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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not punish DD

159 replies

Milly783 · 17/02/2016 19:57

I've been in a relationship for two years now, we both have DD's the same age (8) and have only recently introduced them to each other, although we live really close to each other, DD's have never interacted, they go to different schools etc , they attend the same Scouting Pack but whilst my DD is a Cub, DP's DD is a brownie, so again they've never interacted. A Group camp set for last weekend, pushed us into introducing them in January, as they've both met us individually already. So far we've only all met up three times together for days out, DP's DD is currently on a diet as she's overweight, so on the days out I made sure DD ate healthy as well, as I know how unfair it would be to give one child treats and not the other.

Back home just DD and I, she asked why she was allowed hot chocolate at home but not when we were out that afternoon and I explained that DP's DD wasn't allowed treats so it was the right thing to do not giving DD any as well, she asked why and I said that it was because she was slightly bigger then she ought to be.

During Camp, the children were making s'mores and DD saw DP's DD eating one and went up to her and said 'you aren't allowed that because you're too big already' DP's DD got really upset and DD was made to apologise.

Their were no more incidents and no Leader told me about it, the first time I heard about it was from a phone call from DP to 'inform me' that DD had called his DD fat and wanting to know what I had done about it.

I replied nothing, as this was the first I was hearing about it. So I asked DD and she said she didn't use the word fat and had already been made to apologise, I texted her Cub Leader and the poor man, who was getting a well deserved rest, backed up her story. I called DP to say that the matter had been sorted out and that their was nothing more to do, he got really sarcastic and then just hung up.

I've spent the past two days very irritated, I think I'm in the right but if I'm not feel free to tell me.

OP posts:
PutDownThatLaptop · 17/02/2016 20:30

My DD did something similar. I stupidly let on that my friend's child had head lice, or rather that he no longer had them (having found and got rid of them on that day), and my DD mentioned it to him at school in the hearing of his friends. That also escalated so that in the end my friend said that my DD had deliberately shouted it out to a whole queue of children.

cdtaylornats · 17/02/2016 20:30

Its kind of a double standard though isn't it - if the other girl had a peanut allergy and your DD stopped her eating a Snickers because she was sick she would be a hero.

At 8 how is she supposed to know that peanut allergy trumps fat when it comes to telling someone not to do something?

APlaceOnTheCouch · 17/02/2016 20:31

It didn't say that the other girl wasn't allowed to eat the food at camp. That's a leap that the OP's DD made. The girl could be allowed to eat the same as everyone else at camp so she isn't singled out.

phequer · 17/02/2016 20:31

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Milly783 · 17/02/2016 20:31

Okay, I am taking your advice on board, I was in wrong, I do fully understand that and I will be explaining that to DP. I won't however be punishing DD, I think she fully understands that what she did was wrong and has been told off numerous times. I'll suggest she does something nice to show DP's DD that she didn't mean to be so hurtful.

OP posts:
BeeppityBeep · 17/02/2016 20:33

Abbsis. Shock Do you tell your son off? I would be cross if one of my DC said that to a sibling.

Milly783 · 17/02/2016 20:34

@Osolea a s'more is melted marshmallows in between two chocolate biscuits, they're very delicious.

OP posts:
kawliga · 17/02/2016 20:35

It would have been very easy for OP and her DP not to buy treats for both girls at all without referring to one of the girls being overweight.

'No' is enough of an answer when your dd demands a treat. It's OK for parents to say no or just 'not today' or 'we don't eat treats every day'. No need for 'no, you're not having treats because the fat girl is on a diet'.

I don't follow the school of parenting that says a reason must always be given to children. When my dd asks for a treat it might be 'yes' or it might be 'no'. She understands that she doesn't always get a treat just because she wants one, and that's not because of weight issues. None of us is fat. We just don't view treats as something that must always be eaten.

APlaceOnTheCouch · 17/02/2016 20:35

Milly I think that's a good idea. We work on a principle that it isn't enough to say 'sorry' you have to try to make it better too. Hopefully the girls can find a way to get along.

Iliveinalighthousewiththeghost · 17/02/2016 20:35

YABU. Twist it around for a second. You're DD comes home and tells you your partner's DD implies she's fat. Would you be happy. I doubt it. I'm guessing you're one of those who perishes the thought of instilling any discipline on her precious snowflake.

Milly783 · 17/02/2016 20:35

@PutDownThatLaptop really glad I'm not the only one that's messed up before

OP posts:
lunar1 · 17/02/2016 20:36

What you need to be doing is giving your dd the full story now you have started down this road. She needs to know it's fine for this girl to have some treats, just not all the time.

Talk to her about moderation. Then talk to her about sensitivity, it sounds like this is an area she needs to work on. I don't think she needs a telling off as such but at 8 she is more than old enough to think about others feelings before she speaks.

I can see why your dp is pissed off, he is wanting to make sure it doesn't happen again.

Milly783 · 17/02/2016 20:43

@Iliveinalight I wish my kid was a precious snowflake, sadly she's a bit of a troublemaker that needs constant discipline.

@lunar1 That's really a good idea, thank you.

And I do realise, I could have been much more apologetic to DP and explained myself better.

OP posts:
Osolea · 17/02/2016 20:44

Thanks for the s'more explanation, I know my dc have that at camp too, but I think they call them something different.

Furiosa · 17/02/2016 20:49

Agree with Ivykaty

Don't punish your DD, she was only parroting you. Take the blame yourself? Well you do pretty well making sure your DP's DD sticks to her diet.

Youarentkiddingme · 17/02/2016 20:49

I would be saying to do you accept that yelling your DD about his DDs weight for a mistake. You realise your DD telling his DD what she can and can't eat is beyond her remit as another 8yo.

I would be telling him you've had stern words and she knows the impact what she said had on his DD.

But that time has passed for punishment. Then say you should both agree to punish either DD immediately for any further upset either of them cause or agree to discuss incidents in future.

Make it clear that despite your DD being wrong this time it isn't a green light for everything becoming your DDs fault.

WhatamessIgotinto · 17/02/2016 20:51

I think that at 8, your DD should have understanding of how hurtful her comment could be, so yes, I would absolutely be talking to her about this.

grannytomine · 17/02/2016 20:51

I think at 8 alot of little girls can be very literal about "the rules" and if she thought the other little girl was breaking rules she would find it appropriate to point it out. I see it at the school my grandchildren go to all the time, I suppose boys do the same but personally I seem to see it with girls alot. I don't think they are being mean and I'm sorry OP I think you were the one who got it wrong but we all get it wrong sometimes.

EweAreHere · 17/02/2016 20:57

You have created this problem by telling you daughter your DP's daughter was too big. Every 8 year old girl knows this is code for overweight or fat. I know this; I have an 8 year old AND I work in a classroom of 7, 8 and 9 year olds.

You owe your DP an apology for what you said to your daughter about his daughter, and you need to talk to your daughter about being kind and non-judgemental.

Lambzig · 17/02/2016 20:59

My 5 year old knows that it's rude and unkind to talk about anyone's size and that it's bad manners and rude to talk about what other people are eating. She is absolutely no angel, but she would never make comments like that. I find it hard to believe that an 8 year old made those comments innocently.

Floggingmolly · 17/02/2016 21:05

she's a bit of a trouble maker that needs constant discipline So why are you so sure she meant no harm?! You gave her the ammunition and she used it.

ReginaBlitz · 17/02/2016 21:07

Obviously she needs punishing. She's bloody rude! At 8 she should know it would hurt her feelings,

shazzarooney99 · 17/02/2016 21:10

Your daughter was a bit mean there, at the same time withholding things because his daughter is large is going to cause a heck of a lot of resentment, i think you need to be honest with your partner.

kawliga · 17/02/2016 21:14

I think some posters telling OP to talk to her dd and explain that this was wrong are ignoring the fact that it was OP who told her dd that the other girl is fat. DD was just repeating what her own mother told her.

I think we all say unkind things about other people sometimes (oops!) and sometimes our dc hear us and there's always a risk that they will repeat what we said. We have to find a way to manage that. Just telling off the dc or punishing them is dishonest when you are the one who said it in the first place!

mommy2ash · 17/02/2016 21:15

Before you even get to your dd you were being unreasonable telling and 8 year old the reason you ate healthily was because the other child is bigger then she should be. I make a habit of never telling my dd something I don't want her to repeat. You handled that really badly.

Regardless your dd knew what she said was mean. I would talk to her about why she said it and I do think a punishment is in order for embarrassing someone like that

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