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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not invite this girl round again?

276 replies

WinterIsHereJon · 27/11/2016 10:59

BIL's DP has a DD aged four. She's a nightmare; stroppy, whinges constantly, loses her temper when not getting her own way. Some of it normal for her age, but she's noticeably more difficult than any child I've known at that age. No discipline from her mum, even when she has hit my dcs, broken things etc.

A few weeks ago we invited BIL and his partner for dinner. Evening invitation, didn't mention the child. Our DCs were staying with grandparents. When they arrived, the little girl was with them, in her PJs. Crossed wires possibly, but they were obviously hoping she would end up staying over. She ran riot and unchecked throughout the house for hours. She then through a tantrum as she was leaving and deliberately kicked my dog in the face. I shouted, in shock more than anything, her mum just told her that was unkind and to apologise to the dog Hmm they left soon afterwards.

I was furious! Thankfully the dog is as soft as they come and just wandered off to bed looking confused, but that is pure luck and there are no guarantees she couldn't snap. Had she bitten this girl I have no doubt they'd have demanded she was PTS, and I'd have been forced to rehome her. DP and I agreed that we would not have them over again unless things improved with her behaviour.

Since this, MIL has invited them to join us on Christmas Day without asking me first. They are all basically making out that it's me being precious over the dog rather than taking any responsibility for her behaviour, and suggested I send the dog to my mums "if that's the issue". It isn't!! I sense a big family fall out will ensue but just wanted to check whether IABU before making a fuss!

OP posts:
SVJAA · 27/11/2016 16:57

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Ahickiefromkinickie · 27/11/2016 17:01

YANBU OP. Stand your ground.

Floggingmolly · 27/11/2016 17:02

User is one hell of a Crazy Cat Lady.

WinterIsHereJon · 27/11/2016 17:02

Wow lots of replies! To answer the question that keeps cropping up, Christmas Day was going to be myself, DP, our 2 DCs, MIL and FIL. And the dog Grin it's not an enormous family bash that BIL is excluded from. We usually all spend Boxing Day at MIL house so have never seen him on Christmas Day before. We can't make Boxing Day this year so invited ILs round so they would still see the children. DP isn't hugely close to BIL so no plans had been made as such but we'd have either popped in briefly on Boxing Day with gifts or seen them another day at MILs as we are usually there quite a few times over the Christmas period.

Have been out for a lovely lunch and some retail therapy so will read the rest of the replies and then let you all know what we've decided Smile

OP posts:
kali110 · 27/11/2016 17:16

Not a chance would someone be wellcome in my house who had hurt one of my animals deliberately like that, child or adult.
I wouldn't be shutting my animals up in their own home either.
Your mil invited them, she had no right.
Say hurting your dog was the last straw, but that it was a major thing.
You won't have that in youe house.
Neither would i.
There's a difference between accidently pulling on an animals tail,or stroking it too hard and kicking it in the face Confused

kali110 · 27/11/2016 17:24

yeold my animals are part of the family too. If someone kicked or tried To kick one in the face they would no longer be wellcome in my home.

user1467976192 · 27/11/2016 17:28

I am charming my cat is my baby and I wouldn't have some self entitled child in my home that thought it was ok to hurt him. What can I say I prefer animals to children much less grief
A four year old knows been hit hurts and needs to learn not to inflict that on an innocent animal

SVJAA · 27/11/2016 17:38

If anyone kicked one of our cats or dog in the face they wouldn't be welcome in our house again. My kids know how to treat animals well and I expect visitors to do the same. Saying you'd teach a child not to kick by kicking them is frankly ridiculous.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 27/11/2016 17:50

"If a child kicked my cat in the face, that child would be receiving my size 6 foot in its face and hopefully the parents wouldn't let it near me again.. problem solved"

user1467976192 - what a ridiculous thing to say. No normal person would kick a child in the face, and you lose any credibility you had, when you exaggerate like that.

If you had said that you'd tell throw the child and their parents out, on the spot, and refused to have them back - that I would respect.

ohfourfoxache · 27/11/2016 17:54

Your mil sounds bloody rude, and if she is trying to get them onside because you were such a terrible dil who put her Dc first then you really should tell her to do one.

Shockers · 27/11/2016 18:00

I would be furious with MIL, especially after the suggestion that your dog, who is part of your family, be sent away for the day.

BeingATinselTwatItsABingThing · 27/11/2016 18:04

user1467976192, I managed to teach my DD to not kick people or animals and she is 2. Funnily enough, that never involved kicking her.

RandomMess · 27/11/2016 18:14

YANBU I guess just cancel hosting Christmas Day and say you'll pop along to see MIL & FIL at some point - that way if your DN to be is being difficult you can retreat back to your own house!

DinosaursRoar · 27/11/2016 18:47

I agree that you should cancel them - frankly, it's not just the dog/girl relationship that would have to be watched, her behaviour around your DCs and their toys would have to be watched, someone - other than her mum or BIL as they are useless - would have to be near her at all time to make sure she doesn't damage anything of theirs or upset them.

Your DCs shouldn't have their Christmas day ruined.

thatdearoctopus · 27/11/2016 18:54

Yes, think about it. Your own dcs will have all their brand new toys out that they've just opened. Are you prepared for their disappointment if this child wrecks any?

8misskitty8 · 27/11/2016 22:59

Your MIL has a cheek asking other people round to yours for Christmas and then blames it all on the dog when you say no.
If MIL wants to have a big family Christmas including BIL then she should host. I'd be telling her this.
To the poster who suggested that you lock the dog up for a few hours, why should op do that ? It is the dogs house. There is only an issue involving the dog due to it being kicked by an undisciplined child. What did your MIL say when the dog was kicked ?

LucieLucie · 27/11/2016 23:20

I'd be announcing that due to circumstances out with your control you are having to cancel hosting Christmas dinner.

I wouldn't even explain why, you'll never come out looking good.

MIL will side with the new grandchild maker and see no fault in her own behaviour.

Shut the door and enjoy your own family Christmas and keep the feral brat well away.

Idontbelievethelies · 27/11/2016 23:29

There is absolutely no chance what so ever that anyone who allowed their child to run riot and kick my dog would be welcome in my home. Your poor dog. As for shipping the dog off elsewhere for the day, no, the dog wasn't the issue.

They are a pair of entitled arse holes, as is your mil it seems.

I suggest you get yourself a pair of meerkats, and take them to your bil house to run amock and bite everyone and see how they like it.

It's sad for their daughter if she's going to invoke this response from everyone. she's going to get excluded from school parties and other family events.

Mil can do the hosting if she's so keen.

MondayTuesdayWednesday · 28/11/2016 13:38

I think it will ruin your Christmas if you just go along with this. It's not really fair on your own children to have this child there if she is going to upset them and you. I would say to you MIL that you are happy for her and FIL to come for Christmas but otherwise you would just like it to be yourselves. Tell her that you are happy for her to have dinner at her house for BIL and his partner and child if she would prefer that. Give her the option. It's better than what she did to you which was give you no options! So have you decided what you are going to do?

HouseworkIsASin10 · 28/11/2016 13:46

Why should your kids have a shit christmas? Don't do it to them.

Cancel hosting. If you go ahead tell BIL yourself that they are not invited as I wouldn't rely on MIL passing the message on.

I would also give MIL a bollocking for having the nerve to invite other people, it's because of her you have got to go through this awkwardness.

WhatchaMaCalllit · 28/11/2016 14:16

Have you come to a decision yet OP on how you're going to handle this situation?

StefCWS · 28/11/2016 14:24

4 year olds are sometimes awful, (I have one) it must have been embarrassing for her mum perhaps why she didn't make a fuss. in the spirit of Christmas I would allow them to come so everyone can be together, however when she arrives kneel down and remind her that she needs to be better behaved than she was last time.

StefCWS · 28/11/2016 14:26

although to add, my 4 year old wouldn't kick a dog in the face... perhaps mums fault and not kids, down to parenting.

FrancisCrawford · 28/11/2016 15:03

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

StefCWS · 28/11/2016 15:08

oh dear, the mother is clearly to blame then. Don't know what to suggest then im afraid :-( x