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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to be upset/annoyed by this mum's reaction?

96 replies

strawberryyDaiquiri · 05/07/2014 12:08

Hi everyone

I could potentially make this a very long post so will try to be as brief as possible!

My DS is in year 2 and has been bullied by one boy in particular since reception. The bullying extended outside of school to Cubs and football club so have moved DS to groups further away.

He is starting at a new school in September. This boy is known to be horrible to a lot of children but my DS is definitely his main target. I suppose you could describe by DS as "sensitive." He's shy, very conscientious, he's not typically "boyish" and has been teased since reception for not liking football or playing "boys" games etc. He reminds me a lot of my brother when he was very young. My parents used to worry that he would struggle making friends etc but he turned out absolutely fine and if anything had a better social life than I did by his teens and I was always the louder child!
DH worries about him a bit but I try not to for now. He does have a very mature head on his shoulders and I sometimes worry that he is already too much of a worrier at a young age but I will see how he gets on at his new school and not panic unduly.

So anyway this boy- let's call him Sam- has teased DS from the first day of school. He is a difficult pupil for his teachers and they have called his mum in on numerous occasions to discuss his behaviour and how he treats other children. As I say he's pretty awful to a lot of the children but particularly mean to DS. One thing he does repeatedly is ask him if he's adopted because he's "such a freak" and my DD (in Reception) is "normal." "Why aren't you normal like your sister?" 2 weeks ago he found my DD in the playground and told her he was going to get my DS and flush his head down the toilet then lock him in. He also pesters DD asking if DS is adopted, tells DD that he's gay because he "has his ear pierced"( he has a small freckle just wear a pierced ear hole would be and it's something he's been teased about for ages by "Sam".) He once found a pink mini-mouse hair clip on the floor and put it in my DS hair without him noticing then went round shouting "HAHA DS is wearing a hairclip he's so gay." Luckily the classroom assistant witnessed this but he's done a similar things on a few occasions where he has deliberately tried to make a mockery of him. (In year 1 he pulled down his trousers and pants then told the teacher on duty that DS was "showing people his willy")...the list goes on really but he is really an unpleasant child and the teachers have done all they can. They get complaints from parents on a weekly basis but his mother seems to refuse to acknowledge his behaviour. It's known that she had tried for years to have a baby but was told her chances were second to none so she had given up hope when she fell pregnant at 37- lovely story..but now the golden child can do no wrong.

Anyway yesterday was DS' birthday. We went to Tesco the night before and bought those little bags of Haribo for each child. There are 24 in his class including him, so I bought 25 so I could give one to DD. He hands out the packets but is 2 short. I later found out that DD had nabbed a couple of packets the night before. Unfortunately, the last 2 children that DS got to were Sam and his friend. The teacher told me that DS looked utterly terrified when he realised he had run out and that Sam wouldn't get any. He apologised to Sam and friend and said that he must have left the 2 packets at home. His teacher said that it was obviously a mistake and that DS would not deliberately leave anyone out and said perhaps he would find the 2 extra packets over the weekend and bring them in on Monday for Sam and friend.

When the teacher's back was turned Sam walked past DS, kicked the back of his chair then hit him around the head and hissed at him that he's "such a weirdo."

5.30pm yesterday evening and I get a phone call from an extremely angry mother. Sam's mum was livid that his DS hadn't received a bag of sweets. I assured her that it was in no way deliberate and explained how my DD had taken the packets the night before (which she has been told off for!) I said it was unfortunate that Sam's table was the last that DS got to but that I would give him 2 more packets to take in on Monday. She continued to shout down the phone and said that it was nasty and unfair to "treat a child like that" and "of course he's going to be upset if everyone else is given sweets expect him- accusing me of deliberately telling DS to not give any to her DS. I was so shocked that I didn't really know what to say. Part of me wanted to give her a right earful back but I just want DS to get to the end of term as smoothly as possible. DH thinks I should have it out with her once term has ended and let her know exactly what I think of her and her precious DS but I'm not sure if that's a bit childish.

I appreciate it was unfortunate and I should have been sensible and counted the sweets that morning just to make sure. But after all her DS has done to my DS over the years...and she has the audacity to be livid because DS, through no fault of his own, was unable to give him any sweets...I was just so upset for DS and angry at how this woman had spoken to me. What would you do? I just can't decide how to react to this.

OP posts:
strawberryyDaiquiri · 05/07/2014 12:08

oops..after saying I would try and not make it a long post, that was a bit of an essay. Sorry all!

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesCake · 05/07/2014 12:12

I'd have given her an earful and explained that her son will only be given sweets if he starts to be kinder to your child. It's completely out of order for her to call you and yell down the phone like this.

I hope you're OK Thanks

primarkprincess · 05/07/2014 12:15

I'd have given her a few home truths about her precious darling

KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 05/07/2014 12:18

Sam doesn't deserve any sweets.

He's not a nice child.

Why don't the teachers ask Sam to stop bullying other children? They're the ones in charge.

thornrose · 05/07/2014 12:19

Is "Sam" going to the new school? If not I'd let it go, a couple more weeks and you never have to see them again.

His behaviour sounds awful and his mum was out of order shouting at you though!

KingJoffreysBloodshotEye · 05/07/2014 12:19

Also if the mother is that cross over a small bag of Haribo then she has her own 'ishoos'.

strawberryyDaiquiri · 05/07/2014 12:19

Not sure why I said ". Sam's mum was livid that his DS hadn't received a bag of sweets." That of course was supposed to say her

LadySybilLikesCake Part of me wishes I had now. But the last thing I want is for DS to get even more grief tell him what a horrible mother he has for shouting at his mum. Perhaps I will say something at the end of term! I've had DS in floods of tears about going to school because of this boy, and she chooses to turn a blind eye to it all. No wonder he's such a nasty child if his mother has always let him get away with it. And thank you. I am ok. Was completely shell-shocked at first but I immediately ran and gave DS a big hug and kiss!

OP posts:
Gileswithachainsaw · 05/07/2014 12:20

She's bat shit.

Ffs perhaps she should worry more about herb own kids behaviour than an accidental sweet incident.

She has her head so far in the sand I'm
Surprised she hasn't suffocated.

That poor child. Probably desperate for some boundaries and he's going to end up so lonely as no one will be his friend.

CaptainTripps · 05/07/2014 12:20

Do NOT send those sweets in for Sam on Monday. Little darling doesn't deserve them. How dare the mum ring you like that.

RaptorInaPorkPieHat · 05/07/2014 12:20

I think you should inform the school, it is entirely inappropriate for the mother to be phoning you directly to basically 'have a go' when the teacher has already dealt with the sweets issue (and seriously, who phones up another parent over a tiny packet of sweets).

simpson · 05/07/2014 12:21

I would not take sweets in on Monday and when Sam's mother asks why, she would get the truth.

Where did she get your number from?

strawberryyDaiquiri · 05/07/2014 12:22

no thornrose Sam isn't going to the new school. I think most of the children will stay on until year 6 but we're taking DS out early. I agree that perhaps it's best to just let it go..release all that negativity!

Kings the teachers really have tried but he seems to be a lost cause. According to her it's the "principle" and I deliberately left her DS out and that makes me a "nasty person" to do that to a child...yikers.

OP posts:
LadySybilLikesCake · 05/07/2014 12:24

Maybe send your child in with a bag of fruit for Sam on Monday, with a note saying bullies have to earn sweets?

I bet this mum's only heard Sam's version of this, not necessarily what really happened.

zippey · 05/07/2014 12:25

I agree, I wouldn't give Sam any sweets and I would have told the teacher and mother why (though in the real world I probably wouldnt be as brash)

But giving sweets, are you not then rewarding bad behaviour?

AlleyCat11 · 05/07/2014 12:26

Well now you know that Sam didn't lick it up off the ground... No sweets for him! I know it's awful that your son has to put up with him, but it's best Sam doesn't always get his way. He clearly does at home.

Gileswithachainsaw · 05/07/2014 12:27

So much bad behaviour has been rewarded tat a bag of swees won't change anything.

Better than the Ds getting picked on about something else. I'd give them just for an easy life.

LadySybilLikesCake · 05/07/2014 12:27

Not just Sam's bad behaviour, but rewarding his mother's too. Liquorice is vile, can you send in some of those?

alemci · 05/07/2014 12:28

I'm absolutely amazed that the situation is so bad. Why is this child not being dealt with.

Could your ds not go into a different form in the school or is it 1 form entry.

It is harrassment. How did she get your n.o. and what a cheek. I think you should have told her calmly about all the unpleasant things that 'Sam' has done to your ds over the years'. It is a shame your ds has to leave.

What about secondary. Will he end up with the same dcs again in Y7.

so sorry OP.

strawberryyDaiquiri · 05/07/2014 12:28

I am very tempted to not take any sweets in...but the other boy who missed out has never bullied DS. He is a friend of "Sam's" bit DS said he's fine and is never mean. I just want to make these last 2 weeks as pain-free as possible for DS and I think if I send him in with a bag for the other boy but not "Sam" he will undoubtedly get more grief from "Sam." I'm trying to work out what is best for him. He absolutely doesn't deserve the sweets but maybe I should just suck it up and give him a packet to avoid DS getting more cr*p from him.

And yes Lady you're right I bet Sam went home and said that DS had been horrible and gave sweets to everyone but him on purpose. Then again she's been told since Reception by both parents and teachers what a nightmare her child is but seems to not bat an eyelid.

OP posts:
thornrose · 05/07/2014 12:29

Thank goodness for that Strawberry. Your ds sounds lovely, just smile sweetly to yourself and count your blessings. I love a bit of zen, so much better than letting it eat away at you!

AwaywiththePixies27 · 05/07/2014 12:29

I'd be more than bloody annoyed and I'd be in the Heads Office first thing Monday Morning asking her to remind Sams Mum that School issues are to be dealt with within school.

BeCool · 05/07/2014 12:31

No way I would be taking in sweets for Sam. And I would be pleased he was the one to miss out

If you don't want to confront the mum that's your call. She does sound batshitcrazy as they say here

The school sounds like they are failing to deal with major bullying. Sam will move on once your son is gone and the school will fail that child too. Very concerning.

LadySybilLikesCake · 05/07/2014 12:32

I doubt giving him sweets will make him stop to be honest. He doesn't need a reason to be a little shit a bully. The school need to be doing more, they sound rather crap. Have they had someone in to assess his behaviour? There's things they can do, moving him into a different class for a start.

mommy2ash · 05/07/2014 12:32

i wouldn't send in any sweets and i would have a word with the teacher about the phone call so she is aware of what has happened.

to be honest im not sure how you restrained yourself. i wouldn't have been able to stop myself from telling her that even if he purposely didn't give sam sweets that is nothing compared to his systematic bullying of your son which has led to you removing him from the school.

waterducksback · 05/07/2014 12:33

I would keep a record of the date and time she phoned you... as this comes under harassment.
If the incident took place during school hours, she has no right to contact you out of hours anyway. She should have taken her grievance to the school.

I also think you (and your husband) should make an appointment asap, to see the head and say (not ask) that you expect the continued bullying of your child to end immediately.
It sounds as if this has dragged on long enough, and your son must dread going to school!

I would definitely try and sort it out with the school.....don't approach this mother on your own. Keep it professional. Good luck!

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