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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:
itsmeitsyou · 31/08/2026 17:28

He told me thar I need to have a chat with her about how she treats him.

Tell him to talk to DD himself. As her parent it is also his job to parent her.

CountFucula · 31/08/2026 17:26

He sounds a bit childish and unable to be an effective parent when he is sulking/snapping. But … you sound quite indulgent. Having to prepare her for you not being able to hang out after school is a bit much and make it sound like she rules the house with an iron fist. Is she really that unadaptable? When you say ‘meltdown’ do you mean tantrum? Or meltdown as in you think she might be neurodiverse?

TheBlueKoala · 31/08/2026 17:19

@Plastictreesofgold He needs to take responsability for his relationship with your daughter. My dh is the same. He's grumpy and gets in a mood with our teen boys instead of asking them nicely which just leads to arguments. He thinks I'm too soft but he fails to realise that they respect me and that they don't need to "fear" me in order to comply. We had different upbringings wich can partly explain this.

detectivesolverson · 31/08/2026 17:18

Projectprincesschaos · 31/08/2026 17:15

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

🤦‍♀️

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 17:18

titchy · 31/08/2026 17:17

Not in Scotland where schools start back mid August.

OP why are you planning on having a word with her - surely it’s your dh you need to have a word with?

He caught me off guard so I said I would.

OP posts:
titchy · 31/08/2026 17:17

Projectprincesschaos · 31/08/2026 17:15

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

Not in Scotland where schools start back mid August.

OP why are you planning on having a word with her - surely it’s your dh you need to have a word with?

Plastictreesofgold · 31/08/2026 17:16

Projectprincesschaos · 31/08/2026 17:15

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

Obviously I'm not in the UK

OP posts:
Projectprincesschaos · 31/08/2026 17:15

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

Pearlstillsinging · 31/08/2026 17:14

Young children are usually too tired at the end of a school day to hold much conversation. "Did you have a nice day?", "OK" is usually the most you can ask for until they have had a snack and time to decompress. And it's still very early in the term, so DD will still be settling into her new class with a new teacher and possibly new classmates.
DH should tell her whatever he wants her to know but he also needs to get off his high horse and remember he is the adult in the relationship.