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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Grandad won't stop play fighting with son, ended in injury

225 replies

MrMakersFartyParty · 02/01/2019 10:41

My son is 2 and my father always plays rough with him, flinging him about onto the sofa, tickling (past the point where my son clearly can't handle it and can barely breathe), holding him upside down and he holds him by his wrists and allows him to climb up his body. I have repeatedly said no to the play fighting because I have noticed my son being out of control, hyped up, and recently sometimes hitting (never ever does this any other time). I have also said under no circumstances is he to hold him by the arms or wrists because he actually dislocated my arms when i was a child doing the same thing.
Every other visit it is like he "forgets" and I have to intervene and then he says "oh we have to stop mummy doesn't like it", no you have to stop because you're going to break his frigging arms!
I don't want to micro manage their relationship but it's really getting me down, my son is naughty after he visits and i am terrified he's going to damage his hands and arms. My son has also started to try and play rough with his younger siblings and has ended up hurting them quite a bit now (accidentally).
In my house I am able to intervene, however he also goes to his nannas for play dates (not childcare) and my dad is there and his nan has promised that she won't allow it but I have seen photos on facebook of my son being held and swung by his wrists again.

I feel so powerless and i don't know how to handle this. my dad goes funny if i question anything he does and i have to really tread on eggshells with him. I don't know what to do because i have said "i don't want you to do that, stop, no" etc but when he "forgets" it's too late and i am worried about the consequences.

My son is starting to think i'm horrible because i'm always ruining their "fun".

OP posts:
CroneXX · 02/01/2019 13:41

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cattus · 02/01/2019 13:48

He reminds me of the sort of person who gives your k Do lads if sweets when they already have some.
I think he doesn’t know how to interact or have a meaningful relationship so he does this as a quick cheap easy fix or buzz.

Gth1234 · 02/01/2019 13:49

I think you just have to stop them being together, if your dad won't change his ways. Maybe tell your mum that you are going to do this, and let her talk to your dad, but you can't risk a serious injury to your little son.

LindaLa · 02/01/2019 13:50

Just stop leaving your son with them.

Your son is getting hurt, he has told you he is being hurt and you're still wanting him to go there.

If you have to take him to the gp, your son will tell the truth. Don't lie. Tell your mother the truth.

Your father is hurting your son.

Also, ignore the pp saying your son is too young to talk. I know lots of early talkers/walkers, just because they don't doesn't mean it's not true.

Some people just want to slag others off for no reason.

BumbleBeee69 · 02/01/2019 14:00

Tickling to extremes is a form of bullying torture, and a 2 year old IS helpless against an adult, who the HELL is protecting your wee boy OP certainly NOT YOU?!

Stop letting this Cretin do this your baby ?!

MrMakersFartyParty · 02/01/2019 14:07

Its good for me to see you all saying how wrong it is because I've been made to feel like hysterical idiot about many things I've tried to enforce rules on.

@Bumblebee your message is a bit bizarre. Not sure how to answer it as I can't tell what is a question. I am protecting my son.

My mum just came round and asked if she can have my son tomorrow and I've told her that she is welcome to come and visit at my house but that I don't feel comfortable anymore with visits at her house as my dad has been allowed to do whatever he wants at hers. Was a bit awkward but glad I've done it.

OP posts:
LindaLa · 02/01/2019 14:11

Why didn't you tell you mum that your son has been complaining about pain in his arms?
Just say something like dad is quite rough with play and ljttle un needs to stop.

MrMakersFartyParty · 02/01/2019 14:15

Sorry, I actually showed my mum his hands and told her that we are going to the gp today. She was very upset and said its all her fault, and she's going to speak to my dad as she feels he ignores her and it upsets her especially as he is her responsibility. She said my dad won't be allowed there anymore while he's there but I said I've said before that I didn't want my dad there and she invited him so visits will be at mine for now.

OP posts:
Millionsofthings · 02/01/2019 14:16

People like this have a way to make you feel like it is all your fault .... neurotic, over protective and hysterical!!

FlawedAmazon · 02/01/2019 14:17

Well done OP you've done the right thing. Just remember to stick to your guns.

Knicknackpaddyflak · 02/01/2019 14:17

Mine and every child I’ve ever known has loved playing rough and being flung around by dad/grandad/god parent.

Mine too. Any of yours ever been injured by the adult in the process? Or adults going over the top, more than the child enjoys? Because mine, no. They've loved it because it's been with a safe and fun adult.

It's not the play, it's who is doing it and how.

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 02/01/2019 14:18

Your mum has just admitted that your dad ignores her.
Sorry she's upset, but really, what the fuck did she think was happening? She didn't protect you as a child, and now she's failing to protect your son so I'm VERY pleased that you've told her no more visits at her house, since she's incapable of standing up to your father.

Acopyofacopy · 02/01/2019 14:20

Well done, OP! Star

Zevitevitchofcwsmas · 02/01/2019 14:20

Well done op, once again you start being assertive it makes it easier.

My fil won't listen either nor Mil. We have had to cut visits right down to a few a year but I'm still not wholey comfortable with that.

I don't understand where people can be so arrogant and bloody minded about things.
I'd be mortified if one day dd said mum I've had enough I've asked you nicely x times not to do blah and you still do it.
I would apologise profusely!

I understand people do forget especially if he can't play with his grandchild in another way. But this is ridiculous.

Well done op! You will feel so much better going forward. Prepare for sulks and fall out though.

category12 · 02/01/2019 14:20

Well done OP.

I wouldn't count on your mum staying on your side on this one, tho, he's got long experience of manipulating her and I daresay she was upset when he dislocated your arms as a child too - it didn't stick then.

AyoadesChinDimple · 02/01/2019 14:20

Don't let him go round. A close family member dislocated my child's elbow by lifting up by the hands after a nap. Family member is not rough in any way and was mortified. It doesn't take much to injure at a young age so stop any visits until he can be trusted.

AyoadesChinDimple · 02/01/2019 14:22

Sorry OP I hadn't RTFT. Well done for putting your foot down

diddl · 02/01/2019 14:23

"and she's going to speak to my dad as she feels he ignores her "

Why bother?-he won't care!

He does ignore her as she has ignored you.

It is your mum's fault for inviting your dad, it's your fault for still having let your son go knowing that she does this.

What matters is that it stops now, not speaking to others trying to salve your own conscience!

Rosehips · 02/01/2019 14:24

Well done, I don't mean that to sound patronising, I've had to put in place strict limits with my parents and my kids and it's hard. I've been made to look neurotic, I've felt incredibly guilty, I've been ignored til I was forced to throw them out and go NC, but I have absolutely done the right thing.

At 2 it'll be very easy to phase grandad out of ds's life now rather than in a few years time

DeepanKrispanEven · 02/01/2019 14:25

Instead of a blanket ‘no’ to playfighting could you instead agree on appropriate boundaries within physical play? For example you might agree that picking your son up by his waist/ tickling/ throwing over shoulders etc is okay but that holding him by his wrists/ dangling by arms is not.

It's pretty clear that OP has tried this, without success. In fact, if her father didn't automatically impose his own boundaries after dislocating his child's arms, he clearly is incapable of understanding the whole concept anyway.

MrMakersFartyParty · 02/01/2019 14:28

Bloody hell @diddl I'm taking responsibility for it clearly. So nasty.

OP posts:
Juells · 02/01/2019 14:32

Some people just want to slag others off for no reason.

No. She said in the OP that her son was 2 and playing with younger siblings. She later made it clear that he's nearer to three, and the younger siblings are almost two-year-old twins. That put a different slant on things.

Frozenteatowel · 02/01/2019 14:33

Well done. I hope the visit to the GP reinforces how serious this is and how seriously you are taking it and concentrates your DMs mind on not allowing your dad to see DS. He obviously can’t and won’t listen to what you expect from him. I would still insist on your DMs visits being at your house because she has proven that she can’t be trusted to not invited your father round while DS is there.

BSJohnson · 02/01/2019 14:35

Sorry, I actually showed my mum his hands and told her that we are going to the gp today.

Has your father actually left physical marks on your son, then? I read it earlier as his wrists were simply aching a bit.

Belenus · 02/01/2019 14:36

It will likely be much easier for both your Dad and your son to see where you’re coming from if you are able to say specifically which aspects of the play you think are too risky (Eg: holding by joints) and to ask them to adapt the play so that it is safe than if you just put a blanket ban on all rough play.

It's not about what is easier for the OP's dad. It's about what is safe for her son. She's spent a lifetime trying to make things easy for her dad. She is now, quite rightly, realising that her son's safety is more important. It isn't about rough play. Whenever we indulged in rough play as kids we didn't get hurt by adults.