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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to cancel a day out?

98 replies

Mailfuckoff · 04/06/2018 10:14

Dc have an incet day today. Dh and I are both off so we planned a day at the beach. So we've done a picnic etc. Just driving from the house and DT (8) says he wished I'd gone to work because I'm mean. So I turned the car round and we're back in the house. I'm fuming at how ungrateful he is that we want to spend time with him doing nice things. But now the whole day is spoiled

OP posts:
AhoyDelBoy · 04/06/2018 11:28

And they're 8, are they not?

MrsPreston11 · 04/06/2018 11:31

What's DT??

Mummymummums · 04/06/2018 11:31

Totally understand OP. School holidays can bring out worst in us all. I work extra hours to get more holiday time off and recently lost one of my parents, but the DC often behave like spoilt entitled brats. Just this weekend I was talking excitedly about a forthcoming party (mine) planned a year ago and DS10 said he's sick of hearing about it and it's all about me. I actually don't talk about it much, or do anything for myself, but this is just two weeks after his own party. Spend my life trying to think of nice things to do, and end up wondering why I bother.
I have found that if the DC get a little screen time - Xbox or similar- this behaviour gets sooooo much worse. We limit it - DH sets time limits in Microsoft - but that causes its own meltdowns - "I was just about to win, your fault I haven't, etc"
Aaarrggghhhh. Managed some nice days out but the days of taking out willing and excited DC are numbered!
You have my sympathy- like any parenting always a straw that breaks the camel's back.

MrsPreston11 · 04/06/2018 11:31

Ah should've rtft, sorry.

I do think YABU cancelling the whole day.

Weezol · 04/06/2018 11:36

So DH has gone out and left you with them? Was this agreed or has he huffed off?

FWIW I don't think you were wrong to call a halt - I wouldn't be rewarding this kind of behaviour with a day at the seaside either.

They are only 8, so I have a feeling that your DH speaks to you like this and they are following his lead.

PenelopeFlintstone · 04/06/2018 11:43

Twin! Thank you.
(And, yes, they're 8. I saw 9 in one post.)

FASH84 · 04/06/2018 11:43

@AhoyDelBoy my first child but doesn't mean I don't have professional experience. You'll find that a lot of other posters agree that this wasn't well handled and my suggestions to talk it through and help him learn to see he affects the feelings of others aren't exactly revolutionary. Not everyone handles things in a reactive way, but clearly I've hit a sore spot for you somehow.

Racecardriver · 04/06/2018 11:49

@FASH84 professional experience is very, very different to having your own child. Do you think that parents are just ignorant or stupid? It doesn't take my h intellect to know what the right thing to do but it takes life experience to realise that the right thing isn't always right for your child (or you for that matter).

Poloshot · 04/06/2018 11:50

Tough love, well done OP 👍

FASH84 · 04/06/2018 11:51

@Racecardriver I've not said anything different to the majority of posters on this thread.

IamaBluebird · 04/06/2018 11:52

I'd go to the beach. Take the opportunity to talk to your son about the way he's behaving. He's only 8 he was rude but don't let it ruin your day out.
If you stay home it will rumble on all day. Your twins will end up arguing.
Hope[ you salvage a nice trip to the seaside from a bad start to the day op .Brew

FASH84 · 04/06/2018 11:52

In fact some have been a lot blunter than I was!

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 04/06/2018 11:53

I totally get that you are fed up of being the one who does everything. DH clearly needs to pitch in more. But you can't let everyone derail your plans because of this. Its not the only way to resolve it.

He said you were mean? That's pretty mild TBH. Was it justified? you were understandably resentful at having to work so hard and then having to work so hard at everyone else's leisure, but if you were being snappy to them about getting ready, was he correct to say he felt you were being mean to him?

I have often found that getting them all ready for a day out, however much they may want to go is a bit of a performance, it just is. they all drag their heels, and conscious of the time I snap at them a bit. So if my DCs said I was being mean, I probably was.
But I wouldn't throw away a lovely day out, which I know we'd enjoy once we got there, just for a bit of whinging from the kids and when we are there and they're enjoying it, I cannot resist saying I told you so to them, which is payback enough.

What you've shown him is that if he says anything you don't like, you will cancel, go back to the house and he will be blamed for spoiling everyone's fun etc. Everyone is then cooped up in the house feeling even more resentful, when you could have just ignored him, gone to the beach and given him the chance to apologise when everything was calmer.

Your reaction doesn't have to be automatic, in fact its better left til you yourself feel calmer. It's going to be harder for him to talk to you or tell you what he thinks, if he knows it will cause a big reaction like this. I know its hard, but sometimes if you want to be in control, you have to forge ahead with your plans and worry about the back chat later.

Everanewbie · 04/06/2018 11:55

You kind of proved his point by going home.

Racecardriver · 04/06/2018 11:56

@FASH84 how is that relevant? Ahoy was pointing out your lack of experience and how this reflected on your sense of certainty. I was merely pointing out that you may be in for some eye opening very soon. Didn't actually notice your advice, most of it seems pretty much the same tbh so ahoy may have been a bit OTT in sibgli g you out for being annoying but BTW, not saying that she was right. Just that you may want to apriach parenthood with more of an open mind.

CheeseyToast · 04/06/2018 11:57

Well you have my sympathy. I find it infuriating when I organise a day out for the kids and they whinge. I usually manage to stay calm and reasonable but absolutely have lost my cool on occasion. I know it's poor parenting but I just don't always mange to do things right.

Sometimes I think a better use of time is to do something for yourself, at least that way one member of the family is happy!

IamaBluebird · 04/06/2018 12:02

I think FASH84 s talking it through is a good idea. An 8 year old is annoying at the start of a car journey. Tell him not to be so rude and go to the seaside.

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 04/06/2018 12:03

I think yanbu!

Your son was rude, and didn’t apologise. You were right to show some consequences. Otherwise next time he’ll know it’s fine to say something hurtful like that again, with no explanation, and nothing comes of it other than you sucking it up and then continuing to provide him with a lovely day.

However, YABU to let the other child suffer as a result. I absolutely can’t stand the ‘one fucks up everyone suffers’ thing some teachers do for example where good kids are punished because of one naughty child’s actions, and this is similar. I can’t tell you how discouraging it is as a child when you’re doing what you should and being well behaved but are still punished for something completely out of your control. Lots of kids think well fuck it, no point trying.

So I’d leave the smart mouthed kid at home, and take the other one out alone with either you or his dad for a nice treat, maybe find somewhere nearer for the picnic then cinema or whatever.

And later on in the day I’d speak to the rude child and ask him what he means and where it came from to see what’s going on. It could well be that he has a solid reason for feeling aggrieved about something and just put it across badly. Talking to him is the only way you’re gonna resolve it.

Mummyoflittledragon · 04/06/2018 12:05

You know you overreacted. Sounds as if you may have a dh problem if you’re feeling so overwhelmed. And outnumbered.... 3 males in the house and twins at that must be tough. I was a bit shocked that you just turned round and went home. You sound a bit impulsive and at the end of your tether.

You’ve played straight into the “being mean” thing because what you did was mean. The way your children acted was probably mean as well but they have the excuse of being children

I think probably the best way to handle this now is to sit your dts down and tell them you’re going to x and you want everyone to be nice to one another. Then if it kicks off, deal with the situation there and then as opposed to drastic gestures. If your dt still blaming you after that, then time for a 1-2-1 chat.

Tambien · 04/06/2018 12:07

I actually don’t think it’s poor parenting to loose your cool because your dcs have misbehaved all day.
If children aren’t robots then nor are the adults. Children do need to learn that when you push too much, misbehave and act in a rude/entitled/annoying way, people will react.

happypoobum · 04/06/2018 12:09

On the face of it this sounds like a gigantic over reaction on your part. If my DS that age said I was mean my response would be something along the lines of "yeah, well your bum smells."

Why does he think you are mean?

What's really going on here?

You sound at the end of your tether but I cannot imagine it's because of a comment by a 9 year old.

If you need time out, just take it. Cinema on your own is lovely.

dueanotherchange · 04/06/2018 12:10

I don't think you're wrong.

I spent ALL DAY on Saturday picking up after other people, and despite the fact that I must have asked the DC to pick up and put away things that they'd finished with a million times, they didn't, leaving me to clear up at the end of the day.

I ended up really cross, and told them why. Then I did bedtime and after teeth brushing said "Right, into bed, lights out." to which they both went wide-eyed and asked about a story. I said no, it's late, and I have a lot of tidying up to do before I sit down, so no story. DH initially thought I'd been harsh but then agreed that actually, they needed to feel a consequence. They were both extremely apologetic and as good as gold yesterday and tidied up unasked yesterday evening Grin

funinthesun18 · 04/06/2018 12:11

I would still have gone. My 7 year old says things like this too sometimes and has suddenly developed a bit of an attitude but I don't think he truly means it. Kids just say things without meaning sometimes.

My 5 year old called me a toilet the other day because he didn't get his own way. I had to go in to the other room and laugh. Grin

MsMotherOfDragons · 04/06/2018 12:18

"It's lucky I'm so happy to be with you today and going on an exciting adventure, otherwise my feelings might have been very hurt by what you said. But we're going to have a great time."

Then just ignore!

Your child is looking for "negative attention" with remarks like this, and by responding to it with drama/punishment, you are giving it to them. Far better to ignore it and give positive attention for what they are doing well, IMHO.

MsMotherOfDragons · 04/06/2018 12:19

I totally get it though. My eldest can be a bit like this and it really hurts my feelings! But I've learned it's more productive to explain how it migth have made me feel, and why, but not to give it any real attention.

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