Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Saved Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Flip

1 2 3

AIBU?

To think this Dad was totally out of order

62 replies

minkersmum · 18/03/2014 23:33

My 5 yo dd was playing at a friends house. She is often reluctant to go play there but will go if I stay. The friend likes things 'her' way and turns to big melodramatic howls if she doesn't get what she wants. Dd gets fed up with this.

The friend can do no wrong in the eyes of her parents who are overly strict and like to tell off everybody elses children.

So while we were there the other day my dd kept coming downstairs and sitting with me saying she didn't want to play anymore. When i asked what was going on she said friend was being mean and grumpy and not letting dd touch certain toys.
The next day dd tells me and dh she never ever wants to play there again and that the friends Dad had come into the bedroom and quietly told off my dd saying 'it's Lucy's room so it's Lucy's rules'.

I'm bloody raging and not surprised she never wants to go back.
Aibu to feel like having a word with the Dad?

OP posts:

Report

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2014 13:03

I would just give it a break, it is no good if your dd is worrying about it. Play dates should be enjoyable, not a source of stress.

Report

Aeroflotgirl · 19/03/2014 13:08

Just because she is the only other girl in her year does not mean they have to be friends, it does not sound as though your dd enjoys going there, and finds it stressful so stop going. They can play at school? Have you thought of having the girl round to yours to play.

Report

anklebitersmum · 19/03/2014 13:12

fair one minkersmum

It is more difficult when you are in a rural goldfish bowl type situation-especially when a child is sensitive.

Report

softlysoftly · 19/03/2014 13:21

askbasil a ha ahahahaha You haven't met our Turkish friends then, I agree other cultures have a more embracing heart to visitors but my good god the ructions after these instant friendships, and the destruction of peoples reputation afterwards and the drama the constant drama.

But then I also wouldn't assume all Turkish people are the same as the ones I know

Report

MajorGrinch · 19/03/2014 13:27

I've said that to kids in the past, sometimes it's the only way to stop your kids things getting messed around with and/or broken.

I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be raging because an adult (who was there) had had a quiet word with my kid. If he'd shouted or threatened it'd be fair enough....

Report

AskBasil · 19/03/2014 14:22

LOL.

I don't think everyone is like the people I know.

I think it's legitimate to talk about group behaviour Everyone intelligent knows you don't mean every single person in that group.

Report

minkersmum · 19/03/2014 16:44

majorgrinch i've already said my dd wouldn't be breaking things etc, it's not about that. I wouldn't be raging if it was any other responsible parent but there is a history there as I explained.

I would never tell a visiting child it was my dds rolm therefore my dds rules. What sort of message is that giving a 5 year old.

OP posts:

Report

Joysmum · 19/03/2014 16:52

They are perfectly at liberty to say 'their house their rules'. They can't then be surprised if a need to dictate and an inability to socialise leaves them with lack of friends.

So when either of them (dad or daughter) questions why your daughter no longer goes, you can explain it as a matter of fact and state that until she feels happy to go, there will be no more visits.

Report

ElkTheory · 19/03/2014 17:04

I would also let things fizzle out. There's no real reason to foster a friendship with this child, though I can certainly understand the difficulty of finding playmates in a rural setting. The girls don't seem to enjoy playing together and at that age I really don't think "playdates" are necessary. I wouldn't have words with the dad, and I can't quite understand the intense emotional response to him. I don't agree with what he said, but it seems more worthy of eye rolling than rage, IMO.

Report

MajorGrinch · 19/03/2014 17:08

I would never tell a visiting child it was my dds room therefore my dds rules. What sort of message is that giving a 5 year old

That's where we differ then, I have and would again. It's not the end of the world & certainly not "Rage Worthy".

Given the situation you're in location wise you don't seem to have many choices though - either they don't socialise round the other girls house, or they do.....

Report

hackmum · 19/03/2014 17:08

AskBasil: "Even if your DD was being a PITA, the dad's response was out of order. "It's Lucy's room so Lucy's rules" is the utterance of an arsehole and I don't think you want to cultivate relationships with arseholes do you?"

So, so true. When my DD was little, I always used to take the opposite view, which is that you should accommodate the guest's needs as much as possible. I think that's what most normal parents do.

Report

maddening · 20/03/2014 18:41

If you didn't want to confront i would just say to the dad that next time there is an incident where he feels yout dd requires discipline that he ask you to do it as dd is anxious (may as well play on it as they are aware that she is as you have to stay) and it would be better coming from you - then you will be witness to what is going on giving you an opportunity to discuss it in full knowledge of the situation so any confrontation you will have the upper hand.