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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to have let dd speak her mind to dp?

738 replies

MrsHamsterCheeks · 13/03/2014 22:55

Dd is 7, dp has been around since she was one. Recently she's been really off with him - not wanting him to take her to school, hold her hand,read to her and so on. She'd rather miss out on doing something she enjoys than do it with him. He seems to just grate on her. For example, if her breakfast is ready I'd tell her so, if she didn't go to eat it within a minute I'd check she'd heard then leave her to it - her own fault if it goes cold, though 99% of the time she goes within a couple of minutes.

Dp on the other hand would tell her it's ready, then keeping saying 'come on, breakfast is ready' every twenty seconds until she gets annoyed or even try and lead her to the table. She is very headstrong and likes to do things on her own terms but he just doesn't seem to get her anymore. By his method she usually leaves her breakfast then he'll offer her something else, so it isn't that I'm pandering to her - quite the opposite.

Today dp took our dd (14 months) out for a few hours as I had some work to catch up on. He then collected dd from school and took her to the dentist. When they returned I had cooked tea, I washed up, tidied, sorted out school bags, bathed the kids, did homework with dd, read stories with them both etc. He watched football and/or sat on his phone.

When he heard me telling dd2 that it was the last story I heard him creep upstairs and go and sit on dd1s bed as she'd been playing in her room. When dd2 and I entered dd1 glared at dp and said: 'i don't know why you're pretending you've been playing with me, mummy knows you've been downstairs on your phone you know.' He mumbled something about tidying up and she started ranting about how he hadn't tidied up, or washed up, or anything else because I'd done it as well as everything else while he played on his phone Confused

She then proceeded to tell him that all he'd done that evening was upset dd2 by making her have tummy ache because all he'd fed her today was two lots of chips and a packet of crisps and by turning off the iPad quickly when he heard me coming downstairs so I wouldn't know he'd stuck dd2 in front of igglepiggle 'yet again.' I honestly never rant to or about dp so this tirade hasn't come from me.

Dp looked shocked and had a go at her for being a 'completely disrespectful little madame' and turned to me and said 'are you going to let her speak to me like this?' Dd2 was then sick so I had to sort her out but I could hear her and dp still bickering. I put dd1 to bed and said we'll talk in the morning as dd2 is still being sick and dp gone to work.

Aibu to have let her speak her mind? I feel it might do her good to get it off her chest as the resentment has obviously been building but then feel I'm undermining dp. However, everything she said was true so I can't tell her off for that. Maybe just speak to her about voicing her opinions more respectfully?? What do you think?

OP posts:
GreenLandsOfHome · 15/03/2014 21:39

Potentially an abused child?

For holding her hand a bit too roughly at road crossing and expecting her to come when called?

Hysterical much.

SylvaniansKeepGettingHoovered · 15/03/2014 21:41

Calling a 7 yr old girl a little madam is uncalled for.

I don't think the partner is necessarily a bully or a terrible parent, but his way of parenting definately clashes with the DD and with the OP at the moment. He's going for the strict line, thinks he can control a 7yr olds every moment and also he's spending too much time ignoring the DC and playing on his phone/tablet.

I think the OP has very good instincts and should trust her own feelings. It sounds like the OP's daughter has inherited good instincts too and is confident enough to speak up for herself. I'd be proud of my DD if she stuck up for herself like that.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 15/03/2014 21:41

We really don't know what's going on for this girl.
But she is making significant efforts to avoid being in the company of someone and has "told on him" for being dishonest about his activities.

Calling her names is at the very least terribly rude.
It also gives us clues as to why when there is abuse going on, (not saying thats whats happeni here, just using the case as an example of what ppl say about females) it gets easily missed/ ignored/ denied. Because of the attitudes towards girls that many ppl have.

caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:42

GreenLandsOfHome

Honeydragon would be straight on the phone to childline if this poor sap living with the OP even suggested the child tidied her room.

I mentioned upthread that there was hyperbole aplenty and it's been proved yet again.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:42

i hope to god none of you work in child protection.

the girl doesn't want to go anywhere with him or be touched by him and he doesn't respect her physical boundaries, he tells lies to her mother in her presence and expects her to collude with him. there are loads of red flags. they may turn out to be just her reaction to a shit, lazy, liar but they'd want checking out none the less.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:44

caruthers child protection isn't a joke. you are being pretty disgusting on this thread towards me and towards a little girl.

caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:44

Calling a 7 yr old girl a little madam is uncalled for

If that offends you god knows how you leave the house in the morning to face the world.

Let me get this straight.

Posters can call all and sundry a cunt but the term 'Little madam' is offensive?

It's an alternate universe Smile

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 21:44

Caruthers just isn't getting this. The OPs DP lied and tried to get the dd to go along with his story and she didn't. The dd was in the right by raising it as an issue. If I was the OP I'd be querying the DP behaviour and his relationship with the DD.

SylvaniansKeepGettingHoovered · 15/03/2014 21:45

I fully support the child for sticking up for herself but HoneyBadger I think you are jumping to too many conclusions and have probably scared the OP away with your child abuse suggestions

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:45

it's grooming writ large for gods sake.

caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:45

TheHoneyBadger

You're being offensive by suggesting she has been abused because of your hyperbole.

GreenLandsOfHome · 15/03/2014 21:46

It also gives us clues as to why when there is abuse going on, (not saying thats whats happeni here, just using the case as an example of what ppl say about females) it gets easily missed/ ignored/ denied. Because of the attitudes towards girls that many ppl have

It is not to do with girls

It is to do with children

I think plenty of people are projecting.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 15/03/2014 21:47

caruthers you're being unnecessarily rude and personal towards honeydragon and your language is misogynistic.

TheChatNameYouRequestedIsAlrea · 15/03/2014 21:47

She's seven - seven year olds can't do diplomacy. Your DP sounds like he needs to pull his socks up, not her. I hate it when parents shut down children.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:47

i've not said she's been abused i've said that there are a number of behaviours she's exhibiting here that are red flags for abuse having taken place and laughing at the idea of child protection and calling the little girl in question a 'little madam' who should be told off and ignored is dangerous advice not just for the op but for anyone reading this. it is disgusting in my book.

caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:48

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SylvaniansKeepGettingHoovered · 15/03/2014 21:49

Caruthers what are you on about I have no idea, I never mentioned anybody calling people anything I'm just saying that it's unpleasant to call a 7yr old a madam

caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:50

If the OP's DP can read this message....

Run for the hills lad it's just not worth it.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:50

you're being really personally abusive towards me now caruthers. i'm guessing that won't bother you at all but i'm stating that i'm finding you really offensive and to be going too far.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 15/03/2014 21:50

It Is to do with girls.
And I'm not projecting anything.

Anyway. Off to bed.
Good luck op.

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 21:51

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caruthers · 15/03/2014 21:51

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SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 15/03/2014 21:54

I was most certainly NOT saying it was the OP's fault that the man manhandles his dsd at the kerb - and I honestly can't see what I said that made you think that.

I was saying that, at 7 years old, the dd is old enough to remember the way her mum wants her to cross the road (holding the adult's hand - hers or the dp' sort whichever adult is looking after her at that point), and to hold the adult's hand.

I also said it is not acceptable for him to manhandle her at the kerb.

I wonder what happens if he does what her mum does, and reminds her to switch the bag to her other hand - does she do it or not? And if she didn't do it for him if he asked her, what should he do? Let her cross the road without holding hands, when he knows that his dp wants her to hold an adult's hand to cross the road?

If he is responsible for getting her safely to school or wherever, he has to do something to make sure she holds his hand. Forcing her and hurting her is clearly wrong, but it doesn't sound as if she would willingly do anything he asked her to do, so he is in a bit of a dilemma.

As others have said, I do think the OP needs to find out why the relationship between her dd and her dp has soured so terribly - only when she knows that can she decide what to do.

TheHoneyBadger · 15/03/2014 21:54

oh and now i'm a man hater - it's a full house now eh?

so we have little madam, hysterical, man hater and now a woman being offended being equated to having a 'sulk' and all the 'only on mumsnet' digs and i've just had a glimpse at your posting history and it all makes sense.

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 21:54

Caruthers, after insulting honey badger, I think you really need your arse kicking, you just have no idea. Honeybadger I think you're great.