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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Unreasonable punishment to force a child to eat cereal covered in ribena?

109 replies

AliceScarlett · 19/05/2016 15:45

That's unreasonably harsh right? Poured it over instead of milk, but why not just throw it away and start again?
Then mocked when started crying because of nausea.
Is this a reasonable punishment for wasting food and then not being able to eat it?

Sorry, odd thread, just can't get my head around it.

OP posts:
JocastaFarquhar · 19/05/2016 15:47

WTF? Sounds appalling. How did this even happen??

ElectroStallion · 19/05/2016 15:48

That's not really okay, is it?

Mind you, I don't think children should be allowed ribena because of their teeth.

NeedACleverNN · 19/05/2016 15:49

If the child poured the ribena in their own cereal then yeah they should eat it. Especially if they are old enough to know better.

If the parent poured the ribena then no it should be thrown

But it sounds like there's more to the story here

ElectroStallion · 19/05/2016 15:49

How was food wasted, btw? By accident? How old is this child?

sleepwhenidie · 19/05/2016 15:49

Shock Unreasonable behaviour to force a child to eat anything! And then laughing at DC? Who did that? They sound vile.

Ivegotyourgoat · 19/05/2016 15:50

Of course it's not on.

Although I could imagine my ds1 would think Rubens covered cornflakes were marvellous.

Who did this?

corythatwas · 19/05/2016 15:50

is the child yours? were they mucking about and pouring Ribena over it on purpose? were they actually nauseous or crying because they didn't like being told off? (why would Ribena on cereal cause nausea- sounds quite nice)

it's just impossible to answer your question if you don't give details

but I have always been very strict with my own children about playing with food and wasting food

throwing food away and starting again is not how I want to deal with anything short of a genuine mistake

less strict with other people's children

HerdOfRhino · 19/05/2016 15:50

No, that doesn't sound good

DoItTooJulia · 19/05/2016 15:51

Neat ribena? On cereal?

Wtf? Yes, it's awful and outrageous. The whole episode you've described is not one that would happen in a healthy and happy childhood.

If you're in a position to help this child Op then you must.

corythatwas · 19/05/2016 15:51

If it was an adult who poured the Ribena by mistake they should eat it and give the child a new portion.

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 19/05/2016 15:51

Electro wins the award for missing the point of the thread Wink

OP - sounds awful, more details?

AliceInHinterland · 19/05/2016 15:52

Agree forcing a child to eat anything is v unpleasant.

crje · 19/05/2016 15:52

Punishment of a child should never be humiliating.
What a horrible thing to do !!

Pinkheart5915 · 19/05/2016 15:53

If the parent poured the ribena on then throw it start again.
If it was the child ( depanding on age) I'd leave it on the breakfast table and say well now you can eat it but obviously I wouldn't force them to eat it

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 19/05/2016 15:53

Sorry, just realised I'm drip feeding.

If the child poured the ribena in their own cereal then yeah they should eat it. Especially if they are old enough to know better.

So maybe it's OK?

I was 6ish, my mother forced me to eat it and I threw up and cried. Ribena is really strong undiluted.

Sorry didn't mean it to sound like a current situation. I'm all over the shop.

I just remember feeling desolate and then so... Alone and ashamed when I asked her to stop because I was going to be sick and mocked and laughed at me.

OP posts:
Ivegotyourgoat · 19/05/2016 15:54

I'm just thinking if my 8 year old poured Ribena on his cereal, deliberately, then said it made him feel sick. I'd probably make him lose iPad time or something.

FutureGadgetsLab · 19/05/2016 15:54

I'm so confused.

FutureGadgetsLab · 19/05/2016 15:55

Just read your update, that is not okay.

corythatwas · 19/05/2016 15:55

It depends on how the forcing is done. There is a difference between physically forcing food down somebody's throat and saying "well, if you will play with your food you are not getting another portion. Eat that or leave the table". Both might be taken by a child as forcing.

fanjoforthemammaries7850 · 19/05/2016 15:55

Not OK that is way too strong to have to take undiluted. Sounds cruel

DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen · 19/05/2016 15:56

That's rotten OP, ribena is so strong undiluted.

Ivegotyourgoat · 19/05/2016 15:56

Oh so it happened to you?

Well times have changed a lot, how old are you op?

Was it a one off or was she awful a lot of the time?

Catmuffin · 19/05/2016 15:56

No that's horrible, especially as it was undiluted which would be nasty. Not acceptable at all.

NeedACleverNN · 19/05/2016 15:57

Hmmm again it depends

Did you pour the ribena on purpose?

Don't get me wrong if my dd did that and the refused to eat it because it made her feel sick, I would serve a new portion. I would probably be all "now wasn't that a stupid idea" about it but j wouldn't laugh at her feeling sick

Original poster
AliceScarlett · 19/05/2016 15:57

Yeah I mistakenly poured it over. She stood over me and physically forced it into my mouth after her telling me to stopped working because I felt nauseous.
Ack it's the past, just can't stop re experiencing it a bit in my mind. I think she took pleasure out of my discomfort, maybe that's the worst thing.

OP posts:
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