Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Is dh bu to be worried for my ds safety around this child?

85 replies

MerryMarigold · 19/04/2019 11:29

Ds2 is 10 in y5 and family friend's ds (Frank) is 12 in y7. Frank is very strong and (imo, but not diagnosed) shows adhd symptoms, very high energy and impulsive. My dses (older ds is y8) don't really like him because he often hurts them. He's stronger than he takes and doesn't have boundaries. I try to encourage friendship with him as mum is a good friend, supported me at times and Frank doesn't have many friends/ has been bullied quite a bit in school. Ds1 is year above in same school, we see then a lot in activities we have in common etc. etc.

Yesterday on a walk Frank was pushing Ds1 on a swing in forest. Ds1 wanted him to stop as was hurting his balls (rope swing). Frank did not stop. Mum intervened. By about 5th time of Mum asking he stopped when Ds1 was being really quite upset. Next, ds2 climbing fallen tree. He's a bit scared of heights but he did not want to show that so went ahead. Frank pushed him when he was in difficult position and ds2 nearly fell off. He was petrified. Mum told him off (fairly mildly by my standards). I was fuming. Towards end of walk, Ds1 ahead and dd, ds2 and Frank behind. They were climbing round a small bridge over a steam about 2.5m high so not tall and wide ledge about a foot wide so easy to climb round. Frank decided to push ds2 off the bridge. Ds2 clung to his leg and Frank laughed and said 'You look like you're humping me. Humper, humper... ' Ds2 said, 'You hump Jenny' (another mutual friend in y7). Frank kneed ds2 in stomach. He didn't fall in but was winded and crying. Frank told his mum ds2 said he f*cks Jenny. Dd was there and said he didn't say that, he used hump and ds2 says the same (I've spoken to them separately, exactly same story) but not sure mum heard that bit. She made Frank apologise to ds2 later when we got home 'for what happened earlier' . I did not make ds2 apologise for the humping comment as I was still too furious at Frank. If either of my dses treated another child, or each other, that way they'd be in really serious trouble. She seemed quite calm, but if course I dunt know if he's had any further sanctions.

Mum wants to talk to me about the incident and its probably good because I still feel upset. However, I think she wants to bring up that ds2 didn't apologise for the humping comment. I still don't feel like he should considering the considerable provocation behind it. Dh thinks he should. However, dh also does not want our dses around this child anymore. It's difficult as they see each other a fair bit at activities we have in common as parents so there would need to be active avoidance (don't play with him...) . Dh wants to tell the parents that our children are not safe around their son.

What does MN jury think?

OP posts:
Yougotdis · 19/04/2019 12:13

I think you’ve tried to encourage them to be friends but it’s not working. So stop organising informal meet ups.

nutsfornutella · 19/04/2019 12:13

When they moan about Frank, I try to remind them to be kind as he doesn't have it easy and I'd say the hiring isn't usually unsafe

I have a y8 son and would not make him hang out with Frank. I'm surprised that your sons will even accompany you on outings like this. Mine would insist on staying at home.

Do you hang out with people who may be violent towards you? Why would you make your sons do this? Would you make them
play with their bully at school (other than Frank)? Would you socialize with someone who bullied you?

I would hang out with Frank and mum but keep my sons away.

Shazafied · 19/04/2019 12:14

I second saying “the boys don’t seem to be getting on so perhaps a bit of time apart will do them good”. Frank is a bully and his mum can not control him. I’d stop exposing my kids to Frank no matter how much I liked the mum. I know he has issues, but that’s not your ds’s problem.

MerryMarigold · 19/04/2019 12:14

Yep. I have talked with ds2 about the Jenny comment. I asked him how she'd feel if he knew she'd said that. He said she'd go mad.

OP posts:
Owlettele · 19/04/2019 12:14

Tbh OP my kids wouldn't be playing with this child anymore I'm afraid. It's tough for him but you describe the lesser issues as getting kicked or punched. How is that OK? If you met friends for a meal and they kicked and punched you each time would you keep going back? Really don't think your DC should have to accept this.
It's a shame for the boy but additional needs or not , must learn that you cannot hurt others. I say this as someone who spent 12+ years working with children in mainstream settings who have various additional needs.

Acis · 19/04/2019 12:20

Does Frank's mum realise that Frank made the humping accusation first? I think there's a difference between saying something like that off your own bat and simply retaliating with like terms in the heat of the moment.

Is she actually looking into getting help for him? It may be worth having a serious conversation about that.

QueenoftheBiscuitTin · 19/04/2019 12:21

You said your kids don't like him and they obviously don't enjoy being around him. So why on earth would you consider a 'get together'?

saoirse31 · 19/04/2019 12:22

Oh fgs you already said your dses dont like him and you know why, because hes bullying and hurting them. What is it about your upbringing or personality that makes you see your kids as less important than you having an awkward conversation?

FrancisCrawford · 19/04/2019 12:23

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

slashlover · 19/04/2019 12:25

Read your own post back -

My dses (older ds is y8) don't really like him because he often hurts them. He's stronger than he takes and doesn't have boundaries.

By about 5th time of Mum asking he stopped when Ds1 was being really quite upset.

Frank pushed him when he was in difficult position and ds2 nearly fell off. He was petrified.

Frank decided to push ds2 off the bridge. Ds2 clung to his leg

Frank kneed ds2 in stomach. He didn't fall in but was winded and crying.

Why would you continue to put your kids through that?

PlainSpeakingStraightTalking · 19/04/2019 12:28

Children are allowed to choose who to be friends with. Its unfortunate that yours are still at an age where their friendships are driven by your choosing ie you are friends with the mother ergo your children socialise together to facilitate your friendship.

As much as you like your friend and seem to want to label 'Frank' with an ADHD issue, sexualised behaviour is learned, usually in the home.

Do any of you know /work with 10-13yo boys? Yes 10 years in a secondary school, and I can hand on heart say 'Frank' is not behaving normally and you are another adult excusing his behaviour.

Your children do not like Frank. You need to separate out your adult relationships from this equation - and keep your children safe. Actually you need to step up and do some parenting.

ReanimatedSGB · 19/04/2019 12:31

FFS, it is shitty parenting to force your DC to allow another child to hurt and harass them in the name of 'being kind'. Let them avoid him. It is not their responsibility to 'be kind' to someone who repeatedly hurts them just so you can feel the warm glow of altruism - when it isn't you that's being kicked in the stomach.

MerryMarigold · 19/04/2019 12:33

OK, firstly they don't get kicked and punched all the time. We've known Frank since he was born. In that time, he is rougher than other kids. It's not every time with both kids, but it's frequent enough they see him as rougher than other kids.

Secondly, I didn't organise the meet up. As mentioned, we live very close by and rarely meet up outside the regular time.

Thirdly, why is it that if I'm trying to be kind to Frank and teach my kids understanding, that means I'm putting them second. Big leap to make (though in sure some of you will try to prove it). They are not afraid of Frank. They don't particularly like him. They don't mind playing with him if he's around when they're around.

Thanks for the helpful, thoughtful comments though. It's helped me clarify how to talk about it. And yes, I need to help his Mum see that he needs help.

OP posts:
llangennith · 19/04/2019 12:35

Your DH is absolutely right! You should be supporting your own DC and not telling them to 'be kind' to a bully who is hurting them. You are effectively telling your DC that they should put up with being hit and kicked and bullied.
Thank goodness your DC have a supportive father.

llangennith · 19/04/2019 12:38

And yes, I need to help his Mum see that he needs help.
No. You don't 'need' to tell his mum how to parent her child. That's her responsibility. What you need to do is take responsibility for caring for your own DC.

LittleChristmasMouse · 19/04/2019 12:39

Op you said that you encourage friendship between Frank and your sons so you are forcing them to be friends with a boy who hurts them and endangers them.

You said that he pushed your son off of a bridge that was 2.5m high - that's over 6 feet. Your son could have been injured in that fall, yet you don't seem too concerned.

I'm with your husband here. You need to listen to your sons and how they are feeling and don't force this boy onto them.

Waveysnail · 19/04/2019 12:39

You said that you dont really see him out of activities so keep it like that. Dont meet up with kids outside of activities and keep meeting the mum for coffee. Just avoid kid meet ups.

I have adhd kids and very much aware they can be super full on and sometimes not nice to other kids so I limit playdates. Adhd kids are usually emotionally and maturity about 4/5 years at least behind their peers.

Shinesweetfreedom · 19/04/2019 12:43

Yep with the father on this one.
You say the mother does not put in boundaries and is slow to stop her son when he is hurting another child right in front of her eyes.
He hasn’t got many children to play with,well obviously if he behaves like that.
Why are you letting your children suffer such treatment so that you don’t have to deal with the situation.
Your children have told you they are not happy,the mother is not dealing with her son,and his behaviour won’t improve while he has willing victims offered up to him on a plate by their own mother,ie you.

flumpybear · 19/04/2019 12:43

I think perhaps you need to tell the mum that her child's behaviour is breaking acceptable boundaries persistently and perhaps she needs to get professional help

Don't fall into the 'oh sorry but..' conversation, be confident that her child is instigating, causing and bullying in his behaviours

Tell her about the Jenny conversation and it's been dealt with and there's no apology coming as it's was completely due to ongoing behaviour by her son

MerryMarigold · 19/04/2019 12:43

Thanks waveysnail. That will be my way forward. He does fit the adhd profile in so many ways, including immaturity.

OP posts:
slashlover · 19/04/2019 12:44

OK, firstly they don't get kicked and punched all the time.

Why does your OP say he often hurts them

Imagine someone you were forced to spend time with didn't stop doing something which hurt you until the fifth time of asking, tried to push you off a log when you were petrified, tried to push you off a bridge and then kneed you in the stomach. Then you were told to 'be kind'.

Trying to push someone off a 2.5m bridge could kill them! Even if you meant 2.5ft then you DS is going to end up wet and possibly hurt.

FrogFairy · 19/04/2019 12:44

Frank is his mum’s responsibility, your kids are yours.

I would not force my child to be around someone who hurts and upsets them. It might cost you your friendship with the mum, but I would gladly accept that in order to keep my child safe.

ravenmum · 19/04/2019 12:44

Maybe it would be good for your children to see how you can put up clear boundaries and say "no thankyou" in a kind and understanding way.

Is this something that you yourself have a problem with, being able to say no to people? I ask as I find it hard myself.

7yo7yo · 19/04/2019 12:44

Op, all people
Are trying to say is frank isn’t your responsibility.
Your kids are your responsibility.
Them and their welfare.
Yes you can teach them to be kind but don’t teach them that their boundaries mean nothing.
If they don’t particularly like frank or want to spend time with him then stop.

Janedoughnut · 19/04/2019 12:52

OK, firstly they don't get kicked and punched all the time.

Once would be enough for me. For crying out loud protect your children.