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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU telling school mum her son bullied mine?

47 replies

katherinegrey · 21/11/2019 07:18

If anyone can help I’d be grateful, I’ve not slept for worry all night 😢 it’s about school mums so bear with me! Sorry it’s long!!
DS1 (6) has been friends with a boy since nursery. As a result I’m friendly with his mum. We’ve done play dates, sleepovers, meals out, she’s even my hairdresser.
On Saturday it was her sisters birthday and she asked if I’d have her son overnight which was fine.
Sunday morning DH asked the boys to all tidy up and he’d take them to the park for a game of football as a reward.
He went to check on them and witnessed DS2 (4) picking the toys up and the two lads sitting on the bed watching him. DS2 said to the boys to help tidy when this boy called DS2 over and said he had a secret to whisper in his ear. My trusting baby got up and went straight over, at which point this boy shines the desk lamp directly in his eye and head butts him and DS1 kicked him. DH told both boys off and we were really upset that DS1 would do this to his little brother. He’s now responsible for doing all the tidying for both them for a week, lost his kindle and ps3 and banned from play dates for the foreseeable. We simply said to the other boy we’d have to tell his parents.
When I dropped him off his mum was on the phone, she asked if he’d behaved and I said generally he had however we’d had an incident with him and DS1 bullying DS2. I told her I was mainly holding DS1 responsible as it was his brother but I had to tell her as I’d definitely want to know if DS1 did this to her younger son. As she was on the phone she basically said I’ll talk to him and shut the door on me.
I expected her to call me/message/approach me to ask for the full details but nothing. Then yesterday she messaged saying she doesn’t believe her son would ‘bully’ mine and she was going to separate him from the situation as much as she could.
I messaged back explaining the full incident and explaining they generally play well and even if it’s rough play it’s not bullying but this incident crosses the line with 2 bigger boys luring over a smaller to hurt him and explained we’ve come down hard on DS1. I also said I’ve no desire to treat this as more than 6 year olds learning to appropriately act with each other but if she wants to separate her son, this is her choice.
No reply. Completely ignores me. Then messages on a group message for a Christmas meal for the mums saying her dad will collect us now. DH was due to do this. I know it’s a not so subtle way to convince me to drop out.
Am I being unreasonable? I haven’t shouted or kicked off or told her son off. I haven’t said he’s a bad kid and I’m accepting my child was just as bad, in fact I said I held him more responsible. I never usually say a word about children’s behaviour and after play dates always assure the parent their child behaved beautifully even if this perhaps isn’t true (I think we’ve all done this!) but due to the severity I felt I couldn’t not mention this particular incident. I’m dreading school pick up today. I’m so anxious.
To be honest if someone accused my child of bullying I’d immediately ask what had happened and apologise for how he’d behaved at her home. Instead, without any details of the incident, she’s declared her son wouldn’t bully mine which leaves us in an awkward position. I haven’t bought it up again and didn’t want this to be a huge deal, they’re kids! I can see now this is going to cause problems and I’m upset that it’s gone this way.

OP posts:
churchandstate · 21/11/2019 07:20

She’s a dickhead. Ignore her.

Bluetac19 · 21/11/2019 07:21

It's not bullying if it's a one of incident.

Tigger001 · 21/11/2019 07:25

You were definitely right to mention it, she seems like she is over reacting. I would still go on the Christmas do and hopefully she will see she is being silly.

Soontobe60 · 21/11/2019 07:25

Yep, bullying is a repeated behaviour, this was just a one off. I'm very surprised he did what you've described all in the presence of your DH??.

Cuddlysnowleopard · 21/11/2019 07:25

You've handled it exactly the same way that I would. In fact, I had a similar situation with my two, and DS1's best friend. I told the mum (my friend), she spoke to her son, and we're all still good many years later.

Sandsnake · 21/11/2019 07:28

Your poor DS2. I think you handled it very reasonably. The other mother is obviously someone who can’t handle hearing anything negative about her son, which will not bode well for the future. Sadly, I think the friendship between you two sounds like it has ended - although given her attitude that might not be the worst thing in the world.

SnuggyBuggy · 21/11/2019 07:32

I think the problem is bullying is a very inflammatory word which isn't always used correctly. It might have been better to have just stated the facts of the incident

HaudYerWheeshtYaWeeBellend · 21/11/2019 07:38

I wouldn’t class this as bullying it was a one off incident.

Tbh as a parent I’d be pretty miffed at my child being called a “bully” there was no need to label him a “bully”

I absolutely agree the mother needed to be told, however I do think you’ve went about this all wrong.

katherinegrey · 21/11/2019 07:38

I agree bullying is usually a sustained thing and do not use the word lightly. If it was name calling or shoving I wouldn’t think it was bullying. I know unpleasant behaviour isn’t usually bullying. However I do feel 2 bigger boys deliberately ganging up and hurting a smaller boy is bullying. I dislike applying the word to my own son but in this incident he was bullying his brother with his friend. I was really upset by it. No one wants to believe their child would behave like this.
My DH was on the landing watching to see if they were tidying, they weren’t aware he was there.

OP posts:
Halo1234 · 21/11/2019 07:39

YANBU. You didnt go mental over it u just told her. It does seem very unempathetic and mean of them to do that to him. They are old enough to know better. I think you handled it perfectly. Ignore ignore ignore. She is in the wrong not you dont chase her it gives her the control she wants (so she can choose whether to speak to u or not). She doesnt sound very nice anyway. You have her son overnight and she cant get off the phone to say thanks and talk to you for five minutes. She is too high maintenance if she is going to act like she is everytime her child does something. It hurts but take back control and u do the distancing.

LannisterLion1 · 21/11/2019 07:40

Yanbu that the mum is reacting as though her pfb can do no wrong (in which case best to steer clear of these parents as they raise adults who are brats) but pp are right about calling it bullying. It was spiteful but unless repeated behaviour it's not bullying, which may be why she wrongly has got her back up.

Halo1234 · 21/11/2019 07:41

I agree it is bullying. Bullying is normally repeated but can also be a one of instance that causes the victim to fear it happening again.

EmmiJay · 21/11/2019 07:41

Well what other way would you describe two big boys picking on a smaller boy, "just being little shytes"?! I think you should ignore that other mum OP, I bet its not the first time her child has bullied a smaller child and she knows all about it.

katherinegrey · 21/11/2019 07:41

To clarify I never said ‘your son is a bully and he bullied mine’ I said there has been an incident with the 2 boys bullying our younger son, we’ve dealt with our son but if it was my son I’d want to know - which I absolutely would.
Perhaps my word choice was wrong? But I’m not sure how else I could describe this particular incident. He was made to tidy up, when he asked them to help he was lured over, had a light shone in his eye, was head butted and kicked by two bigger boys. I still think this is bullying, although I don’t think the two boys are bullies in general, I just think this incident was bullying.

OP posts:
Tractorgirlz · 21/11/2019 07:45

I think you were over the top with using the word bullying. However she was incredibly rude to come and pick her child up whilst staying on the phone the whole time. Surely she could’ve sat in her car for a couple of minutes and ended the call!

sohypnotic · 21/11/2019 07:46

FYI to the PP's saying it's not bullying as only a one off incident- that is incorrect and not what is being taught in schools currently. Bullying often has a repetitive nature - whether that repeat incidents of physical bullying, repeat insults, repetition from a number of people taking part/laughing etc - but all those things can occur in a single incident. In this incident there was repetition as 2 individuals set out to hurt another.

Chocolatecake12 · 21/11/2019 07:49

I agree with you op. This was bullying behaviour and if not stopped and dealt with appropriately it will escalate into the boys thinking they can get away with this type of behaviour. You’ve dealt with your child’s part in this and it’s up to the other mum to deal with hers.
Going forward I’d just smile at her and get on with it as though nothings happened - although no more play dates with her son or sleepovers.
And definitely go to the Christmas meal - don’t let a one off incident stop your enjoyment.

BykerBykerWooooo · 21/11/2019 07:51

If her son isn’t a bully now, he will be if his mother coNtinues to make excuses for that kind of behaviour. Both your sons will be better off without him as a friend.

LannisterLion1 · 21/11/2019 08:09

As a one off i still dont see as bullying but OP didn't use the phrase bullying to the mum so she's not reacting defensively to the word anyway, she's just being a crap mother insisting her precious dc wouldn't do such a thing.

Which tells you everything you need to know about this friend OP. I suggest you are honest with people who ask and ignore her passive aggressive behaviour.

lifecouldbeadream · 21/11/2019 08:11

Some parents are just like that, and will never see any possible wrong in their children.

As adults, they become spoiled and entitled bullies and you can spot them a mile off.

To be honest, you’re probably better off with your son not spending time with him. All children do things that aren’t wise at times, it’s part of the learning journey of growing up. Your DS1 has seen that you don’t condone poor behaviour especially if it’s unkind. He has seen that it’s ok to behave how he wants, because his mum will take no notice anyway.

ittakes2 · 21/11/2019 08:13

Actually I admire you hugely. I think you handled it brilliantly. There were so many times I wished I had of told parents how badly behaved their child had been - made me a bit of a doormat. You need to have boundaries and stick to them. Go you!

MarthasGinYard · 21/11/2019 08:15

She was on the phone as you dropped off her DS after you'd had him all night so she could go out. She didn't even give you the Grace of a minutes time.

'Bullying' was a little OTT imo

But she sounds rude

PrincessHoneysuckle · 21/11/2019 08:15

A 6 yr old knowing how to head butt is shocking imo

Mammatino · 21/11/2019 08:30

You did the right thing. She didn't have the decency to get off her phone to say THANK YOU for having my son. Let alone discuss a problem with her son, most parents would react like you, horrified and wanting to stop the issue. The behaviour of her afterwards is just pathetic, try to sort it out if you can, school pick up tensions are awful. If you can't well you can't but don't be bullied into not joining in with things because of her.

dottiedodah · 21/11/2019 08:36

Some parents just cant accept their child would do anything wrong! I think you acted properly and correctly here.