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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have cancelled my son's 6th birthday party

318 replies

MumtoJacob · 26/09/2013 16:49

I think I have done the right thing, but I feel truly awful. I have cancelled my son's 6th birthday party because of discraceful behaviour both at home and at school. I have had his teacher talk to me four times already this term, twice this week, about his attitude. When he is corrected for misbehaving, he is rude and disrespectful to his teachers. He has told them he doesn't care if he is in trouble and he is so defiant.

He is really out of control at the moment and has been warned many times that he will not have his party if it continues. We have never had a party for him before as they are so expensive, and had said both children could have one on their 6th birthdays. He has looked forward to it for a long time, but the threat of cancelling hasn't made a difference to his behaviour. Nor have the rewards and praise for his good behaviour on good days and his treats for earning house points or other positive achievements.

He doesn't know yet. I am waiting for his Dad to get home so we can sit him down and talk through why we have had to cancel it. AIBU to cancel the party? Sad

OP posts:
Weller · 26/09/2013 21:45

Birthdays, christmas etc should not be linked, at present you do not know what control your son has over his behaviours, triggers need to be identified and coping strategies introduced for him. Punishments need to be clear and linked to the behaviour. Even if your child has no medical reason or emotional reason some of the techniques used by parents of children with SN are useful. A birthday tea could be a compromise still a party but a more structured small affair where no one loses face and a trip to soft play with a special friend. You sound at the end of you tether I have even in the wheelie bin before now rescuing a toy that I too quickly threatened to throw away because DD was playing up.

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 21:49

Just because mumtojacb has cancelled the party does not mean his birthday is cancelled too Hmm. Yes see the senco, head teacher and see if they can help and carry out investigations

kali110 · 26/09/2013 22:09

Parenting isnt punishment but if my child is naughty when watned there will be consequences then i will use punishment.
I wadnt a good child at times espicially to my mum, i wasnt unhappy or worried i was just naughty. I did have things taken offme or wasnt taken to places i wanted to go and i grew up not hating my parents so no not always true!
I think its harsh saying the op is cruel and nasty!
Shes not, she knows her child better thsn anyone on here and if thats how she wants to bring up her child then thats that.

rootypig · 26/09/2013 22:13

Sorry OP, I did read your posts, I didn't appreciate you were doing these other things too - and now I am at the end of my very limited parenting ethos and experience Smile. I do think now you've said no party, you have to follow through (am learning through bitter experience at the moment that this is why ultimatums are often a bad idea). Good luck - and do make sure you and DH have support too. Parenting stresses are so wearing.

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 22:16

I agree kali, I see it rather as sanctions not punishment. What is wrong with imposing consequences on behaviour. Dd 6 has ASD but she can be a little bugger, nothing to do with her sn, but pushing boundaries like any other child. Yes it is rash to say op is cruel, she is nt! She is trying the best she can and her ds was given enough warning. There would not be this issue back in the day!

kiriwawa · 26/09/2013 22:20

I think you need to get to the bottom of his behaviour because it sounds very much like there is something else going on here.

IamGluezilla · 26/09/2013 22:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 22:22

No when there wasn't this uproar just because a child's party was cancelled due to behaviour.

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 22:24

Yes mumtojacb needs to seek help as clear that she I overwhelmed and there might be something causing the beaviour

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 22:25

But she was still right to cancel it, does not mean there aren't any consequences

MariaLuna · 26/09/2013 22:26

6 years old?

Oh, love, you have so many more problems coming if you don't get a handle on this...

his behaviour, I mean. Fuck any party....

MmeLindor · 26/09/2013 22:28

I would talk to him about the party, and say that you think that you were too hasty and ask him what he thinks.

As Toffeewhirl said, perhaps a big party would have been too much for him to cope with anyway.

Don't be pressured by your DP or your parents. You can see that this idea of 'backtracking' is controversial on here, so it is not that you are completely alone in thinking it might be the wrong decision.

Why don't you get your DP to read this thread, so that he can see why people are saying that you should go ahead? Its not about giving in, it is about looking for strategies that work.

There are tons of strategies and parenting philosophies out there. The trick is finding the one that works for you and for your DC. And then they grow a little older, and you are back to fecking square one!

I went through the timeout/naughty step/punishment/star chart route then came to the negotiation and talking way of parenting.

It is hard work when they are little, but it is really paying off now.

Ezio · 26/09/2013 22:33

my DD is 6 and very strong willed, although she doesnt scream at me, she always has to have the last word, its so hard to not get drawn into a battle of wits.

I wonder if like my DD, hes a on the spectrum, explore it and maybe undertake parenting classes focused with parenting troubled children, it can give you the tools to manage his behaviour before it goes too far.

CreatureRetorts · 26/09/2013 22:37

It all sounds a bit transactional. Rewards for one thing, punish for something else. Does he ever just get a cuddle or a bit of time without it being linked to good behaviour?

HangingGardenofBabbysBum · 26/09/2013 22:38

I think it's both sad and concerning that he is'out of control' and doesn't care.

What are you and the school doing to find out why he feels so bleak and disconnected?

TigOldBitties · 26/09/2013 22:44

I don't think that you have been unreasonable, you made a threat, you gave him the option and then you've followed through.

Its unfortunate that you went with the party first, mainly as its quite a big deal and secondly as its 4 (?) weeks away and now what else have you got to use.

I have had to cancel the entire birthdays of two of my children in the past, but I don't have any regrets about it and they've both managed to make it to adulthood and mid teens respectively without seemingly being scarred by it. It was unfortunately the necessary punishment for some exceedingly bad and quite specific behaviour. I wouldn't say I'm a mean mummy just that I will not accept a certain kind of behaviour.

You've said he can still have a birthday but no party which seems fair enough. Its still early in the term and some children can be very defiant. My DD is so strong willed, and seems to say no to everything but really its because she likes to be in control as she finds uncertainty a bit worrying. If I were you I would be inclined to keep a diary of your DS's behaviour to try and work out whats going on; is he tired, is it just being back at school and the change of year 1, is it something he's eating, is he hyperactive, is he nervous etc. I think involving all and sundry seems a bit much at this stage, I wouldn't want my DC marked out so early on.

cansu · 26/09/2013 22:51

I am actually v impressed. I think you have done the right thing. You have shown that you mean what you say which is pretty amazing. I also think this will reap its own rewards down the line as our ds will know that you are not full of empty threats. Well done. You can of course still celebrate his birthday and have fun but you have done the right thing.

CoconutRing · 26/09/2013 22:58

He sounds like a lost little boy who cannot live up his parents and grandparents expectations. Your comment OP, about his GPs opinion worries me. Their thoughts and opinions don't count. He is your child. Do the GPs/PIL have a lot of influence in your lives?

I feel sorry for him. You have gone "all nuclear" with your punishment and you have left yourself with no room to manoeuvre.

Something is upsetting your DS. Please find the cause before it's too late.

Idocrazythings · 26/09/2013 23:05

Don't know if you'll see this through all your replies, but when I read your OP I thought how terrible poor DS, then when I read your next post it almost sounded like your little DS was relieved by not having to have the party. Relieved in a child's way without adult emotions attached to it. I have absolutely no ideas for you, but lots of sympathy. I have struggled with my DD, who is now 5 1/2. I think she is just quite immature and needs to be treated younger than she is. When I give her that lee-way things seem to improve. And she, lately is "getting it". Seeming to mature and behaviour slowly improving. Maybe with love and patience (that you are doing) things will start to get easier for you all too. Hope things get better soon.

Lweji · 26/09/2013 23:07

I don't like big delayed punishments like this.

I wonder if you are doing enough on a day to day to tackle such behaviour.

Maybe talk to the gp about it and ask a referral to a behavioural specialist?

I also wonder if the school is doing enough, if he thinks that adults don't have real power.

For example, taking toys away for a day or two. Why don't you actually throw them away?

kali110 · 26/09/2013 23:08

Im sure op gives her child a cuddle and not just as a reward for good behaviour.

pigletmania · 26/09/2013 23:12

That's a bit harsh lewiji, op sounds like a great mum struggling to know what to do. Parties are not for every child, not all children like them, dd ates them!

kali110 · 26/09/2013 23:17

Cancelling a party is harsh but throwing away his toys isnt?
I think its clear op is a loving and supportive mum not a cruel one who just wants the best for her ds and i do think sometimes this will include punishment for bad behaviour.

Pigglesworth · 26/09/2013 23:18

If you haven't already read it, "Setting limits with your strong-willed child" is another excellent book for helping with managing challenging behaviour. I would highly recommend it.

Taking away his birthday party is an extreme measure that one wouldn't initially choose in response to a child's challenging behaviour, but it sounds like you've tried a lot of things leading up to this point, and this is a desperate last measure. You have also repeatedly informed him of this possible consequence and his behaviour has not improved. Making repeated empty threats as a parent disempowers you and also teaches him to not take your words seriously, so considering that he is still having a birthday celebration, just not the all-out, expensive party you were planning, I think it's important to follow through on the consequence that he was repeatedly made aware of. It's important, though, to not be a punitive parent, constantly punishing, shaming, and taking away, but it sounds like you're aware of the importance of not being like this. It's also important for consequences to be logically linked to behaviours, and I'm not sure taking away his birthday party is a logical consequence for repeated misbehaviour, but I suppose you could frame it in the context of a birthday party being an occasion where behaving well is important for it to be a happy event, and because he is not currently demonstrating that he can behave politely and respectfully, you are not willing to go ahead with a big party, but he has a chance for future birthdays. It's important to be calm and speak in your normal voice when telling him these consequences, rather than screaming and shouting, shaming, etc.

I have mainly read your responses rather than the whole thread, so don't know if this has already been said, but I wonder if him saying that he doesn't care about the consequences is just another step in the power struggle between you. I think he does care about these consequences, so I wouldn't worry too much about him saying he doesn't care. I think it is his way of trying to "win" the power struggle. The fact that he initially gets upset before saying such things supports that. I wouldn't take the "bait" when he says things like that. I think you just need to make sure that you're well-informed in the parenting approach you're taking, being firm, administering logical consequences for his misbehaviour that are not too excessive, whilst also encouraging him, showing unconditional love towards him, and making it clear that it's his behaviour and not him as a person that is of concern to you. You're doing everything you can, then, to help him to learn better behaviour.

No matter what he says, you are his parents and he loves you. I'm sure that deep down he cares about what you think, and you have more power than he might make you feel like you do.

Lweji · 26/09/2013 23:18

I also wonder about Love Bombing and your report of "a weekend away from home doing whatever he wants to do."

If it feels artificial to him, I don't think it will do much good.