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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Let's go and ask Mummy

109 replies

SnugglySnerd · 14/11/2017 15:06

No don't ask me. I don't have an opinion I just want 5 minutes peace. Piss off and make a decision on your own for once.

Also why is it never "let's go and ask Daddy"?

OP posts:
outabout · 15/11/2017 12:49

Why would I bother commenting on the Feminism boards as women know ALL the answers already. The fact I agree with a fair amount of the comments on there doesn't justify the effort of typing it.

StrangeLookingParasite · 15/11/2017 14:25

This is the knife edge men are expected to walk.

Oh woe, woe is you!

Haudyerwheesht · 15/11/2017 14:29

Dh does this but so does my mum and they both also do 'mummy says no'.

I.e.
'Grandma / daddy can I put my pants on my head and jump off the roof whilst holding a bread knife'
'Oh I think mummy would say no to that' (subtext 'of course I wouldn't say no but mummy's the boss and she ruins everyone's fun')

SabineDeux · 15/11/2017 14:32

I give my DH a hard stare if he pulls the "no, mummy says you can't do that" shit.

It's all about wanting to be the good guy.

DN4GeekinDerby · 15/11/2017 14:43

It is very frustrating when other adults try to enforce this. More than a few times, I was in the situation where medical professionals kept asking questions solely to me even when my spouse was there and answering as he was the main carer for 9 years. I even got copy of letters where a pediatrician complained I wasn't there when my spouse took our kids to an appointment. I've not yet seen anyone question him not being at one.

And on the occasions we've had different answers to things with the kids, it normally comes out and we talk about it with the kids and come to agreement. I'm not sure the imagined knife edge people are talking about but that sounds like a generally unhealthy relationship. It's one thing when people have no idea because they don't usually deal with certain things, I've been there, but let's not act like it's normal for men to be terrified of the mother of their kids' opinion on things or that that is the main cause of any of this.

mrsmuddlepies · 15/11/2017 14:50

you are not allowed on the feminist boards if you are not a feminist. I challenged this yesterday about the boards exclusivity

drspouse · 15/11/2017 15:00

I'm not sure the imagined knife edge people are talking about but that sounds like a generally unhealthy relationship
Yes, this.

SparklyUnicornPoo · 15/11/2017 17:34

I just respond with 'don't know, ask Daddy' (or whoever sent them to ask me)

Missingstreetlife · 15/11/2017 17:40

Try what did daddy/mummy say cos often they know what the rule is.

codswallopandbalderdash · 15/11/2017 21:56

I'm afraid I frequently say ' it's up to your daddy. He's in charge at the moment' ... because I got hacked off being the parent who always says no ...

SirGawain · 15/11/2017 21:57

Women are renowned for being decisive but quite often change their minds shortly after.

^This^

ForestDad · 15/11/2017 22:19

In our house...
Child: Can I have this?
Parent 1: No.
...Child moves to other room thinking they are mastermind clever...
Child: Can I have this?
Parent 2: Yes/no/what did parent 1 say?/ask parent 1/why are you asking me when parent 1 already said no you cheeky monkey?/don't lie to me I know that parent 1 said no/if I check and find out you're lying there'll be trouble/go and sit on the step.
Any shred of inconsistency and child wins!
I'm less likely to change my mind and when I have kids on my own they don't try to change it.

YouCantArgueWithStupid · 15/11/2017 22:23

Best thread ever. I am default parent and get MIL, DM, DF etc always ask me even when DH is in the room

FizzyWaterAndElderflower · 16/11/2017 07:51

Things I have learned regarding this:

Look a the child first, make sure you've understood what they asked.
Next, perform a risk assessment based on who else is in the house, and where the child has just come from questions like 'what did daddy tell you about that?' and 'how many have you had today already' can help here.
Finally, feel free to bounce it straight back with 'ask daddy' if the item in question is more easily obtainable/he's not up to anything at the moment and you are busy.

Or I just might have barrack room lawyers of kids who's every seemingly innocent question's motives need to be examined......

FizzyWaterAndElderflower · 16/11/2017 07:52

Ha! SNAP ForestDad! We clearly have similarly inclined children.

BertieBotts · 16/11/2017 08:33

The feminist boards are a public space. Anybody can post there. That doesn't mean you won't be flamed if you come on spouting sexist shite.

To combat this default parent stuff you've got to actively rope DH in, let them know that it's happening, because sometimes they are a bit oblivious to it. If that means tagging out and saying can you make sure the DC don't disturb me for a bit, then fine - after a while you'll find that he's more aware of when you are/aren't able to be disturbed. And have a blanket rule of no talking through the toilet door once you're old enough to understand the concept of waiting.

And although I do agree sometimes the mum can get narked at the dad making the wrong decision, but this is not a woe is me ohh it's impossible I can't get anything right because she just changes her mind randomly, she's more narked that he hasn't actually bothered to use his brain or engage with the shared values/household rules they have for their child, and has simply gone with the easiest answer, whereas she feels like she has to weigh up every decision because she knows that it's going to affect her in the future, whether that is a totally hyper child up past bedtime, or a child who isn't going to eat their dinner, potential puke situation, or something long term like developing a habit for sugar, tooth decay, general undermining of goals. Yes, men, this is EXHAUSTING, especially when you are the only one doing it. At least when there's two of you doing it, you can both have some lazy moments where the answer is "yeah whatever". Otherwise she always has to be "on" to make up for your laziness. So have some appreciation and respect for what your wife is doing and try to keep up. You are not merely babysitting this small human, you are jointly responsible for its development and entire early life, so use it wisely.

(Both) don't disagree in front of each other unless it's a hill you're willing to die on or a simple filling in of information which would have changed the other's decision. Talk about it later if you disagreed.

ememem84 · 16/11/2017 09:38

Oh jeez. My mum does this. But referring to dh not ds. Ds is only 7 weeks old.

“What will dh have to drink?” I don’t know - he’s right there. Ask him.
“Does dh like xyz food?” Ask him not me. He’s right there.

soupforbrains · 16/11/2017 09:49

I think there is quite a lot of feminist/non-feminist accusations/generalisations being thrown around here that don't really need to be.

SOME women do set themselves up as the 'superior parent' and thus do make a rod for their own backs regarding deferral from other parent.

SOME women, do not do this to themselves but do however end up stuck in that role. sometimes this is through a lack of initiative/common sense/awareness of the other parent and sometimes it is simply through absence/laziness/lack of thought.

And amazingly SOME women and men establish their relationships such that through thorough communication they know what page they're on and don't do this anyway.

As Forest Dad demonstrated sometimes a little 'what did your dad/mum say' is necessary because lets be honest even the most communicative and 'on the same page' parenting duos don' always know exactly what one another thinks in every possible scenario.

There is however an entire secondary aspect to these scenarios which is the presentation of one parent as 'the baddie'. One person in a partnership should not say things like "No Mummy says we can't" or "well if Daddy says no then it's no". Even is one has to check with the other about something then it should just be "Sorry we can't make that night" or "I've spoken to mummy and we decided it's not a good idea" I hate the passive aggressive blaming that some adults do. It's just ridiculous.

AND as the OPs example among others there is no excuse for this sort of thing when it's not between a parenting couple. other adults/relatives etc should really know better and just approach whichever parent is nearest.

SnugglySnerd · 16/11/2017 09:55

Soup I think everything you said is sensible.

It's the other people always asking me things (what would DD like for lunch? Etc) that really wind me up ie older relatives but I expect it is a generational thing as when their children were small mothers probably did take sole responsibility for things like food.

DH also finds it quite insulting that they bypass him to ask me or if they get wind that he will be alone with all 3 dcs for more than a couple of hours they all offer to come and help. He is a brilliant father and can certainly manage on his own probably far better than I do.

OP posts:
MrsHathaway · 16/11/2017 09:56

In our house...
Child: Can I have this?
Parent 1: No.
...Child moves to other room thinking they are mastermind clever...
Child: Can I have this?
Parent 2: Yes/no/what did parent 1 say?/ask parent 1/why are you asking me when parent 1 already said no you cheeky monkey?/don't lie to me I know that parent 1 said no/if I check and find out you're lying there'll be trouble/go and sit on the step.

We can always tell when DC2 is trying this because he asks Parent 2 really really quietly Grin

I am primary parent a lot of the time because DH works silly hours and often away overseas, but when he is around I now make him take it on - eg he had half term off work and I was WFH, so even when it was easier for me just to answer the damn question / find the shoe / make the toast I forced myself to say "Daddy's in charge today; I'm working; go and ask Daddy".

pax 's idea of always being 20% stricter is evil and genius.

Nousernameforme · 16/11/2017 09:58

Why is the dad deemed so incapable of making the correct choice in your example Sloan

Child: Can I have that chocolate
Dad: yes
Mum: WTF - he's had too much sugar already today
Why can't the father be aware of his childs sugar consumption that day why is it always up the mother to police these things?
OR.

Child: Can I have that chocolate
Daddy: No
Mum: Of course you can, only a little bit, you've been a good boy today.
Again if the child has been good (food is not a reward but your example so ill run with it) and therefore deserving of chocolate why is the father unaware?

If he is clueless about his childs behaviour he surely could just ask her dc wants a chocolate can i give him one? Then he would be the one fetching the chocolate and interacting with dc allowing the dm to carry on with whatever she was busy doing

JoieDeFuckingVivre · 16/11/2017 09:58

I've only read the OP and I'm laughing!!!!! I get...."what does mummy think?" Mummy couldn't give a flying fuck right now!!

angelawilliams · 16/11/2017 10:23

It's because they know that mummy will give them what they want! I'm such a sucker for my little ones coming into my bed and asking for 'midnight snacks' (at 8pm!) and I can never say no. They know if they asked their dad they wouldn't get it so it's always me! xx

Queeniebed · 16/11/2017 14:59

I have all of this to come. I know whats going to happen as I have to give all medication to LO and animals so they dont hate him lol

steppemum · 16/11/2017 15:03

I sometimes look at my dc and say - you have two parents, any reason why the one closest to you couldn't answer the question?

They are older though