Late last year my partner, 3 year old son and I had to move into my parent?s house because our new home wasn't quite ready. We stayed there for 2 and a half months. I was pregnant at the time and also working three days a week.
Whilst we were there my Father took care of my son one day a week while I was at work - in addition to both my parents looking after him every Saturday, which is a regular arrangement. Prior to our stay my Father was the most indulgent Grandfather, maybe a little too indulgent and I told my Father to make sure he was firm with my son and he had my full permission to tell him off if he was naughty.
When we first moved in, I noticed it seemed to be usual practice for my Father to play games with my son where my son hit him. I told my Father not to let him away with it but my Father said that my son couldn't help himself and shouldn't be told off,. Anyway, (sorry, know that I?m rambling now) on our last day I heard my Father go into the bathroom to wash his hands and heard my son smack my Fathers on the bottom. Then I heard my Father smack my son and say "Don't hit me." My Father then when into the living room and acted as if nothing had happened. I followed him in disbelief and calmly asked him what had happened. When he told me, I told him that he did not have the authority to smack him, only tell him off and that if he had a problem with my son?s behavior then he should come to me or to my partner ( who was cooking, happily oblivious at the time) My father told me that I should control my son better..
Haven't spoken to my Father since beginning of Feb and things have turned even a bit frosty with my Mother who agreed with me at the time. Does anyone else think that it was unreasonable for my Father to smack my child without my permission or am i the one being unreasonable?