant to communicate with? Are these conversations relaxed?

Some people can come across as fairly aggressive and project quite an agitated/intense vibe, even if they're "technically" being polite.

They find it hard to slow down and read non-verbal cues.

They ask quick-fire questions over and over again and then get disproportionately upset if the person they're talking to doesn't respond the way they want.

Even as an adult it's unpleasant interacting with people who are too intense.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 23:10

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 23:08

Believe it or not, not all children come in quietly, esp 6 year olds. All children can come in noisy, pleased to be home, hyped after their day, can't wait to see mum, tell her about it or whatever. Six year olds don't sit demurely the moment they come home as a general rule, they are still very excitable as their brains are still developing and not yet in check with their emotions 100% of the time.

Who's tiptoed? Who's not disciplining here? Lazy parenting? Really? Where? You do like to pick pick pick - there's nothing but presumptions.

I was more focused on the tantrums.

GalaDinner · 31/08/2026 23:08

Your six year old rather sounds as if she rules the roost, and you over indulge her. I'd be addressing that pronto. She's six, not one.

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 23:08

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:59

The fact that you say in an earlier post: “a conversation with dad stops the shouting” says it all. So don’t teach a child not to shout and tantrum, just tiptoe around them instead? What lazy parenting. Anything to not be the bad guy and actually instil some discipline.

Believe it or not, not all children come in quietly, esp 6 year olds. All children can come in noisy, pleased to be home, hyped after their day, can't wait to see mum, tell her about it or whatever. Six year olds don't sit demurely the moment they come home as a general rule, they are still very excitable as their brains are still developing and not yet in check with their emotions 100% of the time.

Who's tiptoed? Who's not disciplining here? Lazy parenting? Really? Where? You do like to pick pick pick - there's nothing but presumptions.

GeographicBox · 31/08/2026 23:07

People here are being twats, OP. You have a routine and today things were going to be different, it’s not unreasonable for a parent to let her know that in advance to avoid them being upset. Plenty of six year olds would have an emotional reaction to a routine change if unexpected and tired and hungry after a long day at school.

Your husband is being a dick saying you “made him the bad guy” just because he had to deal with a disappointed child

Cattywillow · 31/08/2026 23:06

You need to tell your Dh that he is responsible for his relationship with DD, not you. Do not let him make you the go between, or it will never end!

Wiennetta · 31/08/2026 23:01

Projectprincesschaos · 31/08/2026 17:15

Schoo no where at? It’s bank holiday in UK.

Schools in Scotland have been back for a couple of weeks. And it’s a bank holiday in England and Wales (?) - again, not Scotland.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 23:00

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:56

They also gravitate to the kind one.
My parents were that. Both same rules, boundaries. Mum was fun, dad wasn't.

Guess who we all loved?
You have no idea on any boundaries set by the OP.

Edited

But the OP and her husband don’t have the same rules and boundaries. That’s kind of the point.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:59

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:55

This is a huge pile on over nothing, ah, that's mumsnet for you. Any chance to pick pick pick.

The fact that you say in an earlier post: “a conversation with dad stops the shouting” says it all. So don’t teach a child not to shout and tantrum, just tiptoe around them instead? What lazy parenting. Anything to not be the bad guy and actually instil some discipline.

Floppyearedlab · 31/08/2026 22:59

You seem pretty determined to believe that your child is a little angel, but the reality is she has form for throwing her toys out of the pram she should have outgrown several years ago when she doesn’t have you on tap the second she arrives home. You sound terrified pf her reactions.
This should be a quick point of information - mum is still working, she’ll be done soon. Water or orange juice?
But as it clearly isn’t, try some role play when she is calm, Make them pretend they are walking home, then dad says you won’t be there for 40 mins. Now get her to do what she does next.
Make it exaggerated and silly. Anything to nip this in the bud.

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:56

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:55

Children always tend to gravitate towards the person who sets the fewest boundaries. That’s not a good thing.

They also gravitate to the kind one.
My parents were that. Both same rules, boundaries. Mum was fun, dad wasn't.

Guess who we all loved?
You have no idea on any boundaries set by the OP.

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:55

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:52

Your original question was about whether you ought to be responsible for managing your husband’s relationship with your child, to which most people have quite rightly said you are not responsible, thus agreeing with you on that point.

However, a lot of posters are now making the additional point that the way you are responding to your daughter needs to be reconsidered, which was not the original point of your thread, but is clearly something a lot of us have picked up on. And your subsequent very defensive posts are what most of us are not agreeing with, as you well know.

But nice try on attempting to deflect. So on the one hand you are right: you are not responsible for managing your husband’s relationship with your daughter. And on the other you’re wrong: you need to stop enabling your daughter’s poor behaviour and allowing her to rule the roost. Based on your responses here, I can certainly understand your husband’s frustration.

This is a huge pile on over nothing, ah, that's mumsnet for you. Any chance to pick pick pick.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:55

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:51

He gets out what he puts in, surely? Sounds like you and your DD have a lovely bond, esp if she's excited to tell you about her day. This isn't your 'fault'! His grumpy over you knowing how to avoid a trigger is childish.

If your husband wants all the excitement then he should put in the effort and also get to know his daughter a bit more. It's not rocket science is it? Kind mum or grumpy, nagging dad.. I wonder who she'd want to spend time with.

Children always tend to gravitate towards the person who sets the fewest boundaries. That’s not a good thing.

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 22:53

JemimaTiggywinkles · 31/08/2026 22:46

Failing to respond to DH’s questions is actually rude and disrespectful. I’m surprised you can’t see that. If you tolerate her treating you that way it makes DH the bad guy when he insists on manners. Little kids might be tired and not overly chatty immediately after school but actually ignoring someone is just rude and it is your (plural) job to teach her that.

Lol she didn't not respond she just didn't give big detailed answers like almost every kid.... how was school today? "Fine" what did you do? "Nothing" and then you'll get a picture from the teacher of them holding a Lizard or something mad it's literally parenting 101..... he was angry because when I arrived down a couple of hours later she was chatty mc chatterson with me but she'd had time to decompress by then.

OP posts:
Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:53

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 31/08/2026 22:43

Because she doesn’t need to be told that you’re on a call - just like your DH doesn’t need to be told that you’re running a bit late in a meeting.

She’s six - she should know that you’re not always available and that sometimes you’ll be busy when she gets home - it’s not something that needs a conversation from dad.

Really? On what planet? A conversation with dad stops the shouting and looking for mum when she's in a meeting. How can you find fault with this? Same as any member of the family isn't it, no matter the age 'mum's on a call, don't disturb'.

TinaWarriorPrincess · 31/08/2026 22:52

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 22:41

Are you bad at maths? Just look at the poll... 82% of the people think I'm being reasonable so you're in the minority I'm afraid.

Your original question was about whether you ought to be responsible for managing your husband’s relationship with your child, to which most people have quite rightly said you are not responsible, thus agreeing with you on that point.

However, a lot of posters are now making the additional point that the way you are responding to your daughter needs to be reconsidered, which was not the original point of your thread, but is clearly something a lot of us have picked up on. And your subsequent very defensive posts are what most of us are not agreeing with, as you well know.

But nice try on attempting to deflect. So on the one hand you are right: you are not responsible for managing your husband’s relationship with your daughter. And on the other you’re wrong: you need to stop enabling your daughter’s poor behaviour and allowing her to rule the roost. Based on your responses here, I can certainly understand your husband’s frustration.

Happyjoe · 31/08/2026 22:51

He gets out what he puts in, surely? Sounds like you and your DD have a lovely bond, esp if she's excited to tell you about her day. This isn't your 'fault'! His grumpy over you knowing how to avoid a trigger is childish.

If your husband wants all the excitement then he should put in the effort and also get to know his daughter a bit more. It's not rocket science is it? Kind mum or grumpy, nagging dad.. I wonder who she'd want to spend time with.

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 22:47

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 31/08/2026 22:43

Because she doesn’t need to be told that you’re on a call - just like your DH doesn’t need to be told that you’re running a bit late in a meeting.

She’s six - she should know that you’re not always available and that sometimes you’ll be busy when she gets home - it’s not something that needs a conversation from dad.

Well that's a bizarre take.
Whether they "need" to know or not I like to let people know if I'm going to be late.
So sue me.

OP posts:
JemimaTiggywinkles · 31/08/2026 22:46

Failing to respond to DH’s questions is actually rude and disrespectful. I’m surprised you can’t see that. If you tolerate her treating you that way it makes DH the bad guy when he insists on manners. Little kids might be tired and not overly chatty immediately after school but actually ignoring someone is just rude and it is your (plural) job to teach her that.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 31/08/2026 22:43

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 22:38

Lol How is it a big drama? It's literally just telling her that mum's on a call so she can't come down like she usually does.
If I'm stuck late on a call past 5 il always text DH aswel to let him know I'm running late.... is that a big drama also? Mumsnet is hilarious sometimes

Because she doesn’t need to be told that you’re on a call - just like your DH doesn’t need to be told that you’re running a bit late in a meeting.

She’s six - she should know that you’re not always available and that sometimes you’ll be busy when she gets home - it’s not something that needs a conversation from dad.

TheFormerMrsTruelove · 31/08/2026 22:41

I think you should sit your DH down when DD won’t interrupt you, and tell him that you’ve had a chance to think about his instructions (because they certainly weren’t requests) and, as a pp has suggested, tell him that the quality of his relationship with DD is on him to manage. Tell him that him passing on the message that you were unavailable had nothing to do with her behaviour, bar ensuring it didn’t deteriorate, and that it’s very clear what the problem is, so if he wants some pointers you’ll be keen to provide them.

Otherwise, he might want to bear in mind that he is a husband and a father, not a drill sergeant, and you and DD are his wife and daughter, not new recruits.