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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think that if people didn't pay their kids so much attention...

128 replies

nenevomito · 24/07/2013 14:27

Children would be more independent and adventurous, and, more to the point, that the evil tortured genius to bland boring average child ratio would benefit greatly.

I mean, come on! How is your child ever going to get to where they can buy their own volcanic island staffed with pliant henchmen if you spend your whole days baking fucking cupcakes with them?

Never. They will grow up, buy a semi, drive a Prius and worry about the food miles generated by their cucumbers.

Seriously, just gnore them for a few hours and do your bit to push them to wards evil greatness.

At the very least bake EVIL cupcakes.

OP posts:

pollywollydoodle · 27/07/2013 17:47

pink ones

Tee2072 · 27/07/2013 17:47

Yes, what fuzz said!

Original poster

nenevomito · 27/07/2013 17:51

Resilient children who make disgusting cakes. Brilliant.

OP posts:

QueenMaeve · 27/07/2013 18:02

Yanbu. I try to engage with mine as little as possible

Parmarella · 27/07/2013 18:09

I lefty kids in the woods to beat up some bits of junk with sticks, they also called themselves kings of nature and tried to catch pigeons.

Then, after a few hours I found them huddled in the car with the i- pad....

At least they have the seeds of evil genii sown... The pigeons were well scared

Parmarella · 27/07/2013 18:10

Is the plural of genius genii or am I mad btw?

YoniBottsBumgina · 27/07/2013 18:15

Google tells me that genii is the plural form of the latin genius, but when anglicised it is actually geniuses.

We have tried to rescue a bee today (I suspect it was already dead) and DS is running around in shorts (no pants, as he whispered in my ear when the tesco man was here), socks, my nail varnish and my sunglasses.

He also cut a chunk out of his hair this morning. That counts as an educational and sensory experience, right?? DP told me I should have hidden the scissors...

Lifeisontheup · 27/07/2013 18:19

I have just dug out a photo of DS sans pants standing prodding his 3 day old younger brother. Both survived the experience and are now 17 and 19. Benign neglect appears to have suited them well.

I am going to show said photo to his girlfriend who is coming to stay for the first time next week.

I am the only evil genius in this family.

MrsFruitcake · 27/07/2013 18:20

I did let mine get on with it today - for two minutes on the swings whilst I was on the phone and DS (age 5) fell in the rivery/pond type thing at the pub we'd stopped at for a lime and soda.

Saw him go in, dropped phone mid sentence, sprinted in the matter of Bolt and by the time I got to him (about 30 seconds) he'd pulled himself out (water in fact was only knee deep but I didn't know that as it was a bit weedy) and was crying because he thought I'd be angry he'd gotten wet.

I responded to the sight of him healthy, breathing and standing there with a gobsmacked DD (9) by calling him a little shit, which did little to ingratiate myself to the many people sitting nearby enjoying their lunch and who saw him go in, but did sod all to help. I shook all the way back to the car to strip him off and promptly burst into tears.

Not sure I'll be letting them get on with it for a little while now TBH.

MrsFruitcake · 27/07/2013 18:21

Sorry, meant manner.

MrsMook · 27/07/2013 18:29

Alas DS2 missed out on the honour of being the youngest in the District to go away on a residential. While he was on Pack Holiday at 6wks old, he was being trumped by a 5wk old baby on Guide Camp. They were actually due one day after the other! We went on a District Pack Holiday together at 7mths pg and were both very bumpy. The medicine cabinet struggled with two sets of maternity notes. At least we'd both had tetenus jabs the previous day.

DS1 was on Guide Camp when DS2 was born. He was having great fun kicking a pile of snow until Daddy pooped the party and took him off early to meet this baby brother thing.

TerraNotSoFirma · 27/07/2013 18:44

Totally agree.
DS is in the garden wearing a nappy and sun cream.
DD is........somewhere?

MoominsYonisAreScary · 27/07/2013 18:53

Ds3 2.4 did a wee on 6 month old ds4 this afternoon

countingmyblessings · 27/07/2013 18:55

Yanbu. My friend's dc can not play on her own. My dc has way more imagination imo because he's been allowed to play on his own/with his db & not have me or dh hanging over him/them all the bloody time.

gintastic · 27/07/2013 19:01

We are definitely into benign parenting here. Took stabilisers off DD's bike a couple of months ago and left her to it. Yesterday went to the park with some friends - she borrowed a bike and off she went. Pushing off, corners, brakes the lot. I had no idea she could ride a bike...

JollyHolidayGiant · 27/07/2013 19:08

DS got absolutely loads of Playmobil for Christmas. (I got it very cheap on facebook). Last week he had a sudden developmental spurt and learned to play with the Playmobil by himself. I've barely spoken to him in a fortnight

He did, however, demand that I make him a baler out of some cardboard boxes this morning. That stretched my creative talents somewhat but then kept him amused for 2 hours.

Tee2072 · 27/07/2013 19:16

Public beneign neglect as we wait for a plane home from San Francisco.

Parmarella · 27/07/2013 20:44

Poor mrs fruitcake.... The stress can get to you!

I once shouted Fuckfuckfuuuuuck! Which made the DC cry as i had never sworn before.

It was in front my Christian elderly neighbour...who kindly pretended not to notice

cjel · 27/07/2013 21:35

Mrs fruitcake, If they hadn't been where you are at some time they haven't lived - not worth ingratiating with hope you are both ok now?

WeAreNewHere · 27/07/2013 22:59

Love this thread! DS (23 months) spent all day naked in the garden with occasional additional hat/sandals/sunglasses combo today. I only realised he'd done a (nature) poo near the paddling pool when the flies arrived. Grim. Not good clearing that up with a hangover...

MrsFruitcake · 28/07/2013 10:41

Yes, cjel, we are fine thanks.

I'm still wondering how I could have handled it differently this morning but do kind of think that knowing what he's like with water, it was bound to happen sooner or later. Maybe he'll be more careful in future, but very probably not!

MrsFruitcake · 28/07/2013 10:45

Oh, and DH, who heard all about it upon his return for work in the evening then regaled me with the stories off all the dodgy stuff he'd done growing up, including climbing the tallest tree aged 11 in the park just after the 1988 storms to survey the damage to his local area and riding his bike down the steepest hill he could find (at about the same age), knowing full well the brakes didn't work! So I probably have much more to contend with in the coming years if DS turns out like his father!

Peachyjustpeachy · 28/07/2013 10:57

I'm a childminder and I favour the person all development approach,in fact I had an 18 month old on a proper swing this morning.......all by herself shouting....look I'm doing it!

The swing seats was only her knee height from the floor though

Peachyjustpeachy · 28/07/2013 10:58

Personal. Obviously!

Peachyjustpeachy · 28/07/2013 10:59

Oh and dd had a trapeze at 5 that she could only reach by going on her tippytoes!

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