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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Fall out with Grandson

835 replies

LadySmurf · 30/05/2024 06:30

Recently I was asked to look after my two grandsons 14 & 8. The 14yo can be a handful with his behaviour and language, but we had a lovely time together, I took them out for the day and they wanted to sleep over. The next morning, 14yo was stroppy and swearing - I asked him to stop and not talk like that. The 8yo said “Mum said if you’re naughty they’ll take away your Xbox for a week” well it was like a red rag. He started shouting and swearing at me - then he punched me in the stomach. I’m very sad and horrified to say, I smacked his face in a reactive moment. When his parents came, I explained what happened and said sorry to him. They said he would apologise the next day - but nothing.
They took him home and now a month on, I’ve not had any contact with him, only the rest of the family.
I saw him yesterday when I visited their house. I said hello and asked how he was? He ignored me and told his brother he hates me.
Its his birthday next week - I don’t feel like giving him a gift. should I still? AIBU?

OP posts:
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ShadesofPoachedSmoke · 30/05/2024 16:29

justasking111 · 30/05/2024 13:42

Well granny hasn't come back to us, so I'm somewhat wary.

She only posted first thing this morning - maybe she's at work all day!

SphincterSaysWhat · 30/05/2024 16:33

I think I'd slap anyone in the face if they punched me in the stomach. I hope you're ok OP, what an awful time for you. Mumsnet is going to be weird about this, but for what it's worth, I'm with you. I'd DIE a thousand deaths if my children raised a hand to anyone, esp one of their grandmothers.

SummerintheCity24 · 30/05/2024 16:33

I think the best thing for the boy is to report it to the police.

Crumpleton · 30/05/2024 16:33

AuntieMarys · 30/05/2024 06:42

I would find it hard to forgive a teenager who punched me in the stomach.

This...
And I'd be appalled as a parent if it were my DS that did it to his Grandma.

LunaMay · 30/05/2024 16:33

No way would i be getting him anything. A card maybe to 'keep the peace' with the parents if you think it would upset them.

It's not even the fact that he did it, it's that he has had time to reflect on it and still isn't sorry! You deserve better than that.

Why on earth haven't his parents acted on this, he assaulted you! God, i can only imagine the absolute dressing down i would have gotten just for swearing at my nan let alone getting physical. I'd have been living like a pauper for months.

TheFormidableMrsC · 30/05/2024 16:33

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

What on Earth are you talking about? He assaulted his grandparent and she reacted in the heat of the moment. I would probably have done the same. Your advice is ludicrous.

PenguinLord · 30/05/2024 16:34

This reply has been deleted

This message has been withdrawn at the poster's request

So his reaction to punch his grandma in a stomach is OK? How do you think he treats other people (friends/classmates/teachers) if he is so violent with a fmaily member? HE made a mistake and he's 14, hardly a toddler.

PenguinLord · 30/05/2024 16:36

something2say · 30/05/2024 06:33

I think give a gift but at some stage sit him down alone and explain that punching people and shouting and swearing is not good, ask for an apology and then give a big hug when he does apologise and then let that be an end to it.

He has a lot of challenges if he is acting like this, and you have a good chance to teach him about saying sorry.

I'm sorry you are going through this.

"You have violently assaulted an elderly family member, as a reward, here is a gift and also a hug so you can punch her again, this time harder".

IReallyStillCantBeBothered · 30/05/2024 16:38

ByPeachSeal · 30/05/2024 07:30

A slap isn’t a defence. She slapped because she was angry, not to defend herself.

It’s not meant to be a threat. It’s as simple as not wanting my child around an adult that loses control and reacts with violence like that.

Hahaha you don’t want your child around an adult that reacts to being punched by slapping, maybe you shouldn’t start with teaching your child to never hit or punch anyone not to talk of his grandmother?????

You really have your priorities out of sync lol

KomodoOhno · 30/05/2024 16:39

gardenmusic · 30/05/2024 16:25

Take his X box away - yes if he is 8, and he stuck his tongue out at her, or was rude.
A thuggish teen who hits a woman, especially an older woman, needs police intervention.

This. Soon he will punch the wrong person and end up with police charges. Maybe then the parents will parent. Although I doubt it.

Theothername · 30/05/2024 16:40

I’m going against the grain here - at 14 he’s an adolescent, not an adult and I don’t think it’s right to write him off as a violent abuser. Teenage boys bodies develop faster than their brain and that’s why it matters so much how a situation like this is handled. Who he is at 24 will be affected by how he was handled at 14. But it’s not a foregone conclusion.

Before making any decisions about birthdays I’d want to have a serious discussion with his dps, or perhaps just with your dc if that would be better. They’re all lucky you didn’t press charges, but you left it to them to handle and they haven’t brought it to a conclusion so I’d want to know what happened.

It’s not normal for a 14 year old to punch his granny. Calling him names and predicting lifelong criminality is beside the point. There’s something going on - it could be anything from violence in the home, poor parenting, to a psychotic streak. The last one being another way of saying he’s a little shit - and if he is, at 14, his dps should still be seeking out help and support.

You don’t know what happened after he got home. And you might feel differently if he was beaten up afterwards by a regularly violent parent, vs patted on the head and given extra time on his iPad. This is what I’d want to find out.

The dps are doing him a huge disservice by not getting him to apologise, and rebuild the relationship, regardless of what consequences there were for him otherwise. If he were my gs, I’d probably send him a birthday card, letting him know that I’m willing to talk about what happened, and that I love him. That’s not letting him off the hook or minimising the seriousness of it, but it shows him how to build a bridge.

User8646382 · 30/05/2024 16:41

Caiti19 · 30/05/2024 15:52

Oh and "Mum said if you’re naughty they’ll take away your Xbox for a week”.

If that induced that reaction from my child, he wouldn't see the Xbox for a month minimum. I'd question 1) how addicted he is and 2) what he is playing on it to solicit such a violent response.

The number of parents who think playing shooting games for 3 hours every day is fine is absolutely nuts.

Personally, I would get a hammer and smash the Xbox to pieces. And I’d make sure I did it in front of him.

Cuppachino · 30/05/2024 16:42

Owl55 · 30/05/2024 16:22

Immature teenagers often won’t apologize but maybe as he matures he will realize he was totally out of order punching his Nan and regret his behavior , a fake apology is meaningless! And no I’m not a man 😂and as I said previously this boy needs help before his violence escalates.

He didn't eat the last biscuit and not apologise...he punched his grandmother. Punched her. You are really minimising what's gone on here I feel.

EclairsAndDoughnuts · 30/05/2024 16:42

He sounds like a wee thug.. One day he will punch someone in the stomach and find he's picked on the wrong one. Either that, or he'll be wearing his suit in the dock.

You were wrong to apologise to him and the only letter that I would be writing would be one withdrawing it.

Tdcp · 30/05/2024 16:42

Sugargliderwombat · 30/05/2024 16:02

So don't apologise then! If you're not sorry then don't apologise. Don't apologise and then when they don't accept then withhold a birthday gift.

It sounds like OP hasn't actually approached the parents or the child again and is just being passive aggressive. Say it to them instead.

Just because she has apologised for slapping him in retaliation, it doesn't mean that she has forgiven him for his actions. He has a lot of making up to do. He's 14 and he is stomping around saying he hates her even though he punched her! Maybe if he had apologised then this wouldn't be as it is now but as it stands the grandson has zero remorse for what he did to her. She clearly has talked to the parents as they said he was going to apologise to her. The parents need to step the fuck up and start actually parenting their child and make him accountable for his actions.

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:43

This young man needs unconditional love, very difficult stage of life. I am not condoning what he did but the behaviour issues need to be addressed in the longer term by his parents. And yes, you do need to buy him a birthday present!

BruhWhy · 30/05/2024 16:45

My 14 year old would probably have to run for it if he ever laid a hand on me like that. And that's if DH didn't catch him first! 🙈

Certainly wouldn't be receiving an apology off me either.

At 14 they know right from wrong, and unless there are bigger neurological issues at play, there needs to be scorched-earth dire consequences for that sort of behaviour or it escalates, and 14 year old boys rapidly grow into 16, 17, 18 year old men.

As PP have said it's an involuntary reaction sometimes, to defend yourself, which is what you were doing. I've never laid a finger on my children, I was hit a lot as a kid and it was a miserable upbringing. But I don't think I can guarantee my son wouldn't get a smack back at that age.

KomodoOhno · 30/05/2024 16:45

User8646382 · 30/05/2024 16:41

Personally, I would get a hammer and smash the Xbox to pieces. And I’d make sure I did it in front of him.

Exactly!

Feelsodrained · 30/05/2024 16:46

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:43

This young man needs unconditional love, very difficult stage of life. I am not condoning what he did but the behaviour issues need to be addressed in the longer term by his parents. And yes, you do need to buy him a birthday present!

Wtf. You’ll find that nearly all teens manage to navigate this “difficult stage of life” without violently attacking their grandparents when they ask them to please stop swearing. He’s a little thug who does not deserve a birthday present.

countrysidelife2024 · 30/05/2024 16:52

sorry but it isnt normal for a 14 year old to hit his grandma, this is likely going to turn out very bad for him and his parents need to see whats wrong because it really isnt normal .........

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:56

I agree that teenagehood is a difficult time for most but I believe this young man has underlying issues that need to be addressed and worked on. And that means rules/boundaries and unconditional love. When the young man said he hates his grandma, that is likely to mean love. Love and hate are closely connected.

EclairsAndDoughnuts · 30/05/2024 16:59

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:56

I agree that teenagehood is a difficult time for most but I believe this young man has underlying issues that need to be addressed and worked on. And that means rules/boundaries and unconditional love. When the young man said he hates his grandma, that is likely to mean love. Love and hate are closely connected.

Your last sentence has been said by every male abuser.

whatsitcalledwhen · 30/05/2024 17:02

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:56

I agree that teenagehood is a difficult time for most but I believe this young man has underlying issues that need to be addressed and worked on. And that means rules/boundaries and unconditional love. When the young man said he hates his grandma, that is likely to mean love. Love and hate are closely connected.

How does her getting him a gift, despite him not apologising for punching her in the stomach, teach him a valuable lesson?

Unconditional love doesn't mean rewarding or ignoring awful behaviour. It means doing things that will help him to grow into a sensible, emotionally healthy adult. It means understandable and proportionate consequences to behaviour.

Teaching him that if you physically assault someone, they will still buy you a present if they really love you, is such a dangerous precedent to set to a boy of his age especially.

To still get him a present despite his lack of apology for his physical attack is to do him a complete disservice too, by teaching him absolutely nothing that will benefit him in the long term.

Can you see that?

Crumpleton · 30/05/2024 17:03

Despair1 · 30/05/2024 16:43

This young man needs unconditional love, very difficult stage of life. I am not condoning what he did but the behaviour issues need to be addressed in the longer term by his parents. And yes, you do need to buy him a birthday present!

Unconditional love starts long before the age of 14 and had he of been bought up correctly he'd know that punching anyone isn't acceptable, so his parents have either turned a blind eye or have no intention of addressing his behaviour.

At 14 for his own sake he needs to take a good look at his own behaviour before he punches someone and they put him on his arse good and proper.

piningforautumn · 30/05/2024 17:03

Slapping isn't good, but I think it's excusable when you've just been punched in the stomach!

Anyone who punches their grandmother in the stomach at 14 (and doesn't have severe developmental issues to explain the behaviour) is mote likely headed down the road to ruin, unless something changes, sharpish. His parents need to act immediately to bring him under control, if it's not already too late.

No, I wouldn't give a gift to a 14-year-old who'd recently punched me and said he hated me, not unless he'd apologised and seemed to understand the magnitude of his misbehaviour.