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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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to be upset that parents have complained about my daughter?

393 replies

thereslovely · 17/07/2012 17:58

A group of parents in my 7 year old adopted daughter's school have complained to the school about her behaviour towards their little darlings. Fair enough she can be difficult (emotional, behavioural needs) but is also really sweet and lovable and can't help herself because of her start in life (attachment disorder.) Apparently the parents have been phoning each other up - the class teacher didn't even approve of their behaviour. My dd was not invited to the latest party (even though the little boy came to hers) and the other children in the class took their party clothes to school to change into. My daughter came out of school saying the little boy forgot to put her on his list but that she could still go (I know she was deliberately not invited because the mum is the ringleader of the group of parents.) I feel like having a word with the parents. I don't know if they know that my daughter is adopted and I feel like shaming them by telling them about her awful start in life. I wouldn't because it's her personal life story but what should I say? When I think of my little girl being excluded from parties, tears come to my eyes. I'm sure I couldn't do that to any child, whatever their behaviour was like.

OP posts:
KenLeeeeeee · 18/07/2012 14:28

I know absolutely nothing about Attachment Disorder, but from what I've gleamed from reading this thread it sounds like this poor little girl has had a hell of an introduction to life and cannot possibly be expected to process social interactions in the same way that most 7 year olds would. Expecting her to understand that x behaviour leads to exclusion from parties etc., and that therefore she should change her behaviour - c'mon, MOST 7 year olds would struggle to make that link, never mind one who has been through some form of trauma.

OP, if you're still reading, I think the most proactive thing you could do would be to start befriending the parents maybe one at a time. Play dates, general chatting, building up some familiarity so that at least there isn't a "me and them" feeling between you. I would also keep close contact with the teacher and get as much information out of her as you can about any incidents in school.

I hope your dd is ok and you find something nice to do together instead of the party.

saintlyjimjams · 18/07/2012 15:03

Of course in some cases you define a person by their disability. My severely autistic son will always be severely autistic, and a lot of his behaviour will be defined in those terms. He won't magically talk/be able to wait/no longer ge autistic just because he's older.

BridgetBidet · 18/07/2012 15:14

The teacher has dealt with it extremely badly and insensitivley. She has inflamed the situation by telling the OP about things such as the phone calls, the number of parents who have complained etc, etc.

If there is a problem she should have dealth with it with it privately with the OP rather than tittle tattling about other parents. All she seems to have done is upset the and ignored the other parents concerns which has achieved nothing.

TheGrandOldDuke · 18/07/2012 15:26

Apologies to those I have antagonised. I didn't mean to be rude, I was trying to say we should still expect the best from our children and drive them to do so.

Yes things like dyslexia will always be there, but the support that my parents always gave my sister (severely dyslexic) meant she has just got a double first from Oxford. Some of the teachers tried to write her off, but my parents never let her use it as an excuse for not doing her homework on time, not reading the texts etc.

I worry that as adults we don't give children credit for how adaptable and resilient they are (and of course proper support is required), I think that sometimes children can almost be written off, or given labels that can be very difficult for adults to stop using, even when the child has outgrown them.

saintlyjimjams · 18/07/2012 15:34

Well child has to outgrow them first. It would be unhelpful in the extreme tk remove my son's talker because at 13 he's old enough to be able to speak. Or suddenly expect him to be able to go to pizza hut and just behave conventionally or appropriately. He can't do it now and pretending his condition doesn't exist would make it harder for him to achieve anything at all. He will still need 24 hour support as an adult - however unpalatable that may be - it's just being realistic.

Likewise with an attachment disorder you have to keep that in mind when dealing with the behaviours or you cannot provide appropriate support and everything unravels.

FallenCaryatid · 18/07/2012 15:54

My son's dx is an explanation for some of his needs and behaviours, a key.
By understanding it and what it means for him, he is able to develop his independence and formulate strategies that enable him to do his best.
Having a label doesn't limit him in his own mind, or with those who know him, or with the unjudgemental.
I'm glad that your sister was appropriately supported by your parents, GrandOldDuke, but that was presumably because they understood what the issues were and helped her to overcome them. They didn't just stand there yelling
'FFS just read it and stop arsing around pretending you can't' I also wonder if your sister became frustrated because of her disability and did that show up in her behaviour?
My son at 17 is a very different person to the one he was at 7, because of the dx and the identification and meeting of his needs by everyone involved. Including him.

FallenCaryatid · 18/07/2012 15:56

'Well child has to outgrow them first. It would be unhelpful in the extreme tk remove my son's talker because at 13 he's old enough to be able to speak. Or suddenly expect him to be able to go to pizza hut and just behave conventionally or appropriately. '

I used a similar analogy a few months back about my dad's diabetes. Oh yes, let's forget the diet and the insulin, he's managing so well I'm sure he doesn't need them any more...'

sharklet · 18/07/2012 16:23

Reading back over what has been said, it does seem that the teacher's words and actions are doing nothing to foster a good environment for any of the children. The way she has talked about the parents talking about OP's DD is neither helpful nor constructive. It could easily be construed as them "parent bullying" but just as easily it could be parents validly raising concerns and making sure they are not complaining for no good reason. There was no reason for the Teacher to highlight his in such a way.

I do thing you need to find a way to get something out in the open with the other parents, open some channels of communication. This does not have to be divulging your DD's history. Simply making it easier for other parents to approach you.

The other thing is chatting to the head and discussing what can be done to support a better structure to your DD's and the other kids needs in the classroom and school community. This needs to be addressed to make all the children's lives easier.

DontEatTheVolesKids · 18/07/2012 16:46

But OP has hardly said anything!

FrankieAndArthur · 18/07/2012 16:58

I agree that nomorethantwo's post was brilliant and that hat kind of teaching is reassuring.

Of course another child's problems aren't actually 'ours' to deal with. But what an isolating way of raising children, because what them if it is your child that needs support.

Are you then left to deal with the 'difficult' child because adults are shunning you?

DS has been through a lot and I have always spoken to the parents, given the other child the opportunity to put their side of the story across because I am realistic about DS, and the only child we had continued problems with, to the point where DS refuses to have anything to do with him to this day was where the Mother refused to acknowledge her DS's issues, and that was with school back up that this lad had attacked DS.

We do our children a disservice by not acknowledging their 'faults' because they will only generally reinforce themselves as they get older, but any child in my own DC's life will be given the chance to iron out their creases as far as I am concerned, and I have every respect for parents who have extended my DS the same courtesy.

They are children, not social pariahs.

Given the nature of schooling these days, I do think that there is room for the teachers to extend care for children's well being into the classroom and play ground.

To me, that is what 'society' should be about. So that the OP's little girl grows up learning social boundaries in a constructive way that doesn't compound her issues, and that other children learn to have understanding and tolerance.

I agree that on reflection, a different school might be the key OP. My DD changed schools to one that shares the Ethos of notmorethantwo's post and she is learning to deal with her own social 'clunkiness'.

QuickLookBusy · 18/07/2012 17:18

Fantastic post frankieandarthur

FrankieAndArthur · 18/07/2012 17:46

Blush thank you Quick.

mathanxiety · 18/07/2012 18:03

I agree wholeheartedly with Nomorethan2's post of 10:38:51 wrt the contribution of the teacher and the suggestion that sussing out another school might be the answer in the long run.

mathanxiety · 18/07/2012 18:04

(posted too soon )As well as dealing proactively with the child's problems and not relying on inclusive attitudes on the part of others.

TheEnthusiasticTroll · 18/07/2012 18:25

a child does not out grow attachment disorders, unfortunatly the effects of neglect remain with them for life. A child would have to be adopted from a very young babay of just months old for the damage to development to be possibly reversable. The effects are not just social but they are biological, where brain development is affected. so a child can not just simply get over the lasting effects with a new loving home etc.

TheLightPassenger · 18/07/2012 18:31

great constructive post, Frankie.

Youngmomkk · 26/10/2017 01:54

I think a lot of you missed the point of where she has said the child had attended dds party but then didn't invite dd to his. Surely if the parents thought it was unsafe for her to attend his they would of not sent him to hers, sounds like snobbish parent to me, every school has them, I can assure you your not alone sometimes good kids act out for attention or whatever the reason aslong as they have a loving home your teaching them wrong for right and they're behaviour isn't bad enough for the teacher to step in and say something then (I know it's hard but try not too worry too much)

Notanumberuser · 26/10/2017 01:56

Zombie thread.

Redglitter · 26/10/2017 02:06

Seriously how do people find these threads to.resurrect them

viques · 26/10/2017 02:09

Well, it is nearly Halloween, I suppose it's the season for them. Halloween Grin

InsomniacAnonymous · 26/10/2017 02:39

Youngmomkk What on earth was the point of resurrecting a 5 year old thread?

WitchBitchHarpyTerfThatsMe · 26/10/2017 02:51

OP can i suggest you move this to the Adoption board where you'll get a more sensitive and understanding audience

huha · 26/10/2017 02:52

Please do not use your daughters diagnosis as an excuse for poor Behaviour. Fair enough if she has attachment disorder, however it doesn’t condone her Behaviour. Is she being supported in school op? She should be getting support especially during lunch time play to learn how to socialize and interact in addition to 1:1 support to teach conflict resolution strategies. Unfortunately, at this age, a natural consequence for her Behaviour will be to get left out. It’s life, unfortunately.

InsomniacAnonymous · 26/10/2017 02:55

ZOMBIE!

ovenchips · 26/10/2017 02:57

Aaaargh. This thread began in 2012. Why on earth restart it?!

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