,,to be MIGHTILY PISSED OFF at having my language corrected by a six year old?

[worriermum]

Some background for the Mumsnet Court:

Said six year old is staying at me for three days while his Mum is away. Has many sweet sides sides to him but also has an ability to get Right Up One's Nose. He managed to wind DH up within ten minutes of coming to say. Anyway, I have been a model of patience and good behaviour.

But today, I commented about another child that "she's a helluva sweet kid". To which the six year old friend - lets call him Fred - says "Ah Worriermum, when you say someone is nice try not to say the h word". I had no idea what he was talking about. So he explained.."you said she is HELL of a nice". Aaaa - am getting irritated all over again as I type this. Sorry, but "hell" does not offend me, unlike the persistently racist terms used by his parents! Secondly, Fred is the ONLY child I have ever heard scream "...my fucking programme" in a temper (at his older brother) so I am certainly not about to take lessons in language from him. And finally, even if I was turning the air blue, swearing and blaspheming...IT IS NOT A SIX YEAR OLD'S PLACE TO CORRECT ME!!! It is obnoxious in the extreme.

So I snapped at him "Fred I think you should worry about your own language and leave me to worry about mine!". Yes, I know it was reactive and a tad immature and that I am the grownup but...AARGH.

So tell me Mumsnet, what do you think? And what should I have done?

(this post should come with a warning: OP IS NEITHER RATIONAL, CALM OR OPEN TO REASON RIGHT NOW. Post if you dare...[please..!])

I think you need to unclench. He's six.

I'm 30. Do you want to redirect your ire at me?

YABU [ducking as I type]. He's six, they're all lairy at that age! They can seek out your one weak point and exploit in in moments. And, (aww!) his mum's away, and you said he's got lots of positive points.... go give 'im a hug! [runs for cover]

I would have said "Fred, in this house children do not tell grown-ups what to do" and then changed the subject.

I would also not talk about children in front of other children, even positively... they can remember/repeat things at the worst moments, often inaccurately!

Mmm, maybe have been cute if your own kid said it to you.....highly irritating if someone elses, lol

And unclenchhhhhh.......

Meh, 6 year ols are orrid. T'is the law

and I would have a glass of tonight when the smartarsed brat dear little fellow is in bed

My 6 year old tells me not to say God. My 3 year old told me that we can't use the word "stupid". I tell them not to say all sorts of things.

I think YABU. However, it is NBU to gently tell him that he shouldn't be correcting grownups. And I think that is he does say fucking etc again, I would have very strong words with him.

PS Agree re the

Well it would be pretty irritating to have a six year old correcting you - especially if his own language leaves a lot to be desired.
My parents drummed it into us never to correct adults (or pass remarks about people, or refuse to eat things in other peoples houses ....... etc. etc.) so that would not sit well with me either. But times have changed and I think children are more vocal nowadays. And of course that is good in many ways - but not so good in others. Precocious children aren't always very endearing are they?
I would have said something like "It's not very polite for children to correct grown-ups Fred"

YABU. DH has a strong London accent and is forever being corrected by dd1. I am also a Londoner and was corrected by ds's friend, age 6, for saying "f'lup" instead of "full up"

Agree re the I can't stand obnoxious kids - gets right up my left nostril.

As he is staying (and not just visiting) I would have been very careful to be nice to him but I would have told him very clearly that a) it is not a childs place to correct an adult and b) it is my house and in my house I can say what I please and that children are not allowed to say fucking.

Little snot.

I would have probably said 'Who do you think you are talking to young man'?.... it just kind of slips out all by itself

Op you'd love my 3yo. DH was muttering last night about the armchairs being too big for our house. DD piped up 'it's perspective daddy, perhaps you should try standing further away'.

Shall I send her round? By the time she's 6 she'll be correcting glottal stops and apostrophe misuse. She's my greatest weapon.

oh alRIGHT, ALRIGHT!!!!!! In about twenty minutes time I wil recognise that you are all wise, sane and .... right. But right now - EFFING RUDE LITTLE UPSTART.

[Worriermum lobs ashtray at Camel, misses her as she ducks, and swivels to look for Show of Hands...]

Sorry, I have to take his side because you said "helluva".

And hypothetically, if you were "turning the air blue"-why shouldn´t a child say something?

He's 6, he has time to change.

I bet his parents think it's cute though. I know a whole family who are into correcting each other and falls out onto the kids correcting other people.

As a kid I was pretty offended, as an adult I tell them to sod off, and that if they don't like they way I speak don't bother talking to me!

They do still visit and invite me round, but with less corrections.

fewer

sod off

YANBU. My 5 year old corrects me all the time which makes me and then I indulge in a little tit for tat pedant fest with him. BUT if another child did the same I would want to rip his teeny tiny head off

In actual fact you should be the adult and say what wellwisher said!

That was close! - are you feeling better now you've chucked something? Gotta luv 'em, or should I say, more correctly, 'you have to love them'!

I adore the perspective response from your daughter, ShowOfHands. I'll be chuckling about that all day.

My 3 year old corrected my English the other day!

Just ignore

At least you managed not to tell him that he shouldn't tell you what you can or can't fecking say.

you could have told him to fuck off

but yes, you just have to suck it up and count the days until he goes home.

YANBU... I can't stand cocky kids either. "I'm not particularly interested in your opinion" is my stock answer to irritating little know-it-alls.