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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To see friend less because she hates my 5 yo

90 replies

OhForFrigSake · 27/02/2016 22:24

Title says it all really. My good friend has a DD the same age as my DS, the problem is that my son can be a bit boisterous and giddy and well, a boy and her daughter is very quiet and not terribly outgoing at all. My DS has a brother and has learned to be assertive whereas her daughter is an only child and is not at all assertive. She is a lovely girl though and DS is genuinely good friends with her, they don't fight and he doesn't pick on her and they have a nice time when they're together with no falling out. We have been on holiday a number of times and the children have always got on great.

The problem is that when we're together friend is constantly 'helicoptering' over the children and monitoring everything they do - almost as if she expects DS to be doing something to her DD. It's like she is policing the relationship.

She is also constantly snapping at DS and telling him off - she is on him in a second. She tells him off far more than she would her DD. He's not an angel and he does mess about a fair bit but he is only 5 and nothing he does is in malice, it's just usually being a bit silly IYKWIM. I do always pull him up on silly behaviour but because my friend is on his back constantly I don't even get chance to. It's really like she can't stand him sad

I'm not making excuses for my DS but it does really make me feel sad when we're together as he is always getting told off, even when he's not really doing anything 'telling off worthy.' If her DD does something 'naughty' she even blames DS there saying she's copying - that she must have got it from DS.

I feel really sad. I do think DS is more boisterous than her DD and whilst He can be annoying, she could just leave it to me to tell him off and get off his back a bit and let the children play - because they do play lovely together when she is not policing everything. I really feel like not seeing them as it just makes me feel so depressed. AIBU to see her less? I feel like it might ruin the friendship.

OP posts:
TaliZorahVasNormandy · 28/02/2016 00:02

OP, think of it this way. Her helicopter parenting is going to lead to one giant explosion of rebellion from her DD. I've seen it happen. My friends neighbours were very strict parents, and I mean really strict. One day, the light went on in their DD and it was boys, lots of a make up and drugs.

Italiangreyhound · 28/02/2016 00:03

OhForFrigSake hvaing just read your last post I would say maybe another track would be to help your friend to see that her dd could become a bit more assertive and playing with your ds may actually help! I do have sympathy for our friend, she sounds nervous about her dd and that is sad, please do speak to her, do not just cut her adrift! She is wrong to tell your ds off in front of you but if you are friends you may be able to work this out. Grin

OhForFrigSake · 28/02/2016 00:12

She definitely IS nervous Italian, she is worried her daughter is going to get walked over in life because frankly she wouldn't say boo to a goose - although at 5 I know it's obviously very early days!

I want to help and I think she (the DD) gets a lot out of mixing with my DS and is the most animated and outgoing she ever is when they're together! That said, I just can't let my son be bashed over and over again for being a normal 5 year old (albeit a silly one at times). It is like the friend is trying to make my DS like her DD when obviously if her DD was a bit more like DS she wouldn't be worrying so much!

I actually think my friend's parenting has perhaps shaped her DD in this way though because she can bring her into line with a word or a look, honestly, it's a wonder to behold! I have never seen a 5 year old like her.

OP posts:
OhForFrigSake · 28/02/2016 00:13

I don't know how I'd ever say it to her but sometimes I think the DD could do with being allowed to be a bit more silly herself.

OP posts:
Fatmomma99 · 28/02/2016 00:17

This is an interesting thread. And you sound lovely, Frig.

I come to this as someone who's (only, and pfb) DD had a 10-month older cousin who was very much a "me first" person, and DD both adored her, and had a hard time from her. So maybe I'm helicopter too. But also - someone needed to address the imbalance, and my DSis wasn't going to do it. (My DSis's parenting style is to never say "no" to her kids. I don't agree with her, but she's not a lazy parent - it's something she's thought about loads.)

I see helicopter parents all the time, and they drive me nuts. I try very hard not to be one of them.

I think my comment would be - these children are 5.

My dd is 14 now, and very independent, but when she was 5, there was NO independent playing. Adults (me and whoever else was around) were either part of the playing, or, at least, in the same room. In which case, there's nothing going on that you shouldn't know about. And if these 5 yr olds are off playing in some part of the house where you're not, I'd say they were too young to be doing this.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 28/02/2016 00:21

At 5, would it be possible for you to say to your friend "look, why don't you drop her off for a play and go and do something nice for yourself for once?"
Just to give your DS and her DD a chance to get on with things by themselves.

It's very hard when you feel that your child is one of life's vulnerable ones, but your friend isn't doing her DD any favours whatsoever by trying to protect her from all that, she needs to be giving her child more confidence to do her own thing and be able to, not exactly stand up for herself, but deal with shit slightly more by herself - at least give her a chance to do it, anyway!

OhForFrigSake · 28/02/2016 00:25

Thanks Momma. Yes, they do play independently sometimes, I'm talking in the playroom next door with a door open inbetween so not out of earshot IYSWIM. Is 5 really too young for this? DS and his brother (4) also play like this together and I think it's fine generally, with a head popped around the door every so often to check they're OK. As I say, they don't argue or fight or even disagree, it's actually the nicest time as everyone is getting on and I'm not feeling paranoid about DS getting told off!

OP posts:
glintwithpersperation · 28/02/2016 00:39

I can't stand helicopter parenting - its so stifling.

Italiangreyhound · 28/02/2016 00:54

OhForFrigSake re I don't know how I'd ever say it to her but sometimes I think the DD could do with being allowed to be a bit more silly herself.

I wonder, just wonder if you are also in need of a little assertiveness training! Wink

If she is your friend, a real friend, talk to her. Let her express how she feels and maybe if you can share about this without the kids, maybe with some wine, she will find her way to this assessment herself.

Italiangreyhound · 28/02/2016 01:06

If your friend wants help Mind has some info about assertiveness. It could be adapted for children I am sure, plenty of books out there, also Taekwando can be useful for giving kids confidence. Be your friend's ally and her dd's ally too, but you will need to start by being honest about how much her telling your don off pisses you off!

www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/self-esteem/how-can-i-help-myself/#.VtJGWeavPd4

What to do when you worry too much

Italiangreyhound · 28/02/2016 01:06

Son not don!

Hissy · 28/02/2016 09:02

I think you sound like a great parent Frig your boy sounds lovely.

As you'll know, 5 is no indication of personality, so I dare say this little girl won't always be so unassertive, or biddable I dare say.

My ds (now 10) is fairly biddable, always has been. I did genuinely worry about his empathy levels at one stage, but this was more about my concern he'd turn out like his awful father. He's adorable, caring and intuitive. :) AND he's boisterous and loud when he's with his mates. I can still give him that look tho...

Your friend, I reckon is in for a shock..

I will say though, when I've been in a car with ds and his mates and they are all making silly noises and stuff, I can barely cope! It was a horrific shock to the system. I looked at the parent driving and she barely registered.. So I assumed it was me being a parent of one, and got over myself.

The drive home was the same, I just sat on my hands so as not to hit the window button and jump out... 😂

When you have one child the noise level is one thing, add in another child and the noise level is not doubled, it's doubled and then some. Add another child and it's off the charts :)

I can't bear screeching, it's an immediate no for me. My neighbours DD does it in the garden sometimes, I have to close the windows/doors... IME boys roar and make silly noises, screeching does seem to be a thing that girls mostly do.

I also lost a friend last year, probably due to her son. He is by her own definition, (and everyone else's) a nightmare. Attention demanding, won't sleep until thebearlyvhours because he won't give adults their time without him. He's rude, smart mouthed and knows exactly what he's doing. He also knows that his family won't do a thing.

I was expected to look after him during my holiday, when it was just me, ds and him he was an angel. When his family was around he was awful. I did have to say to him to not shout What the hell bro repeatedly and at top volume on the beach. Ds and I were the only English people on the beach and it's not a thing I'd like my ds to be shouting, so I told them both that it had to stop. I also told him that if ds didn't want his name put on a game online he didn't have to have the boy do it.

He answered me back really rudely. I did tell him off. There was no way I'd put up with that.

No adult ever constructively tells him off. His mother in the end was more interested in her new boyf than her kids, and his needs trumped even our visit. He was vile and I suspect extremely dangerous to have around kids, but that's another story.

If I were you I'd have suggest she sees you alone, or drops off her dd. And tell her why. It's not on for her to over parent your child, and actually he's not doing anything wrong.

RhiWrites · 28/02/2016 10:57

If she's a good friend TALK TO HER!

"Friend, it makes me uncomfortable that you tell DS off. It's my job to parent him. I feel that you're being unnecessarily harsh sometimes and other times when I would tell him off you get there first. Is there something that bothers you about DS? Could you back off a bit?"

Pippidoeswhatshewants · 28/02/2016 11:15

If you value the friendship, and the dcs genuinely love each other, why don't you meet up where the dcs can just get on with it and you sit back and have a coffee? Soft play seems ideal, your friend won't be able to helicopter.
Any other occasions, like meals or holidays, I would put them on hold.

MyFriendGoo52 · 28/02/2016 11:55

People don't let their 5 year olds play in different rooms ??! Really ??!!

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