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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

I'm sick of my dd getting the blame..

243 replies

Usernameinvalid16 · 17/10/2016 22:13

My dd is 2 years old. Dniece (5) Dnephew (also 2) are at my house everyday (both parents work) and normally everything is fine but occasionally they all fight, its usually over toys.
Now i understand my daughter can be rough, we are working our hardest (with her preschool teachers) to get her to stop and her behaviour has improved! She has stopped the hair pulling, biting, pushing and pulling. I am really happy with her progress.

Dsis and BIL can't see the improvement (we physically see them once a week) Dsis does drop offs and pick ups but i only see her for 5 mins in the morning and afternoon.
When they do visit they constantly shout at dd when in my opinion she has done nothing wrong (jumping around, shouting and running in circles) i do remind her to use her inside voice but she gets excited. I don't agree with telling her to 'shut up' because i have a headache..

Dnepew does cry a lot. Whenever my dd gets close he slaps her. I try to tell Dsis this but she thinks the fault lies with dd. I see the 3 dc everyday and i know what they are like! Dniece blames dd for everything even if i seen Dniece do it.
For example Dniece throws all the shoes off the rack and i ask why did you do that? Can you pick them back up please she then turns around and tells me that dd done it and she won't pick them up. Another one is she emptied the 2 toy boxes and when asked to pick them back up she tells me that dd should do it because it was her fault, i could go on.
Dniece obviously tells her version of events and i'm sure you know how children exaggerate things/make them up. I always get a phonecall accusing dd of pulling dniece's hair or scratching her and i think to myself that never happened Confused and fill them in on what we have done that day and they will go on and on with 'but dniece told me this happened' she could tell them that a 3 legged elephant jumped out the bushes and they would believe her because 'she doesn't tell lies'.
Anyway tonight i had a few missed calls and they told me that dniece has a massive scratch on her back (obviously i do not have a clue where that came from) i don't take her clothes off, she uses the bathroom by herself all i do is remind her to wash her hands. She has told them that dd done it but dniece never said anything to me about it (she normally cries and tells me instantly) but nothing like that happened today. Infact i had a word with them all about getting on because they are friends and dniece was huffy about it.

I am getting fed up of it now and its really upsetting me.
Maybe it is dd faults and i'm just fooling myself about her improvement.
I don't know why i'm posting this, i think i just wanted to get a few things off my chest.

OP posts:
Fannyupcrutch · 18/10/2016 09:47

Well done OP!! I could cheer for you , I really could. I love your idea about learning more about child development. I recently became qualified as a TA with my local college so i could get class room hours to apply for initial teacher training. It was a great experience, my college have rolling enrolment so you can join at several points over the year. You may be entitled to a learning loan and creche hours too.

MrsJayy · 18/10/2016 09:48

They wont get childcare for £50 a week bloody hell they were really taking the piss. Op be prepared for more grief before it gets better stay strong

MrsJayy · 18/10/2016 09:49

Is your neice a winter birthday op

NightWanderer · 18/10/2016 09:53

There are plenty of courses you can do online for free for something to get you started while you wait. It would be a good excuse to stave of your sister when she realises how expensive childcare is.

Good on you for standing up to them.

Fluffycloudland77 · 18/10/2016 09:53

Your dsis sounds a right bully. Please don't have her kids back, your poor daughter.

knaffedoff · 18/10/2016 09:55

Well done, I have a similar situation with my "dsis", my child was the youngest cousin who was labelled. I felt angry and very hurt with the way my family were treated, when essentially they were children who made mistakes (for which we reprimanded as appropriate)

I have since removed all contact with my "dsis", life has been much easier and I feel that standing up for my children was the only way forward.

I hate being estranged, but I hated watching her criticising me, my dh and my children more!

MagikarpetRide · 18/10/2016 09:58

I was about to post about watching out for calls to you parents but obviously too late there!

Thankfully your df is reasoned enough to listen to both sides of the story before going off on one at you.

If your sis comes crawling back and you feel like caving make sure you draw up a list of terms that are acceptable for the arrangement to continue.

Usernameinvalid16 · 18/10/2016 09:59

I'm not sure how it works, dd was born in may but won't start school until she's 5 1/2.

OP posts:
Stillunexpected · 18/10/2016 10:01

OP, did I miss a post where you said what country you are in?

Usernameinvalid16 · 18/10/2016 10:04

Scotland.

OP posts:
Rrross1ges · 18/10/2016 10:04

Well done User just think of all the fun you have with DD now you're not saddled with your sister's kids.

LagunaBubbles · 18/10/2016 10:05

She's text back saying that don't bother she will take a day off work and that i'm being selfish

Oh shes a charmer isnt she! Please dont listen to her, your DSIS is only looking after herself, looking after the rights and well being off your own DD is as you know your priority and is no way selfish.

Was she like this with you when you were children?

BitchPeas · 18/10/2016 10:06

Well done op I think you've dealt with this really well. Your DD is lucky to have you!

Enkopkaffetak · 18/10/2016 10:07

Pleased your dad backed you up op. If you at all can afford it I would go with his suggestion of going off the grid with dd for a few days.

Redken24 · 18/10/2016 10:09

Well Done you - challenging bad behavior is so hard!

MrsJayy · 18/10/2016 10:11

Your Dd isnt a late school starter op thats the correct starting age for a may birthday your neice has probably been deferred sorry to derail i was wonderi g why your neice wasnt in school i was just being nosy Smile

myusernamewastaken · 18/10/2016 10:13

Well done op....stay strong...you are not obliged to be anyones childcare.. your own child must always come first.

Balanced12 · 18/10/2016 10:15

Well done OP just don't let them sick you back into looking after them

Gazelda · 18/10/2016 10:17

Bloody well done OP. Be proud of how you've handled this, and how you've put your own DDs needs first. That's what a great mum does.
And it sounds as though your DF has got the measure of your DSis. I agree that the best thing is to ignore texts etc from her for a while. Let things calm down.
Now you can devote time to giving your DD endless time and attention. I've no doubt that she'll continue to flourish.

Olympiathequeen · 18/10/2016 10:22

Train as a real childminder and get a couple of children whose parents will not have such a close relationship with you which interferes with your parenting. You sound to be doing the right thing with DD

RumbleMum · 18/10/2016 10:24

Well done, OP - sounds like the right decision for you and DD. Stick to your guns if DSis tries to get you to change your mind!

FWIW you sound like a great parent and an ideal candidate for that course.

ChazsBrilliantAttitude · 18/10/2016 10:26

Well done. I'm glad your DF is backing you up too. Relax and have some fun time with your DD, you deserve it after all this crap.

Pikawhoo · 18/10/2016 10:31

Good for you!

When you've grown up with certain family dynamics (being scapegoated, told you're no good at things etc) it can take time to realise it's not normal or to take the steps to make a change. Also, you sound like a really lovely person who was happy to help out family members, I can't believe you were doing it basically for free and getting that sort of abuse. I'm glad your DF is so supportive, and I hope you and your DD start to feel a lot better and enjoy your days together more :-)

Almostfifty · 18/10/2016 10:39

If your DD is in nursery a couple of hours a day, why don't you do some voluntary work either in a different nursery or school to see if you like it enough to make it your career? Most schools are happy to have people help out once you've got a PVG done.

SquinkiesRule · 18/10/2016 10:52

Your not so Dear Sis is a big old bully. She tries to keep you down by criticizing your parenting skills when hers are lacking (who yells at someone elses 2 yo) Then tries to say you are being unreasonable not wanting to watch her kids for next to nothing, then when you don't cave after that, she runs crying to your Mum.
Stay strong and watch your little Dd blossom while she isn't being shoved about by her cousins, who clearly are learning to behave the way they do from their parents.