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DS 's lovely little pal and miserable DP

236 replies

Deathfingers · 02/06/2024 08:01

DS 12 has a lovely little bestie. They have been best friends for around 4 years and hang around a bit either here, in his house or the local park, hes here maybe 2-3 times a week max.

Now they're older they stay out later, so either here, at his or out til about 7pm. If they come here it's usually til around 6pmish then they go out for an hour.

DP and I both work FT. He gets in around 6pm some days.

A few times in the past I'd get a message saying he'll "pre warn" me when he's on his way so I can shoo DS friend home because he's "been working and won't come home to DS pal here" Each time I usually reply with a breezy "don't worry they are both in his bedroom hanging out" and that used to end the madness, but lately his messages are getting more demanding and argumentative. Apparently its not normal for kids to be at each others houses all the time - its 3 times a week at most for a couple of hours? He's also started hinting that I'm acting strange by wanting his friend here all the time (I dont? It's for DS!)

I get it, I like my peace, and his pal is very comfortable here 😬 he'll just wander in to the kitchen and grab an apple or drink without asking but meh, I secretly think it's pretty cool that he's so comfortable here and there's no issues re: the extra food he eats, it's not a lot and he is very polite. But DP says he doesnt want him even if they are upstairs bothering no one.

DC aren't allowed sleepovers etc because DP doesn't like it, he also doesn't like them playing in the garden, so I feel if I let him stop letting them have pals around to chill they won't have much left they can do!

Who's the odd one here? I think it's totally normal for pals to go to each others houses while parents are in, he thinks this isnt usual, I'm the weird one, and the kid should leave at 5pm before he comes home.

If its not me who's being strange how do I handle this? I'm so tempted to just reply with "no" and not engage next time I receive my pre warning message.

OP posts:
rainbowstardrops · 02/06/2024 08:46

I agree that your partner sounds like a miserable prat but I'm not sure I'd want another child in the house when I've been at work all day and am tired. Especially 2-3 times a week. Does the friend have dinner at yours too?
Having said that, it's lovely that your DS has a friend and actually goes out with his friend and it's not like you've got screeching five year olds running around the house! Would your partner prefer him to have no friends and just sit in front of a screen the whole time?

SirChenjins · 02/06/2024 08:47

My dad was exactly like this - he used to hate it when my friends came over and as we got older he would be downright rude to them, leaving them in doubt they weren’t welcome. It was mortifying and I hated him for him. He was a controlling man who made our lives very unpleasant and I wish my mum had shown him the door so we could have had a nice, peaceful family life. The anxiety that this created in me is something I carry with me decades later.

I would urge you not to give into this demand OP and be very aware of it extending into other areas of your life as your DP gets older.

PermanentTemporary · 02/06/2024 08:47

Bloody hell. Having a friend like this is absolute life goals for us parents of onlies. Presumably you have patches of time when ds is over at his friends' place and you're child free?? Even if you don't get that, your ds needs his friend.

I'm going to say your dp is 100% in the wrong in parenting terms and this needs sorting. (You're son's not allowed in the garden? Wtf?)

BUT he's not actually morally wrong to want peace and quiet and not to want other children around after work. I mean, it's an unpleasant, unattractive, cats-bum-mouthed characteristic that would make my vagina clamp shut, but it's not wrong. Here's the thing though, he has a son who lives with him and he needs to put being a good dad higher up the agenda than his own comfort.

I think you need to have a major discussion with your dp, and also you need to stop preventing your child from doing normal thing like having a drink downstairs or having loud fun with his friends in his own home and garden. If your dp needs to take up fishing, or would benefit from noise-cancelling headphones or something, fine (although watch out for him being a selfish idiot who thinks it's OK to wear noise cancelling headphones when he's in sole charge of two children).

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PaminaMozart · 02/06/2024 08:48

AnnaMagnani · 02/06/2024 08:04

Your DP is weird and controlling.

Hanging out with friends, playing in the garden and having sleepovers is all a normal part of childhood.

This.

DC aren't allowed sleepovers etc because DP doesn't like it, he also doesn't like them playing in the garden, so I feel if I let him stop letting them have pals around to chill they won't have much left they can do!

He is controlling. Can you envisage your life without him?

Morechocmorechoc · 02/06/2024 08:49

This is really sad. You're actively allowing someone to stop your kids play outside, I mean wtf. Tell your dp to stop being a dick, doesn't matter if dad or not.

haveatye · 02/06/2024 08:49

He needs a wake up call on what older children are like. They want to be with friends. It's a natural thing and will increase through teenage.

Possiblyfamous · 02/06/2024 08:50

I wonder what your husband’s childhood was like. Was he lonely? Perhaps there is an unacknowledged jealousy seeing his son enjoying a happy, loved childhood.

pinkfondu · 02/06/2024 08:50

Did he grown up playing round peoples houses or just outside?

PoochiesPinkEars · 02/06/2024 08:51

@PermanentTemporary 👌

Yozzer87 · 02/06/2024 08:51

I'm with the husband on this. You can't relax properly when there's another child in the house, 3 times a week is a bit much and if they've been there all day there's no need for them to be there in the evening too.

QuillBill · 02/06/2024 08:52

I agree that your dh is out of order. However I'd put a stop to the helping yourself from the kitchen thing as I think a lot of people would find that irritating.

Either tell them both to stop it or provide specific food for them. Eg ramen for when they come home from school and popcorn for snacks.

LivingOnAPear · 02/06/2024 08:53

I’d love my DDs to have friends like this when they are older. He should be happy that he has a good friend and has that support. It’s also ridiculous that kids aren’t allowed in the garden as he wants to secretly smoke. Can’t he just go for a walk around the block.

AliceInWonderlost · 02/06/2024 08:53

You've posted about your husband before - just take the advice that was given then. Your husband is pathetic and it'll only stop when you make it stop

MrJollyLivesNextDoor · 02/06/2024 08:54

OdeToBarney · 02/06/2024 08:44

My dad was like this. I hated it. Tell your DH this is a sure fire way for your kid to resent him.

Same here

As a result I spent as much time as I possibly could away from the house, over at friends houses, anywhere just to not be around him. Stopped having friends over as it was too stressful.

We had no relationship whatsoever once I became an adult because he couldn't control me - I could see what he was doing and wasn't going to comply. Therefore I was a 'difficult teen'!
Yes so difficult that I started working in a chartered accountants at 17, gives you an idea of how wayward I was 🤣

I moved out at 18 to live with a very unsuitable partner but I just needed to get away.

I always resented my mother for not standing up to him and was delighted when they got divorced when I was 20. Your comment about hovering upstairs to mitigate things absolutely reminds me of how my mother used to act.
My relationship with her is ok but never really recovered from those years tbh.

Be careful how you deal with this. Please stop pandering to him.

On the days when the friend is not there does he spend time with your DS, doing things together, helping him with homework, hanging out, kicking a ball around etc? I'm suspecting not tbh

NoraLuka · 02/06/2024 08:55

My Dad was like this so by the time I was a teenager I just didn’t invite anyone round. I still feel more comfortable seeing people in coffee shops and things than at home even now years later! Maybe try and find a compromise, if 3 times a week is too much would twice be ok?

crumblingschools · 02/06/2024 08:55

Do you have other DC @Deathfingers

TrudyMonk · 02/06/2024 08:55

He's being unreasonable.
I'm a bit of an introvert and sometimes when my social battery is drained my heart sinks a little when DC ask for friends round but I suck it up and put my best smiley Mum face on, because it's not my DC's problem.
DH works long days and likes a bit of quiet time to help him switch out of work mode, if the house is busy he'll take himself off for a walk or sit outside/upstairs for half an hour.

MWNA · 02/06/2024 08:58

CandiedPrincess · 02/06/2024 08:18

Got to be honest, I don't want other people's kids in my house when I've been working all day either. Once a week, maybe. 2-3 times a week not a chance.

I feel the same. I work very hard. My home is my sanctuary when my work day is over. I can't achieve that feeling if there's a guest there.

CuttingMeOpenthenHealingMeFine · 02/06/2024 09:00

This is a weird one, my Dad was so grumpy when I was little and I often heard the ‘I’ve been working all day’ line when we did something that annoyed him but he was always fine with our friends being over. I think you just need to put your foot down to be honest it is your sons home too and he has a right to have his friend there.

I would love for my DC to have this kind of friendship.

Beautifulbythebay · 02/06/2024 09:02

Ime he should be grateful ds wants his mate at home. In 5 years you will be wishing he was still in and you know what he's up to. Your dp needs a shake... Or ds will be leaving home at 16 and not looking back..

somethingwickedlivesnextdoor · 02/06/2024 09:02

Your h is totally in the wrong. He doesn't let the kids have sleepovers or play in the garden?? That's really weird. Your poor kids. You need to stand up for them right now and say they can have sleepovers and play in the garden. Where will it end otherwise?

ManchesterGirl2 · 02/06/2024 09:02

He didn't let them play on the garden? Wow what a kill joy.

He sounds controlling and unpleasant.

TheDuck2018 · 02/06/2024 09:04

Some of the replies on here.....how do you 'prepare mentally for another child being in the house'???? and why would you have to, genuinely don't understand how kids playing together nicely is such a big deal?
Surely seeing your child having friends and enjoying himself is what you aim for, especially as the friendship and the bring in each others houses is reciprocal?

I might be biased though as ds had friends round all the time, or he was round theirs, I just used to buy packets of cheap biscuits and bottles of squash and they'd help themselves if they got hungry, I loved having them round.
They're all grown up now with families of their own and they still give me a hug and chat when they see me, and ds is still really close mates with them.

Carry on as you are, op, your DH is being really weird and controlling!

LaPalmaLlama · 02/06/2024 09:04

Honestly I don’t love having other kids in the house ( I have weird anxiety that either the kids will think I’m super strict and square or their parents will think I’m too relaxed- I know this is my issue). But, that’s kind of part of being a parent so obviously I do allow and even encourage it ( although I do sometimes say “ oh what a nice day- why don’t you go to the beach?” 🤣. Secondary age kids want to have friends over and that’s just life. So long as they’re not being super noisy and actively not letting him relax I think YANBU. The garden thing is ridiculous.

crumblingschools · 02/06/2024 09:04

What’s the point in having a garden when you have DC if you don’t let them play in it?