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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:
antiabz · 16/03/2014 09:46

'One last comment is that saying the truth, even if it's very annoying to hear it, is NOT rude.'

Really?

You are fat
You are ugly
Your baby is ugly
You stink

I would say in a lot of situations the truth can be VERY rude and children need to be taught that.

Or they become one of those 'call a spade a spade' rude obnoxious everyone avoids people

BorcestshireBlue · 16/03/2014 09:46

To be honest Lady I wouldn't be that bothered either way over breakfast, if indeed it is only one minute and not 10. However the road crossing scenario illustrates a whole other problem - if she can lead two sports teams then she should be able to cross a road without the need for -

  • a warning that they are approaching a road
  • a request to swap bag over
  • a request to hold hands
  • a request to cross

She is seven, not a toddler, my 4 year old can cross a road without such intense instruction.

TheHoneyBadger · 16/03/2014 09:56

i think the 'intense instruction' is being extrapolated here.

the OP quite possibly just meant that she tends to keep up conversation about what they're doing and says road coming give us your hand and her dd prepares and it goes smoothly whereas her partner doesn't communicate with dd as going along, isn't tuned in and they aren't walking 'together' then tries to grab her last minute. it doesn't have to mean that there is an intense or mass effort to any of it - just that parent and child are in synch and communicating as they travel together as opposed to not in synch or sharing awareness and then grabbing and demanding at flashpoints.

2rebecca · 16/03/2014 09:57

The physical boundaries sounds weird, but you could have put a stop to that long ago by telling him to stop following you around like a puppy and give you some space. The relationship may not have lasted but I wouldn't want to be constantly cuddled up to and hate people using me as a cushion unless it's an ill child. There doesn't seem to be much about him that you like.

BorcestshireBlue · 16/03/2014 10:00

HoneyBadger - I don't agree. She is seven, she does not need a running commentary of road crossing - she should be able to see for herself that there is a road ahead - there are far more interesting things to be talking about.

Coldlightofday · 16/03/2014 11:50

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sillylass79 · 16/03/2014 12:01

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

TheHoneyBadger · 16/03/2014 12:03

having been called hysterical, emotional and guilty of projecting amongst other gems coldlight and seen the girl called all sorts of misogynistic terms the irony is not lost on me. i am glad that the man who was on here verbally abusing me last night is known to mnhq and being asked to review the talk guidelines or get a suspension though.

it's more worrying hearing it come from the mouths of women though tbh than it is a male poster whose history shows his political agenda.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 16/03/2014 12:10

"Absolutely dd would act in the same way for him as shedoes for me if he approached things in the way I do."

Are you sure about this, MrsHamsterCheeks - given how you say she wants to have nothing to do with him, and would rather miss out on fun rather than have him take her there?

BoneyBackJefferson · 16/03/2014 12:19

I would say that given what we know of this throwing accusations of child abuse around is fairly hysterical, and emotional.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 16/03/2014 12:21

borcestershireblue I'm not at all stressed today actually. And I'm not sure why you thought I am.
I personally don't think the op seems controlling. She seems "in control" which is a good thing IMHO. And the DP sounds less in control, needing to resort to physical handling at times.
That doesn't neccessarily make him a bad parent. Nobody is perfect.
But the DD is aware of his shortcomings. I dont think Its neccessarily rude to call him on it, as described in the op.

TheHoneyBadger · 16/03/2014 12:21

there were no accusations there was the observation by a few that a lot of the behaviours described are known red flags for abuse and would merit checking. that's not hysterical or emotional that's basic child protection awareness.

TheHoneyBadger · 16/03/2014 12:22

i think it was the equivalent of, 'calm down dear!' therealamanda.

TheRealAmandaClarke · 16/03/2014 12:26

Not concern for my well being? Wink

The conversation has developed. Which means that observations are being made about behaviours and patterns that might arise in different situations. I don't think that 's hysterical.

caruthers · 16/03/2014 12:28

I haven't been asked to look at anything why are you making things up honeybadger?

My posting history is varied and no concern of yours.

For what it's worth I still think that you're being hysterical and precious.

BoneyBackJefferson · 16/03/2014 12:32

There are as many "red flags" with the OP's behaviour as there are his, yet you seem to be overlooking those.

daffodildays · 16/03/2014 12:33

Boney, I disagree.

What we know is that the DP takes recourse to using physical strength to enforce his parenting; that if the DD calls him on lying, he gets her into trouble and verbally abuses her; that he has no physical boundaries and will carry on enforcing his way even if the DC get hurt, are distressed and screaming, when the OP has suggested there are other ways of doing things which respects the rights of the child to bodily and emotional autonomy.

Then there are the apologists who say that this is the OPs fault for not supporting him - to do what? Drag her DD around and call her a 'little madam'.

If the DP was dragging the OP around and calling her names, I am hopeful that you would understand this is abusive behaviour. So, where is the difference?

winterkills · 16/03/2014 12:34

I don't understand what behaviours are being seen as 'red flags' Confused. The dd asked dp to come and play before she went to bed, she complains when she doesn't get his full attention, she feels no fear to confront him in very blunt/rude/truthful (whatever your take on it) terms.

I really don't see any red flags and presumably the OP doesn't either as it hasn't formed any part of her complaint about dp.

daffodildays · 16/03/2014 12:36

My post was to your previous post, I am too slow here.

antiabz · 16/03/2014 12:43

Have I missed something?

Did the DP actually say to anyone 'I am up here playing with dsd'?

I can't see where in the op he lied?

It says he mumbled something about tidying up. How did dsd know he hadn't done a little bit of tidying up? She was upstairs.

antiabz · 16/03/2014 12:45

Don't be daft.

You can't see the difference between a dad pulling a reluctant child across a dangerous road and a man dragging a grown woman about?

BoneyBackJefferson · 16/03/2014 12:54

daffodil

but the physical force changes in the telling, the getting the dd to the table has gone from manhandling, to dragging and wrestling the dd to "snatching" a book and (I think) guiding by the shoulders.

Which the OP could intervene on (she must be there to have seen it) if she wanted to.

Its also telling that the DP asked if the OP was going to let he dd talk to him like that.
and
That she knows what her DP was up to when he looked after the children for 4 hours (without being there) and that she monitors his phone use and charging status.

EverythingCounts · 16/03/2014 13:01

The OP isn't in control at all, Amanda, or she wouldn't be getting a 7 year old to do her dirty work for her.

BBlue also makes a good point - why does a child who leads two sports teams need all this palaver to cross the road?

daffodildays · 16/03/2014 13:02

Yes, the OP should intervene. But I question whether the OP trusts her judgement, as she is questioning whether she should actually let her DD speak what she sees as the truth or tell her to moderate it to keep the peace. I'd be curious to know what happens when the OP does intervene, and how many of their arguments are about, or end up being about, the OP's DD and the OPs parenting.

Need to go out now and enjoy the sunshine!

BoneyBackJefferson · 16/03/2014 13:14

daffodil

It would also be nice to know what happens with DD1 when she is alone with DP.

Enjoy the sun.