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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that just putting cbeebies on is rubbish parenting

158 replies

ditziness · 23/10/2011 13:42

I've been ill this weekend, so was in bed all yesterday. DH was looking after DS (2.5) . Cbeebies on all day, DH playing computer games on his phone. I asked at lunchtime if he was going to take him out or do anything, but no, apparently he works all week so too tired to go out and do anything and ds asked for the telly on. Apparently I can get stuffed for interfering in what he's deciding to do if I'm not looking after him too.

Got to about 4 pm when I eventually persuaded him to take him to the local park for half an hour. It pisses me off as I spend all week taking ds places, giving him fresh air, excersuze, friends and fun, and if we are in the house then playing with him, reading to him. The telly rarely goes on, as I just don't think it's necessary so young and I want him to know that there's more to life than tv. (not that he never watches it atall, that's a bit dogmatic and unrealistic IMO).

I'm fed up that I can't be ill for a day, and expect his father to look after him properly and interact and go out with him. It's always the same, whenever DH looks after him he's always stuck infront of the telly all day.

Am I?

OP posts:
ditziness · 24/10/2011 09:13

Yeah I guess you're right, I was asleep so he could have been playing too.

I guess that dh did feel judged. And that is probably accurate as I do get fed up that he doesn't put any effort or thought into looking after him on the occasions he has to. For instance another thing that annoys me, is that dh will come home from work at night in time to bath ds. And that's good, that's the only time he spends with him during weekdays. So it annoys me that he just sits on the toilet and plays his phone while ds plays in the bath rather than interacting with him. Ho hum. Need to talk about it properly obviously.

OP posts:
fastweb · 24/10/2011 09:15

As if mothers, throughout history, haven't had to just get on with it without being allowed such excuse

Becuase of course the fairer sex have never had to take their time in terms of the gear change from non parent to parent. Even when their gear change is one of all day, everyday, rather than fits and starts. With somebody poking their head in now and then to critise.

This doesn't necessarily have everything to do with being be-penised or not, possibly more to do with being very unused to taking charge of resident smallie, and when not being in charge feeling like a spare wheel that can't live up to the expertise of the primary carer so withdraws from active duty.

Dad care might not look like mum care if reading widower's blog are anything to go by, but given the chance to create a habit, without "constuctive critisim" lurking behind a door most men are more than able toick up the reins and run with, once they've cut their teeth and got round what looks like onerous logistics to the uninitiated.

And it is his child too.

If mums want dads to be more involved they can't retain the control and say how the care should be coloured (bar neglect and dangerous things), cos tjat is cake and eat it. You are just as much a parent as me but thou shalt do it my way, sort of thing.

The dads have to carve out their own priorities, get used to doing stuff (like showers) whilst being in sole charge (that one really stumped me once DS got mobile), work out what works and what doesn't. None of which is going to happen unless they are allowed to get with their learning curve without somebody jarrying them saying "hurry up' and be a carbon copy of me while you are at it".

My DH didn't pick up his game till I stopped poking my nose in. and he had the advanatage of doing it all day, everyday not here and there.

For all my hand waving, chastisment and worry that Monsters Inc twice a day was going to rot both their brains for that period when DH was peimary carer in the day, almost a decade on they have a hugely close relationship, do all sorts of outdoorsy sporty stuff together and quite frankly
eave me out much of the time.

Niether of them have turned into drooling braindead persons glued to the telly either.

Give the guy a break, he sounds willing, let him work it out, don't make him feel inadequate or undermined with constuctive critism, make it a more regular event so he gets the practice which helps create a sense of familiarity with the logistics, stand back and watch him BE the equally responsible parent he is, in his own style, rather than just using the term in an accusatory fashion.

Then whinge like hell when you get your nose put of joint cos Daddy is the most favoritest person in the whole wide world Grin

Bit the above is far easier to say than do. God knows I used to stalk in and start huffily dressing DS in actual clothes, switch off the telly and ostentaciously make him finger paint to prove a point.

With much dark muttering about lazy arsed fathers who I couldn't trust with the mental stimulation of a cat let alone my PFB.

banana87 · 24/10/2011 09:15

YABU.

porcamiseria · 24/10/2011 09:19

OP I think you need to have a gentle chat with him. I am sure he loves your DS. Dont have the chat when you are angry, and try and praise when he does to 1-1 stuff with him, ie point out how much DS loves soending time with Daddy etc

He may genuinely not realise how he is depriving himself and his son of lovely time together

ditziness · 24/10/2011 09:20

Fast web that's all very interesting and good food for thought. Thank you for taking the tome to write that. This is why I like mumsnet/aibu, for gems of experience like yours that shine a light into the frustrations and pitfalls of relationships and parenting. Thanks everyone again.

OP posts:
ditziness · 24/10/2011 09:22

Yeah Lorca, he totally loves him and he's a lovely lovely man ( iPhone addiction excepted) . It's just learning eh? Thanks x

OP posts:
bugster · 24/10/2011 09:25

It sou ds as if the DH has a serious iphone addiction. I would be worried about that

fastweb · 24/10/2011 09:40

he frustrations and pitfalls of relationships and parenting

Ah those are always there, no matter what you do. Grin

It's all very well have an equally involved spouse, but it stings massively when your son is in floods over SuperSic, the first hero of his to die, and he practically knocks you over in his rush to get to his dad for comfort and comprehension.

And he is probably right to have done so. DH gets how he feels, heart and soul, whereas as sad as I am I'd probably try to work in some dire warnings about motorbikes and utterly hit the wrong note.

There really is no perfect path that suit everybody all of the time. You just have to remeber the swings and roundabouts more or less even out (probably) over the parental, life long marathon.

But I reserve the right to whinge regardless.

ditziness · 24/10/2011 10:00

Me too.

And yes. Fucking I phones! Hates them I do!

OP posts:
ragged · 24/10/2011 10:19

I would be very disappointed too, OP.
And I am totally into putting on telly to doss on MN & eat in peace & potter around grab a few hours peace. But all day? So he can doss to play games all that time? :( :(

chippy47 · 24/10/2011 16:20

Surprised at the number of apologists on this thread.

scotchmeg · 24/10/2011 16:24

It was from 11am until 4.30pm... with a nap inbetween for an undisclosed length of time. Are you lot all saying that you have neer spent that length of time letting your toddler just potter about with the TV on...?
The number of posts on MN would suggest that is not true.

bugster · 24/10/2011 16:39

scotchmeg yes I can honestly say the TV has never been on for that length of time in my house, nor do I ever intend for it to be. At that age the maximum per day for my DCs was about 20 mins, with a few very rare exceptions. None at all would be better as far as I'm concerned.

ditziness · 24/10/2011 16:40

Yes I've never done that. Apart from maybe when I've been poorly and not had childcare. But even then not all day.

Personally I think telly is not good for toddlers, intact I think it's nit that good for anyone unless in moderation. Same for Internet and games etc.

Do I have alot of posts then? I try to use internet in moderation so didn't think I dud.

OP posts:
stealthsquiggle · 24/10/2011 16:51

It does depend on the child, to some extent - in my case, DC1 "zones out" entirely in front of the TV and I would not have been at all happy about it being on all day. DC2 drops in and out, sings along/interacts, and will amuse herself with other things while "watching" - so it is more background noise and I wouldn't be worried about it being on all day.

TBH, neither DC has undivided parental attention very often (2 FT working parents) but they seem to survive Blush.

scotchmeg · 24/10/2011 17:29

I wasn't referring to the number of your posts ditziness sorry. I was just making the point that so many people seem horrified by what you're DH did and I don't beelive that most people can say they have never done this.

It wasn't all day. How long was his nap?

I understand what stealth is saying. My DD has a TV day about once every 6 weeks. It could be on from mid morning until mid afternoon with a break in the middle to sit up to the table for lunch. She doesn't sit transfixed at all, she usually has her colouring books out, or dolls, or she plays with her jewellery, occassionally zoning in if there's a program she really likes. Some may ask why bother to have it on if she isn't paying a lot of attention but if I'm having a day where i can't give her my undivided attention then the TV is a comforting noise for her I think and stops her coming to me every 5 seconds. If my DH dared to critisize my choice to do this on that day I'd be pretty peeved.

I used to watch TV for whole days for whole holiday periods when I was a kid and I have a double degree, a great career and massively full social life - I think I turned out alright without endless trips out and helicoptering Grin

scotchmeg · 24/10/2011 17:30

But yes, I have a friend who's son zones out in front of the TV. If my DD was like that she'd have a maximum of 20 minutes a day.

Oblomov · 25/10/2011 10:50

Just becasue OP likes to 'get out' every day, to meet freinds/ on her bike/to the park/to the sea etc, not everyone wants to do that.
Quite frankly, her 'schedule' that she subjects her ds to. sound quite exhausting.
I really like being at home. Potter around. Put a load of washing on. Kids watching tv/or just playing. Then I send them out to bounce on the trampoline. Read a book with them. Before you know it, its time to make dinner, and then dh is home from work.
Where's the need to constantly go out every day? Its not an obligation !!

BsshBossh · 25/10/2011 13:19

scotchmeg, yes I've never left the TV on for that length of time, not even when DD is ill. I think it's because we as a family don't do it. I hate having the TV on as background - not because I'm against it as such but because it irritates me. My DD (3) can play with the TV on, of course, but I have noticed that in the middle of a game she'll run to the TV if she hears something on it that catches her attention. So it's off unless it's to specifically watch a programme. Same with me, same with DH.

scotchmeg · 25/10/2011 14:06

We're the same bsshbossh DH and I rarely watch the TV, really only if there a film on film 4 or if we've bought one Ondemand. I do also have a guilty plesure of The Only Way Is Essex Blush
But then again, I have better things to be doing (work, housework, cooking, reading, studying, accounts) and it's my choice. If DD chooses to watch Cbeebies then that's her choice.

ASByatt · 25/10/2011 14:17

Oblomov 'Just becasue OP likes to 'get out' every day, to meet freinds/ on her bike/to the park/to the sea etc, not everyone wants to do that.
Quite frankly, her 'schedule' that she subjects her ds to. sound quite exhausting'

This is a 2.5 DS. Surely, he needs lots of fresh air and exercise???

scotchmeg · 25/10/2011 14:46

I think the point is this... we all have different ideas about how much TV is suitable for our kids. Some of us like them to have a busy scheduale of trips out, some prefer to stay in. It's our right, as parents, to choose as long as we are not neglecting our children.

OP's OH has as much right to parent in the way he chooses as she does, without critsism.

Amateurish · 25/10/2011 14:59

YANBU your dh should get off his arse and spent quality time with your ds. Sitting ds in front of cbeebies all day and playing on his smart phone is not good parenting. It's a shame he didn't take the opportunity to have quality father / son bonding time.

ASByatt · 25/10/2011 15:02

scotchmeg - but is sitting a toddler in front of the tv whlst you play on your iphone actually parenting? - of course for a wee while, no problem, but this sounds like the OP's DH's default setting for how to parent.

scotchmeg · 25/10/2011 15:33

If it is a regular occurence then no it isn't parenting. But I don't think there's any evidence to say that it is.
We don't need to be "parenting" at all times do we?

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