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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Another dad lost it at my kids

324 replies

Gymmum82 · 09/09/2024 17:23

So my kids and the neighbours kids all play out together regularly. Usually about 10 of them. We live in a small village, they are polite, well behaved, respectful kids. They only play on each others drives. Or in houses. Sometimes they will ride their bikes or scooters up and down the street. It’s a very quiet cul de sac.

They knock on each others houses to ask if they want to play out. Yes sometimes it can be a bit annoying if you’ve just sat down and there’s 5 kids banging on the door. But if you say not today. Or kids will be out later. They will go away and they won’t keep knocking.

Last weekend they are all playing out. About 5 or 6 of them. They go and knock on at another friends house who also plays out and the dad comes to the door and absolutely loses his shit. Shouting and screaming at them. All the kids come back in tears. Another parent went round to find out WTF happened and the dad said exactly what the kids said. They knocked on and he yelled at them. No apology nothing. Perfectly justified in his reaction.

I am absolutely livid, I’ve told my kids they are never to knock on again and his kid is not welcome in my home again. But I’m still seething. I will see him regularly and I want to call him out on his behaviour and tell him never to raise his voice to my children again. But AIBU?

OP posts:
Whattodo1610 · 13/09/2024 11:06

Howdoimakean8yearoldlisten · 13/09/2024 09:58

Don’t let your kids anywhere near him.

Please don’t ban his kid from your place.

If there are indications he is worse behind closed doors and crossing lines make an anonymous call to SS or the police.

Goodness me I’ve heard it all now 🙄 ffs, kids banging on the door causes owner to shout at them so therefore his child must be being abused behind closed doors, best ring police/ss 🙄

OP: I need to report a man abusing his son.
POLICE/SS: What makes you think this, what have you seen?
OP: The man shouted at 5-6 kids when they banged on his front door.
I can imagine their response 🤦‍♀️🙄

CosyLemur · 13/09/2024 11:26

Starryeyed543 · 13/09/2024 09:20

Op has already said they haven't been told loads of times and there is a parents what's app group. There is no point in making up the story yourself if you don't believe the op just don't comment 🤷‍♀️

No actually she's said that as far as she knows they haven't been told. She's not out supervising them so has no idea what has and hasn't been said to them or others.
Also why should a parent have to put in a WhatsApp that kids are banging on doors - when the other parents clearly allow it!

Whattodo1610 · 13/09/2024 11:30

Also remember the summer holidays have just happened. .. so 6 weeks of constant banging on doors by groups of children. Then kids are back at school now so no banging on doors for a week, suddenly it’s the weekend and the banging has started again. Maybe the dad was just very fed up after enduring 6 weeks of banging to having a lovely quiet week with no kids banging his door down, then it all starts up again.

herecomesautumn · 13/09/2024 11:37

2dogsandabudgie · 09/09/2024 18:48

Of course you're being unreasonable, he told your kids off, he didn't beat them with a stick.

Maybe if more adults were allowed to tell other people's kids off we wouldn't have gangs of feral kids.

💯 this

Starryeyed543 · 13/09/2024 11:53

@cosylemur Actually she categorically said they had NEVER been told not to do it... her actual words. But I see in a previous post that your said you can "GUARANTEE" what has been said and done so obviously you were there to be able to say that? Presumably they should put it in a WhatsApp chat before it comes to the point of screaming and shouting?

QuiteAnEpicFailure · 13/09/2024 12:01

Definitely don’t punish the child but I have to say I have been wfh this week and kids have been constantly knocking on my door looking for my kids who aren’t even here they are at ASC until 5:30. Even if I explain this to these random door knockers they still keep coming back to see of they are home yet, or a different set of kids will knock. Every time it sets the dogs off barking and if I just ignore them they will linger at the front for ages while the dogs get more wound up.

I have had ask me really high stress deadlines to meet this week and this has been absolutely driving me up the wall! So I can understand getting a bit frustrated by kids at the door.

StolenChanel · 13/09/2024 12:01

Kids (and parents) can’t win these days. They’re either “being raised by screens” and “not learning any social skills” by being outdoors, or they’re “feral children running amok” when playing outside. Where and when is it appropriate for children to play freely as children?

NothingVenturedAndAllThat · 13/09/2024 12:05

I wouldn't have the kid over either, and not because I think it's fair to punish them, but because I wouldn't want their father around me or my children ever again. That's a very reasonable position to take after he's verbally abused your kids.

Mrssnee16 · 13/09/2024 13:06

Gymmum82 · 09/09/2024 17:23

So my kids and the neighbours kids all play out together regularly. Usually about 10 of them. We live in a small village, they are polite, well behaved, respectful kids. They only play on each others drives. Or in houses. Sometimes they will ride their bikes or scooters up and down the street. It’s a very quiet cul de sac.

They knock on each others houses to ask if they want to play out. Yes sometimes it can be a bit annoying if you’ve just sat down and there’s 5 kids banging on the door. But if you say not today. Or kids will be out later. They will go away and they won’t keep knocking.

Last weekend they are all playing out. About 5 or 6 of them. They go and knock on at another friends house who also plays out and the dad comes to the door and absolutely loses his shit. Shouting and screaming at them. All the kids come back in tears. Another parent went round to find out WTF happened and the dad said exactly what the kids said. They knocked on and he yelled at them. No apology nothing. Perfectly justified in his reaction.

I am absolutely livid, I’ve told my kids they are never to knock on again and his kid is not welcome in my home again. But I’m still seething. I will see him regularly and I want to call him out on his behaviour and tell him never to raise his voice to my children again. But AIBU?

Dont refuse the parents child playing with your kids just because of his dads reaction. Its not the kids fault his dad is an ass

outdooryone · 13/09/2024 13:34

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 09/09/2024 17:25

I feel like you'd be unreasonable to let the child suffer for the behaviour of the father. It might be even worse for him behind closed doors.

^ this.

The sins of the father cannot be held against the kids.
Welcome that kid back, but do ask your children not to go knocking on that door again.

helouisa · 13/09/2024 14:22

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 09/09/2024 17:25

I feel like you'd be unreasonable to let the child suffer for the behaviour of the father. It might be even worse for him behind closed doors.

yes it's not the kids fault. tell the kid he is welcome to come out and play/ visit anytime but the other kids won't be knocking as they are frightened of his dad. Don't bother speaking to dad it will make the situation worse

Closetheblinds · 13/09/2024 16:16

CosyLemur · 13/09/2024 09:16

Knocking a door isn't misbehaving but the OP has admitted there were 9 kids banging the man's door and ringing the bell at the same time.

He's probably told the kids loads of times not to do that, but because a couple of parents think it's okay the kids think it's okay!

If I had 9 kids banging my door and ringing my doorbell at the same time - I'd probably lose my shit after a while!

I really don’t care. Weak people always lose their shit. Not my business.

Closetheblinds · 13/09/2024 16:18

Starryeyed543 · 13/09/2024 09:17

Some of these comments are fucking wild! People agreeing they would lose their shit as well at a group of small children yeah very good. If its annoying speak to the parents or speak to the children in a calm manner. If you were doing something irritating to another person would you expect someone to lose it with you as a first warning that they didn't like your behaviour... absolutely not you would be on here starting a thread about someone being a CF for shouting at you.

Absolutely!! It’s a load of people admitting they have no self control and feel the need be aggressive to kids. Sad 🚩

ShillyShallySherbet · 13/09/2024 16:27

I think it’s very intrusive to knock on people’s doors. I’d be telling my kids they can play outside and if others see them out there and want to join in then great, but don’t go knocking on other people’s doors.

BettyBardMacDonald · 13/09/2024 17:09

ShillyShallySherbet · 13/09/2024 16:27

I think it’s very intrusive to knock on people’s doors. I’d be telling my kids they can play outside and if others see them out there and want to join in then great, but don’t go knocking on other people’s doors.

This.

There's no excuse for disturbing people in their homes.

Pherian · 13/09/2024 18:14

I get why you would want your child not to go to the assholes door again. Why are you punishing the kid though by them not being welcome in your home ? The kid has done wrong and dies not control the behaviour of the asshole parents they have.

Doone22 · 13/09/2024 21:34

I'd call him out as publicly as possible and ask him wtf is wrong with him

Phoenixfire1988 · 14/09/2024 18:10

If he's happy to scream and shout at other people's kids just how bad does he treat his own child ?
I'd be extra vigilant for any bruises etc from now on

NowImNotDoingIt · 14/09/2024 18:40

Phoenixfire1988 · 14/09/2024 18:10

If he's happy to scream and shout at other people's kids just how bad does he treat his own child ?
I'd be extra vigilant for any bruises etc from now on

Edited

He shouted once (in a year of this happening) . What exactly do you think he's doing at home?

strungouteyes · 15/09/2024 09:42

ouch321 · 09/09/2024 17:33

Would so love to hear his side of the story. One doorbell ring and he comes out screaming and shouting. Don't believe it.

Exactly. This sounds like a man at his wits end with children being a constant nuisance.

CreateUserNames · 15/09/2024 09:46

I guess it is not unusual for knocking the doors to happen in small village? There is no knocking the doors in bigger cities for sure.

Hunglikeapolevaulter · 15/09/2024 14:10

There is no knocking the doors in bigger cities for sure.

It's totally the norm on my new build estate in the suburbs of a large city.
And yes it can get irritating if it's loud or frequent and one is working from home or just trying to relax.

Justanothermum42 · 16/09/2024 09:03

You will make the child suffer because his dad is an idiot? Get a grip please. Call the dad out but do not punish the child!

gretathegremlin · 16/09/2024 13:46

Has anyone in the village asked this dad for his side of the story now the heat of the moment is over OP?

I reckon the kids need to be encouraged to adjust their habits. This dad might have been the one to blow, but I'd wager he's not the only one irritated by the current system of multiple kids banging on doors together.

It may just take a simple change to "one knocks/rings the bell - once - while the rest stand back" to reach a comprise that makes everyone happy.

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