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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To tell sister her parenting is alienating others

275 replies

OnionsAndLemons · 01/07/2023 06:54

I think my sisters parenting is so extra, that whilst I believe your children should be your top priority, I think her reactions to thinks are out of proportion.

Example: we both think our children should not have to kiss/hug anyone they don’t want to. So I said to her 2 year old after a family meal out, ‘cuddle goodbye?’ Her 2 year old just stood there so I said ‘no?, Ok’ and stood up. My sister pipes in, talking to her daughter ‘we can say no auntie Kate can’t we, tell auntie Kate we can say no’. I was so embarrassed as it was in front of everyone, I said I was not pressuring for a hug. She said oh I know we’re just teaching her she can say no. I agree with the concept but she’d have learnt from the interaction with me alone she can say no.

My mum was doing my sisters 2 year olds nappy. She initially wouldn’t lie down for it and when she did my mum said ‘oh well done, good girl’ or similar. My sister said mum was overdoing it with the praise and asked her to tone it down as girls are taught to be obedient and she doesn’t want that. (Note: my mum treats my son exactly the same, lots of praise when he does as asked). She does this sort of thing with my mum a lot and my mum is feeling constantly criticised and untrusted. My sister told my about the nappy thing, expecting me to agree but I told her you can’t micromanage every interaction.

I have an isofix car seat for my son in my car and bought a cheaper one (but new and from a reputable place) for my mums car for occasional use. My son is the same age as my niece so they both fit in it. However my sister has told my mum her daughter is not to use it as it’s cheap and doesn’t rear face. She doesn’t feel it’s safe. But hasn’t bought one herself. Didn’t share cost with me when I suggested we buy one together they can both use. Has never learnt to remove her own car seat to put in my mums car.

These are a few example but I could go on. Next time she says something similar to me or tell me about something to do with my mum I feel like it’s all going to spill out.

OP posts:
MrsRachelDanvers · 01/07/2023 17:33

The way the sister chooses to raise her child is not an issue. Children who are loved and feel secure generally turn out fine, however they’re parented. But it’s the lecturing her family and making them uncomfortable that is the issue. It’s doing her kid no favours criticising her own mother for saying good girl. The child will have plenty of influences to understand she doesn’t have to grow up obedient all the time. But she should learn that love and kindness are to be appreciated, even if granny gets a phrase wrong. And why endorse the correct seat while refusing to provide one?

ChangeIsInevitable · 01/07/2023 17:35

Exactly.

IAmAnIdiot123 · 01/07/2023 17:41

Lacucuracha · 01/07/2023 07:34

I didn’t say I’d be embarrassed, but OP was. They were unreasonable to use OP like that, when she had already quickly accepted no hug from niece.

I would have seen it as them teaching the child to actually respond 'no' and be polite, not just stare at someone until they get the message. Cannot see why that is wrong.

The same way I hate it when someone gives my son a drink (for example) I say to him 'what do you say?' (Promting him to say thank you if he hasn't already) and the person will interrupt and say 'oh no need, it's fine'.

Might be fine for you and your kids but I want my children to have proper manners.

coxesorangepippin · 01/07/2023 17:48

It's her first child

She'll calm down soon enough

ApplesInTheSunshine · 01/07/2023 17:52

IAmAnIdiot123 · 01/07/2023 17:41

I would have seen it as them teaching the child to actually respond 'no' and be polite, not just stare at someone until they get the message. Cannot see why that is wrong.

The same way I hate it when someone gives my son a drink (for example) I say to him 'what do you say?' (Promting him to say thank you if he hasn't already) and the person will interrupt and say 'oh no need, it's fine'.

Might be fine for you and your kids but I want my children to have proper manners.

Your children are more likely to display manners and actually mean them when you role model them and they copy you.

Prompting them is just giving them a meaningless script to follow rather than them seeing you model the behaviour and realising this is what we do, when we do it and why.

You want to parent your child, rather than parent for the people around you.

DoggyDaydreaming · 01/07/2023 18:01

Rear facing is much safer and cheap car seats are often potentially dangerous, undergoing only the bare minimum of safety testing. So I think YABU there.

The rest does sound like she's being OTT though.

IAmAnIdiot123 · 01/07/2023 18:08

ApplesInTheSunshine · 01/07/2023 17:52

Your children are more likely to display manners and actually mean them when you role model them and they copy you.

Prompting them is just giving them a meaningless script to follow rather than them seeing you model the behaviour and realising this is what we do, when we do it and why.

You want to parent your child, rather than parent for the people around you.

Well I always say thank you, please etc to model this behaviour but my 3 year old needs reminding occasionally. Because they are 3.

Them interacting with other people is a brilliant opportunity for them to learn.

mindfluff · 01/07/2023 18:57

IAmAnIdiot123 · 01/07/2023 17:41

I would have seen it as them teaching the child to actually respond 'no' and be polite, not just stare at someone until they get the message. Cannot see why that is wrong.

The same way I hate it when someone gives my son a drink (for example) I say to him 'what do you say?' (Promting him to say thank you if he hasn't already) and the person will interrupt and say 'oh no need, it's fine'.

Might be fine for you and your kids but I want my children to have proper manners.

"Little Timmy, tell Iamanidiot123 no thank you" vs "Little Timmy, tell iamanidiot123 we don't like too much Coke in this house, Coke should be drunk in moderation, and no one can force you to drink Coke can they Little Timmy?"

Yodapie · 01/07/2023 21:48

You sound a bit too invested in her parenting!

Vynalbob · 02/07/2023 18:03

You're right she's way OTT and expecting everyone to do her bidding without criticising.

Some people can't read your initial post 👀🙄
going by a few replies.

You can't change someone though you've (&mum) just got to not offer....and if asked why be truthful you don't want to walk on eggshells.

KajsaKavat · 02/07/2023 19:01

I was your sister and still am. Rearward facing car seats are really thousand times better, I’m team sister all the way.

Madamum18 · 02/07/2023 19:07

I feel sorry for your Mum. Can't do right for doing wrong basically! I know how she feels but in my case it is with my DIL. Drives me nuts!

Laiste · 02/07/2023 19:29

Is your sister trying to avoid having your mum drive with her DC in the car?

It's just that i've read so many posts on here with worries about adult relative's driving capabilities and one of the answers which crop up most is 'don't give them a car seat and they wont be able to drive the DC about'.

It sort of jumps out at me that maybe sister isn't confident with GP's driving and that's why she's putting off providing a seat and saying she ''can't get hers out of her car''.

She might be trying to avoid an awkward conversation. Might be best not to push it OP. You do you and be content with it. Let your sister and your mother sort themselves out.

Yourcatisnotsorry · 02/07/2023 19:57

Yabu for forward facing a 2 year old. The rest is not worth losing any sleep over so Yabu for being so touchy about it

StaunchMomma · 02/07/2023 20:08

These are all pretty small things, OP. Certainly not things to get wound up about.

Also, your sister is not only right about the car seat but it's 100% up to HER if she allows it!

You need to step off.

Winnipeg23 · 02/07/2023 20:17

itsgettingweird · 01/07/2023 07:04

I think you have to apply the childcare rule here in reverse!

We always say if you don't like how someone cares for your child then don't ask them.

In this case your mum needs to stop doing stuff because it isn't working for her and how she's made to feel.

I'd also stop offering niece hugs etc. if you don't offer you aren't giving her the chance to decline and your sister the chance to repeat what you said .

We had a friend like this in our group and this worked for us. And one friend had me in hysterics one day when her dd tried to hug her goodbye. The adult said no. Her mum then was annoyed and asked why she declined when she lets the other kids. Friend responded (paraphrased) "you've learnt that people have a right to say and no and you have to respect that haven't you Freya? Maybe you need to remind mummy"

I'm absolutely in agreement that people have a right to say no - but I've usually seen it where those people can't accept no being said back.

And your mum cannot take her in the car without an agreed seat. Therefore she can decline to look after her because she has plans that involve the car that day.

The best way to manage those who want to micromanage your interactions with the world is to decline interactions from them!

Agreed. Just don't put urself in the situation where she can be 'unpleasant'. I think she's being rude for all it's worth. I certainly wouldn't put myself out to help someone who rewarded me by being difficult/rude/ petty.

Bugbabe1970 · 02/07/2023 21:00

My grandson is 2
He's too big to rear face in his car seat anymore
Just saying!

BertieBotts · 02/07/2023 21:29

There are lots of car seats on the market though that can accommodate children older than 2 rear facing.

T1Dmama · 02/07/2023 21:39

I’ve learnt from experience not to give unwanted advice or get involved in other peoples upsets!…. It is up to your mum to say something like ‘well I can’t have your DC unless you supply the correct car seat!!…. Or ‘if you don’t like how I praise good behaviour please change your own kid and manage their behaviour!

while I agree it’s great to teach kids they can say no…. While they’re still in nappies perhaps isn’t the best time.. ‘let mummy put on your seat belt…. NO!!! Make sure you stop at the road!!… NO!!! At 2/3 I’m not sure they know the difference between having the right to say no and just saying no because they don’t want to do something essential.

my niece refuses to wear a nappy, so isn’t made to…. Trained during the day, all great… but wets the bed most nights… crazy people let toddlers dictate to them

T1Dmama · 02/07/2023 21:46

And yes don’t force them to kiss and cuddle anyone or force physical touch on them…. But to make such a big deal of ‘you can say no’ might just come back to bite you in the arse later…

OhcantthInkofaname · 02/07/2023 21:56

Next time she wants a hug say no! I'm not sure about the nappie change. I didn't see anything wrong with your moms interaction. As for the car seat it depends on the construction and to the placement in the car as to front or rear facing mode.

Brightbear · 02/07/2023 22:23

Bugbabe1970 · 02/07/2023 21:00

My grandson is 2
He's too big to rear face in his car seat anymore
Just saying!

He’s too big for the car seat that you have….

User1438423 · 03/07/2023 02:56

Bugbabe1970 · 02/07/2023 21:00

My grandson is 2
He's too big to rear face in his car seat anymore
Just saying!

My 6 year old is still rear facing. Just because your grandsons seat isn't the safest available, doesn't mean other people can't chose to buy safer ones. Rear facing prevents internal decapitation and is 5x safer than forward facing.

mycoffeecup · 03/07/2023 06:10

Bugbabe1970 · 02/07/2023 21:00

My grandson is 2
He's too big to rear face in his car seat anymore
Just saying!

Ah, you don't know much about car seats? Safer to rear face until at least 4 and some can go for longer.

Mysleepisbroken · 03/07/2023 06:58

User1438423 · 03/07/2023 02:56

My 6 year old is still rear facing. Just because your grandsons seat isn't the safest available, doesn't mean other people can't chose to buy safer ones. Rear facing prevents internal decapitation and is 5x safer than forward facing.

It is NOT 5x safer. That statistic came about by an error. It is still safer however, and I RF my 4yo.