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How to Cope with Friends Little Terror

7 replies

CrazyLikeAFox · 14/12/2011 04:55

My DH and I have a friend that we see a LOT (she is also DH's work colleague). The trouble is that the behaviour of her 2yo son is getting worse and worse. Unless he is watched with an eagle eye he will throw/break/rip something, go through all cupboards and fridge and bathroom drawers, batter my plants, trash my 8yo DDs precious things and (worst of all) injure my 2 yo in some way. It's getting to the stage where I groan to hear the car in the drive or ignore text messages in the hope of not seeing them (despite really liking her). I've had to change my house around because of it. My DDs breakables are in the cupboard, out of sight! instead of on the bookshelf and when I know they are coming I race around shoving my DS toys and rip-able books away, and then we have to try to monitor him and keep him in sight for the whole visit, it's bloody exhausting as we see them probably 5 or even 6 out of 7 days a week.

I feel like there's nothing I can do really, my friend can't control him so how could we? Saying something would be both ineffectual and cause bad feeling. How do other people cope with their friends 'wee shits'?

OP posts:
mummymccar · 14/12/2011 20:17

Does your friend ever discipline him for his actions?

CinnamonStar · 14/12/2011 20:19

Can you meet up somewhere else, rather than at your house? Her house, or the park or something?

jalopy · 15/12/2011 09:30

Tbh, I don't know how you tolerate so many visits a week from them. 5/6 out of 7? Sounds excessive to me.

If you cant broach the parenting subject with her, I suggest you distance yourself a bit, otherwise the existing arrangement will become be increasing intolerable and you run the risk of it ruining your friendship.

Floggingmolly · 18/12/2011 19:00

Why would you allow anyone to visit your home 6 days out of 7, especially someone who causes you so much stress? Do you ever visit your friend?
It sounds like she wants her whirling dervish destroying someone else's home, not hers, which is out of order. Whatever happens, you need to severely limit the time she spends in your house, she's taking the piss and you're allowing her to.

Liluri · 18/12/2011 19:03

It's unkind to refer to a 2 year old as a "wee shit".

Lessen the amount of times per week that you see them, and meet up at a neutral place so your belongings don't get damaged.

Eglu · 18/12/2011 19:24

S others have said why on earth are they visiting so often? You need to make yourself less available.

You say his Mum can't control him. Does that mean she doesn't bother or does she make ineffectual efforts. Because tbf there is no reason she should not be able to control a child that small, at least to the point that your posessions don't get ruined.

SecretMinceRinser · 19/01/2012 19:58

I don't think it's the 2 yo that's the problem but the parents. When I visit anywhere with my nearly 2 yo he gets followed around or the door is closed to the room I'm in so I can keep an eye on him. If he tries to go upstairs he gets lifted down unless I go up with him. He's not particularly destructive but he would mess with stuff. I would also worry about him messing with stuff that could cause him harm.
You need to tell them they either need to watch their child or not visit anymore.

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