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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To worry we're raising an annoying child

211 replies

MolliciousIntent · 12/05/2022 19:00

I'm sleep deprived, hormonal and a little insane and somehow I think the birth of DD2 has made me even more PFB about DD1.

She's 2.5, pretty bright and very chatty. She's a tiny parrot and repeats every phrase she hears me and her dad say. It's left her with an (adorable to me) repertoire of very grown-up soundbites which she uses in context. Half the time she talks normal toddler nonsense and the other half she speaks like a 35yr old English teacher.

People have started commenting on it, and I'm concerned it's making her look overly precocious. I used to get bullied at school for stuff like this (looking back I was definitely insufferable) and I'm concerned about history repeating itself with my baby.

How do I handle this? My husband thinks it's a non-issue and I need a G&T and a good night's sleep.

OP posts:
itsgettingweird · 12/05/2022 20:26

stimpyyouidiot · 12/05/2022 20:23

She sounds so cute.

My dd once said 'I'm pulling my bloody pants up!' When we asked if she was finished in the toilet so it could be worse 🙈

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

That's brilliant 😆

Original poster
MolliciousIntent · 12/05/2022 20:26

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 12/05/2022 20:16

She sounds adorable - and how lovely she is picking up on the positive comments she hears and repeats (rather than swearing or telling offs)!

She did the other day drop a bowl on her toe and go "ooooooh you fucker" so it's not all adorable - DH and I have both firmly placed the blame for that on the other one.

OP posts:
Sleepyteach · 12/05/2022 20:27

My DD does this, current favourites are “I don’t want to talk about it” and telling me that I’m a good girl when I do something she likes! 😂 I think lockdown had a big part to play in this, right before she started talking, DH and I were the only people who spoke to her for months on end.

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 12/05/2022 20:32

Your dd sounds very sweet and normal.

I’m uncomfortable with the supermarket woman being labelled as bitchy when it’s far more likely she was being light-hearted.

I really don’t like it when women are called bitchy on here for no good reason. It always makes me worry that if I do something slightly awkward in rl, or make a well-meaning little joke that someone doesn’t get, they too might be thinking “Bitch” 😞

Original poster
MolliciousIntent · 12/05/2022 20:35

LemonJuiceFromConcentrate · 12/05/2022 20:32

Your dd sounds very sweet and normal.

I’m uncomfortable with the supermarket woman being labelled as bitchy when it’s far more likely she was being light-hearted.

I really don’t like it when women are called bitchy on here for no good reason. It always makes me worry that if I do something slightly awkward in rl, or make a well-meaning little joke that someone doesn’t get, they too might be thinking “Bitch” 😞

I completely get what you're saying and I have the same fear, definitely phrasing I should have chosen more carefully. The only way I can describe it is that there was something decidedly negative about her tone which made me feel uncomfortable when directed at my baby.

OP posts:
LaMarschallin · 12/05/2022 20:37

I’m uncomfortable with the supermarket woman being labelled as bitchy when it’s far more likely she was being light-hearted.

I agree. It's sad when people seem to look for offense when it's very likely none was intended.

Sorry, OP - don't mean to disrupt your thread Smile

LaMarschallin · 12/05/2022 20:38

Ah, X-posted. Sorry again.

Trumpton · 12/05/2022 20:41

Small dgs in rear facing seat as I reverse parked into a very neat space.
” Oh come on nana you can do it! “
”Oh well done nana”
“Good parking!”

I’ll take that!

Also, to his mother, “ Nana overtook a car today! “
I miss those days of unqualified encouragement!

WimpoleHat · 12/05/2022 20:43

Sounds pretty funny to me - like she’s picked up what adults have said and learned to repeat it. In my experience, the annoying kids are the ones who are over indulged and over praised and do the “look at me. I’m the best at everything” bit. Your DD sounds very entertaining!

Fernsinthegarden · 12/05/2022 20:44

my DD(4) still says similar things! Most people who hear her think she’s cute, I definitely do an inner eye roll at her 😂 I see what you mean about being dependent on adult behaviour and one on one interactions - my DD definitely struggled a bit with having to share my time when her sister arrived.
I like to think that she’s reflecting your lovely positive attitude toward her and radiating it out to everyone else - when you tell her she’s doing a good job it makes her feel good so she’s just returning the favour 😊

GettingItOutThere · 12/05/2022 20:45

One of mine that age (mabey just below 3?), came out with "mummy, its a wonderful sunny day isn't it".
i raised an eyebrow and realised they just repeat the stuff we say, but cuter!

do not worry OP, mine are turning out ok!

napody · 12/05/2022 20:45

TopCatsTopHat · 12/05/2022 19:13

Loads of people are insufferable for all kinds of reasons when young until they develop enough social awareness to use a bit of discretion. Which most people realise and that's why we cut kids lots of slack and why stuff they do is cute not annoying because it's a sign of their innocence.
Maybe she'll get a bit of stick, maybe she won't, but you're not going to hinder her vocab to avoid it, and she's not you and will have her own life experiences so there isn't any point worrying about it. I'm with your dh - g+t and a good night's sleep and park it under pointless worries.
Everyone worries their kids may suffer what they did. But unless there is something helpful you can do by worrying, like making sure they're not the only kids who can't swim etc, there isn't any point.

Brilliant, sensible post. She sounds adorable, and anyone who is that judgmental of a little child would warrant ignoring anyway. I was a bit like this myself and so was my daughter, she is 8 now and socially savvy/super tactful, and rolling her eyes affectionately at her little brother's chat (the other day he solemnly told his Dad he was 'not angry, just disappointed' with him). Enjoy the ridiculousness of it, it's a precious part of childhood.

Mybobowler · 12/05/2022 20:46

Ahh your daughter sounds like mine and therefore, of course, completely adorable.

I think you'd have to be a particularly humourless bore to find it annoying when a toddler speaks like a middle-aged accountant?

My daughter has recently taken to saying "Oh don't worry" when I ask her to repeat something she's said, complaining that her knees hurt when she walks up the stairs and exclaiming "oh wowww, well done Mummy, lovely colours!" when I'm painting with her. It's like watching myself in miniature 😳

Candycats · 12/05/2022 20:47

She sounds hilarious and adorable to me! I also have a very chatty and articulate 3 year old - we have one blind in our house that's a bit stiffer to open than the others and from when he was about 2, he took to saying 'come on mummy, you can do it! That's it, yay!' whenever I opened it! These days I get 'well done mummy!' whenever I go for a wee Smile

CaptainMyCaptain · 12/05/2022 20:48

I used to be a teacher in a Nursery Class and I loved children like this.

Giraffe888 · 12/05/2022 20:52

She sounds adorable. My DS is 2.5 and says hilarious things too. I’ve recently potty trained him so kept praising him and telling him we were proud of him etc. I did something this morning and he said ‘well done mummy, I’m proud of you’ 😂

napody · 12/05/2022 20:53

I've really enjoyed reading everyone's quotes, especially 'anyway, musn't keep you' 😂

HTH1 · 12/05/2022 20:54

YABVU (where is this gin??). But DD sounds cute, don’t worry about her.

Villagewaspbyke · 12/05/2022 20:56

MolliciousIntent · 12/05/2022 19:09

Nursery said "she'll be running the room next" this afternoon as apparently she was going round the table and patting the other children's drawings, saying "that's beautiful, really good drawing, I'm proud of you." To me that's super cute, but does it come across to other adults as patronising/pretentious?

In the supermarket the other day she said "don't get that one daddy, it's dented" about a tin of beans, and a woman said "is she going to ask to see the manager?" To me that's just this woman being bitchy, buttttt then comes the overthinking.

I think I do need the G&T.

Show quote history

She sounds really cute. She’s only 2, don’t sweat it.

superplumb · 12/05/2022 21:02

My youngest son is the same. Nursery used to comment on it. He is also a charter box, drives ne bonkers when I'm tired. I think it's cute though and I'm pleased he has a good vocabulary. I dont think the lady in the shop meant anything. I think you're tired and prob a bit stressed so take things to heart.

LazyJayne · 12/05/2022 21:03

MolliciousIntent · 12/05/2022 20:26

She did the other day drop a bowl on her toe and go "ooooooh you fucker" so it's not all adorable - DH and I have both firmly placed the blame for that on the other one.

Show quote history

hahahahaha 😂😂😂

dontknowhow2help · 12/05/2022 21:04

I tied my 3yo daughter's hair up while she was walking and therefore didn't do it just right. She got very upset with her wonky ponytail and with hand in hips and tears in her eyes she crossly told me, "mummy you can't tie my hair up when I'm walking!! It's against the law!"

I love the mini adult she sometimes is. She also said the other day "argh you're stressing me out!!" (Wonder where she gets that from)

dontknowhow2help · 12/05/2022 21:05

*hands on hips

Philisophigal · 12/05/2022 21:05

This reply has been deleted

This has been withdrawn at the user's request.

Fairislefandango · 12/05/2022 21:05

She sounds exactly like my dd (now 16) was at that age. And like I was too. Don't worry - she'll be fine Grin