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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:
Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 22:53

Green, not saying you're an abusive parent, but why lie. If you want to do fb, why not. Why lie? I just do not get why
, dd says the op DP is lying, why is it not accepted?

brdgrl · 15/03/2014 22:53

The OP asked if she was being unreasonable. I said she wasn't.

Sorry - typo - should have been "I said she was". OP WBU.

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 22:56

If the dd was telling the truth re the DPs behavior, then the op must listen. I do not believe that adults must be believed over children. That way is the way for potential serious abuse.

brdgrl · 15/03/2014 22:57

dd says the op DP is lying, why is it not accepted?
Because children do make mistakes, misinterpret, and yes, lie?
Because even if he did lie, it makes no difference?
Because even if he did lie, it doesn't excuse her having a 'rant' at him, or excuse her mum backing her up and making a shedload of excuses for her daughter?
Because even if he lied, it doesn't warrant these, yes, hysterical responses.

brdgrl · 15/03/2014 22:58

I do not believe that adults must be believed over children.

No, but do you believe that children must be believed over adults? Or always believed? Or even that what they believe to be the truth may not be the case?

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 23:01

Sorry, I think lying is the one of the worst forms of abuse, and if a parent or step parent lies, it is even worse. The child is too young to understand the facts that adults do lie, and by asking them to collude in these lies, leaves any parent totally open.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:02

Rubbish.

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 23:02

Bdrgrl, young children are not capable of lying, you have a really warped idea of reality.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:04

young children are not capable of lying, you have a really warped idea of reality

Sorry but that's also rubbish. You may want to look into child psychology and development.

brdgrl · 15/03/2014 23:07

young children are not capable of lying, you have a really warped idea of reality.

oh Jane, I can't take you seriously now. Do you have children? Do you know any children? Were you ever a child?

Seven year old children are most certainly capable of lying. Check yourself.

ormirian · 15/03/2014 23:07

Wow! What a rude child.

Mycatistoosexy · 15/03/2014 23:08

Woah wait stop the thread (although this is a completely runaway hysterical thread now)

Young children are not capable of lying???!!

I think you'll find that is a lie. It's a very normal developmental stage. Especially at 7yo.

I'm not saying the OP's DD was lying.......

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 23:08

My children when young did not and could not lie. Some posters here are really cynical.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:08

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3788848/

a study perhaps you'd be interested in reading jane

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:09

Cynical? It is a basic developmental process. I'd be worried if they couldnt lie.

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 23:10

As a young child I did not lie, but as I got older I certainly did. But not at 7 years old.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:12

Children start lying at age 2-3.

Even little lies like telling stories that haven't happened... most children do this it's part of them being imaginative.

Or not telling you if they've done something. "have you done a poo?' 'no mummy'

Janethegirl · 15/03/2014 23:16

Maybe I was lucky with mine, they didn't lie when young. Did later, but now don't bother. I prefer the real truth over any lies. Now 'adult' though, at least legally.

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/03/2014 23:18

Are you tired? No. First lie DD started telling and she wasn't 3 yet. It's quite important and actually a developmental stage. It proves that they have theory of mind, they know that you perceive different things to them. DC on the spectrum might not do it but I would be absolutely astounded if DC who are NT didn't.

What about "I'm a puppy/dragon/monster"? That's a lie.

Madasabox · 15/03/2014 23:18

Don't be daft - all children lie at some point, irrespective of whether they are 'good' children or not. 7 year olds certainly do lie, although not sure why that is relevant here. What is relevant is that whether DD was correct or not in her analysis, it was completely inappropriate for her to be allowed to voice that opinion in such a disrespectful way. That is such a slippery slope. Parents should be united in front of children and whether or not the OP thinks her daughter was right, doesn't really matter. It is a subject for conversation between her and her DP. It is not her DD's place to 'rant' about what he has or hasn't done in the house. There is no way I would allow any of my children to be so cheeky. Basic manners and respect for parents are essential ground rules otherwise you are storing up trouble for later life.

NurseyWursey · 15/03/2014 23:19

The thing is lies don't have to be malicious which is why it is part of a child growing up and being able to recognise truth from falseness. You're honestly saying your children didn't tell any lies or expand on the truth?

It isn't a bad thing if they did, it's just another part of them growing cognitively.

brdgrl · 15/03/2014 23:20

DD is almost 4. If I started to list the lies she has told this week, I would be up all night.

Maybe I was lucky with mine, they didn't lie when young. Did later, but now don't bother.
That's very sad, and also sad that you would see it as a good thing.

Mycatistoosexy · 15/03/2014 23:20

Civilised society would collapse if we all told the truth 100% of the time.

Like that movie with Ricky Gervais in or that one with Jim Carrey..... Both shit movies but you catch my drift.

Anyway, back to the thread

MrsTerryPratchett · 15/03/2014 23:21

FFS they have done studies and orangutans can lie. Lying is completely normal. You aren't 'lucky' if your DC didn't.

Atbeckandcall · 15/03/2014 23:23

Surely you only have to look at YouTube to see 3 year olds denying eating an entire jar of Nutella, with the evidence all over them!! Of course they know how to lie!
Ultimately, regardless who thinks who is in the wrong (dp, OP or dd), the one person who has the most control as to what happens next is the OP. I do believe everyone on here thinks that OP needs to vocalise and act upon all her own concerns for everyone's sake in their family unit.

Trying desperately to now be a voice of reason after discussing this thread with a couple of friends this evening.