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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

WIBU to cancel DS birthday party as a punishment?

358 replies

Superheroessidekick · 04/07/2017 16:05

DS is due to have friends over at the weekend for his birthday. I have just been called into the school because he ripped up a sentimental item that another child brought in for show and tell. The poor child was devastated and I am mortified. He was also messing around with another boy kicking each other. With 2 weeks left till the summer holidays it seems like there has not been a week where the teacher hasn't had words with us about silly behaviour and he always gets grounded/ punished appropriately in and out of school. I have got to the point where I feel something really has to be done I do not want this to carry on into year 5/6 then god forbid secondary. Is it too harsh to cancel his party?

OP posts:
Trollspoopglitter · 05/07/2017 00:56

Pictish, I've no idea what this means

"All I see that he learns is that when he's really angry he gets to do something horrible"

He learns when he does something horrid to another person, there will be consequences. Ones he actually cares about. He learns his parents are horrified and embarrassed by his bad behaviour and he's crossed a massive, massive line. He's learned where the boundary is.

user1476869312 · 05/07/2017 01:02

This reply has been deleted

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WyfOfBathe · 05/07/2017 01:29

I wouldn't cancel the party for two reasons: 1 I don't generally like punishments with no warning (natural consequences or reparations aside), and 2 it would affect the other invitees. I remember feeling punished at about your DS's age when my friend's exciting party was cancelled because of her misbehaviour.

I would make him write a letter of apology to the boy and buy him a gift or make a donation to a relevant charity. I would also warn him that one more mean act at school or home will lead to his party being cancelled, and check with his teacher each day.

BadLad · 05/07/2017 01:38

What would you bucketheads be ordering OP to do if there wasn't an upcoming birthday party, I wonder?

WIBU to cancel DS birthday party as a punishment?
papercoversrock · 05/07/2017 02:22

I think you’re doing the right thing op. I suspect your DS didn't realise the seriousness of what he was doing at the time. However, now it's done, I think losing the party is a suitable consequence and you're right to follow through. I really feel for you and I think your two-pronged attack of cancelling the party but stepping up the 1:1 time is the way forward.

For what it’s worth, your DS is not the first 9-year old to act up because a new baby/toddler is suddenly running the show, and he won’t be the last. Of course, that doesn't make it ok for him to be nasty. It just means these things happen to the best of us and I hope you’re not beating yourself up. It's what you plan to do next that matters.

As you say, you’re not cancelling his birthday, you’re just telling him he can’t have his friends over. This seems entirely appropriate given that he’s shown unkindness to other children recently.
I find claims that this will “scar him for life” or that he’ll “resent you forever” more than a shade melodramatic. In fact, if he’s genuinely remorseful and you ask him outright, I suspect he’d agree that not having friends over is a fair consequence. It doesn’t mean his birthday will be miserable – just not exactly what he wanted. Children who would “resent you forever” if you remove a privilege because of their poor behaviour are children who need to work on their sense of entitlement. They are entitled to have their emotional and physical needs met. A party is not an emotional or a physical need - it's something very nice that they might be allowed to have if they've earned it.

I agree that a behaviour book could be a good idea, but can I make a suggestion? It’s something that I’ve seen work before: You divide the page into two halves. One half is for basic behaviour – following instructions, abiding by the school rules. You want to see that half of the page empty except for the words “all fine” or “no problems”. If any silly or poor behaviour is mentioned here, you will be disappointed; there will be consequences. The other half is for acts of kindness. This could be helping the teacher, helping other staff, looking after little ones if they’re upset at breaktime, tidying up if he sees it needs doing, etc. This is the bit you’re interested in. You want to see lots of writing here. Maybe he can write himself the kind thing he did so long as the teacher or member of staff initials it. (Busy staff members may appreciate this!) Hopefully this way he sees it less as a log of his bad behaviour and more as a “good deed diary.” (Also, if he's been mucking about at breaktimes at all, it might not hurt for him to look for something constructive to do to keep him occupied.) Personally, I wouldn't be promising rewards for good deeds - just show a lot of interest, praise anything good, ask him to tell you all about it, and tell grandparents/friends/relatives about it loudly and proudly when you know he can hear you. Then at a later date, tell him how proud you are of all the kind things he's been doing recently. If you want to give him a reward at the same time, fair enough. But it's not a case of "one good deed gets you one Mars Bar." That's not what it's about.

Regarding 1:1 time, I know it’s really important to do fun activities together. However, the fun times aren’t easy to arrange if you've got a 2yo to think about, and they don’t always allow for proper reflective chats. Do you have a memory box from when your DS was small that he could help you to organise? Or some photos that he could help you put into an album? This would be a great way to remind him that he is special to you. You could talk about the sort of things that he got up to when he was small, and compare with the sort of stuff his brother gets up to. This might allow you to test the water a little – see how he feels about his baby brother taking up so much of everyone’s time. It might be a good time to think of some things he’s done recently that you thought were really grown up or smart and tell him how proud you are. It might be a good time to tell him that you miss spending time with him on his own, and to ask if he’d like to arrange to do something fun together.

Even just doing a few chores together (preparing food, making beds, washing dishes) can be good bonding time. It’s a good chance to let your DS feel helpful, successful and appreciated, and you can chat about whatever he wants to chat about while you’re working. I sometimes think this sort of quality time is more valuable than trips to theme parks or whatever. It’s certainly more doable on an ongoing basis.

Whatever you decide to do, fair play to you. A few posters seem to think that you can’t be both strict and loving at the same time, whereas I firmly believe the two go hand in hand. Hope it all works out!

Rinkydinkypink · 05/07/2017 03:14

Yes cancel it!

He needs to learn to earn good things not get them regardless. The only way this will happen is by taking good things away for bad behaviour.

What he did he needs to realise is devastating to the other child. A bit like how having his party taken from him feels.

He wants to be thankful he has any friends at all!

SparklyMagpie · 05/07/2017 07:01

BadLad GrinGrin

mikado1 · 05/07/2017 07:11

HorrudHenry, I was saying similar! (Not sure if you quoting me and thrn commenting was agreeing or disagreeing!) :)

notanurse2017 · 05/07/2017 07:20

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skirainbow · 05/07/2017 07:24

A nasty trend among the stupid? Really? A trend to behave like a parent, you mean perhaps? And there is a trend among the panderers to make excuses for poor behaviour, to find reasons for unkind acts, to blame victims and even to suggest that other children become embroiled in consequences (inviting less favoured children as a consequence - what?!)
There is not a need for a whole list of consequences but something needs to happen and cancelling a party (not the whole birthday) is perfectly appropriate.

Superheroessidekick · 05/07/2017 07:26

@papercoversrock lovely ideas thank you Smile

OP posts:
onlyconnect · 05/07/2017 07:28

I would not cancel the party. I don't think doing something nasty back generally improves a person. That doesn't mean there are no consequences. I'd try to think of something related to the incident such as a present for the boy bought out of your son's pocket money.
A young child repeatedly punished is unlikely to change for the better. A child who is generally well-behaved and who does a one-off naughty thing might think twice next time if they experience a negative consequence but one who clearly hasn't developed the empathy or control to discipline their own behaviour yet won't be affected by yet another punishment. Find other ways- much more difficult I'm afraid.
Those who think this is a soft "poor lamb" approach sound tough but in the long run they are responsible for creating more victims. Their methods blatantly don't work for adults or children.

bumblingmum · 05/07/2017 07:31

I think you should cancel too. Sounds like he needs a big consequence after several incidences being called into school. A friend of mine cancelled her sons birthday for bad behaviour at the same age.
I'm guessing that the friends invited might also be the friends that mess about and would do them good to see consequences of bad behaviour.
If he proves himself over the summer and in September, he could always earn back a small celebration with a couple of friends later on?
Can you trawl eBay to replace ruined item?

IrritatedUser1960 · 05/07/2017 07:36

I'm not sure I agree with cancelling the party as I think not celebrating someones birthday can lead to long term self esteem problems.
However he does need a serious punishment I agree with poster above who suggests selling something close to his heart to pay for a gift for the other child. Say you'll do this every time he gets close to bullying another child, he will soon stop behaving like that.

greendale17 · 05/07/2017 07:39

I would cancel the party

pictish · 05/07/2017 07:47

Fuck off cancel it.
Don't. It's easy for all this lot to say - he's not their kid.

icelollycraving · 05/07/2017 08:08

I would cancel the party as it's a home one and easy to cancel.
It sounded a spiteful act and there should be a punishment for it. I thought it may be reception age when I first read it but at nine, it's not behaviour I would tolerate. Nip it in the bud. Good luck,it won't be easy.

ZoeWashburne · 05/07/2017 08:38

OP, ignore the posts calling this cruel. You tried several levels of punishment, and the behaviour escalated.

You are being a good parent by showing that is it devestating when someone takes something irreplaceable away from you and destroys it. You are also showing that you will not put up with cruel behaviour. Your son is not entitled to a big birthday party with friends every year. It is a gift. He has shown that he has no self control around friends, therefore he needs to work on that before he is rewarded with celebrations with big groups of friends. Bollocking him, then giving him a party sends so many mixed messages. You are still celebrating the birthday as a family, just cancelling the friend's party.

I cannot believe some people think all punishments are cruel. No one is saying to lock him in the cellar with bread and water. But rather that you will not stand by and condone bullying. And you are serious. This is a repeated problem. I guarantee your son will realise the punishments will escalate if he doesn't knock it off.

It is an absolutely age appropriate and proportional response to your DS bullying and escalating behaviour. It will make him stop and think next time.

Onhold · 05/07/2017 08:39

Not one person on here would cancel their child's party. It's all just hot air.

NellieFiveBellies · 05/07/2017 09:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

skirainbow · 05/07/2017 09:11

I so would. Luckily for my kids they know better than to try me. I have cancelled other stuff in the past for acting up though.

Onhold · 05/07/2017 09:16

MN is full of posters who like to give out advice they would never dream of taking themselves.

StarHeartDiamond · 05/07/2017 09:19

If you cancel the party, what are you going to say to their parents, and children (who presumably are looking forward to it also?) if you tell them it's because of ds ripping up item I'm really not sure about that. Yes it makes you look like a firm parent etc but it might have the effect of changing how your ds's friends and his parents see him which then could have longer lasting effects in a different direction. You really need to think this one through.

StarHeartDiamond · 05/07/2017 09:23

I would keep this incident as a school event and work on other ways to increase your ds's empathy and behaviour. You need to find a way to get a firmer grip on your ds's behaviour (daily report, apology, gift bought from pocket money). Cancelling the party seems like the (hate to say it) lazy/obvious option and not one which I think will necessarily change his behaviour in class.

PuckeredAhole · 05/07/2017 09:26

Cancel the party.

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