Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Was my daughter in the wrong ?

101 replies

Donury236 · 19/12/2025 10:17

So, teenage girls, aaargh. My head, honestly!!

My eldest has adhd with significant asd traits - this is very relevant as she has a very Very strong justice 'thing'.

If you significantly wrong her, or anyone she will let you know, and if its something that she sees as done ti purposefully hurt then shes will want nothing more to do with someone.

Today she was taken out of class by a teacher in rrlation to some goings on. She was told by the tr
eacher that she was a nasty girl, and evil bully and an embarassment...(thats verbatim btw...a 40yr old woman called a 16yr old.girl that).

Why? Well, eldest had a friend, S. S didnt have may friends anymore (relevant). eldest was really nice to S, they shared classes, sat next to each other for 1, I gave the kid lift a home with us after school on a friday.

1 day suddenly S just blanks eldest. Totally ignores her. No explanation.
Eldest is like, Ok whatever, gets on with classes, this had also.happened with a few other folk earlier that year.

It then turns out that S had been telling other kids eldest didnt like them/didnt want them in groups with them. Which is a load of bull, and explained why these people had suddenly not been speaking to her. This is what activated eldests cut them off decision. This is also apprently why S had such a non existent friend pool as this is her MO since primary.
S decided though, that when the seating was rearranged in a class to sit inbetween eldest and her best friend. So S sits there in silence, dorsnt engage either of them at all. Blanks them.
They are literally talking/working over her.

Eventually eldest had enough of it and BF took S seat - they did move her stuff off the place which I was not enamored with I wouldnt want someone touching her stuff either.
Eldest and BF were on snapchat in class (yes they shouldn't have been) messing about as it was a double and it was a brain break. They are neurospicy fools so post stupid face pics - and they also have a closed group that see these pics and stories (no one S is friends with - this is relevant!)

Fast forward to a day or so after, they get hauled in as apparently they were videoing S and sharing it with people on snapchat and S says she heard eldest say she wanted to smash her face into the desk, and calling her a bitch.

And, of course, you can't prove whats on snapchap, so they apparently have to believe S.
Eldest said she explained everything that happened. The teacher has said that S was open to having a discussion about eldest apogising for the video etc, and of course eldest said she was not interested in talking to S as A) there was no video so nothing ti apologise for b) it will achieve nothing other than S to accuse her of all sorts. I have said have the meeting, and when you apologise say your are sorry that she thinks she was videod, that she think a she should be allowed to lie, that she thinks false accusations are good things to make, ans sorry that she is under the impression she deserves an apology. But apparently that will get her into more trouble.

As eldest is also a prefect she is worried they could take that away from her. Also her BF didnt get taken out of class, which is why I know its a baseless vendetta from a kid that seems to thrice on being the victim at the centre of drama.

NgL, mama bear is pissed. I usually.let her navigate friendships herself as she is very mature about it. But we do seem to stumble when it comes to manipulative people as we cant think like them, and it gets us upset, so.ive found it hard to explain to her how to navigate that other than to leave well alone - which clearly does not work!! As here we are!

A have now decided its time I wade in, so awaiting a call back from the school for a good explanation of what they think gave them the right to say that to a kid, and how they concluded she was guilty, and ehy want i co tacted about this at thr start.

It is unreasonable of me to weigh in. Eldest is 16 and in 5th year, so legally she is the one with the enrollment/agreement with the school. But also...she is still a kid!

OP posts:
rubyslippers · 19/12/2025 10:21

Your child has behaved poorly regardless of any neuro diversity
Being on the phone in class and filming is absolutely wrong
you have to acknowledge that and the friendship thing - well it all sounds like year 7 stuff not girls doing GCSEs to be honest

MaybeNotNo · 19/12/2025 10:27

Are you able to shorten this at all?

As far as I can work out, this is the issue?
Your child has been accused of bullying without evidence, the school believed the accuser, and a teacher spoke to your child in an unacceptable way. You don’t think your child did what she’s accused of, and you're angry and unsure whether to step in.

With that in mind, this sounds really stressful for you and your daughter. Teen friendships can get incredibly messy, especially when social media is involved.
I do think the language you’ve described from the teacher is concerning and worth raising calmly with the school. At the same time, schools often have to act on what they’re told even when evidence is limited, so it may help to focus on clear next steps rather than trying to unpick everything that’s happened.

GlassofRosePorfavor · 19/12/2025 10:28

actions have consequences is the first lesson and it's no good sugar coating it or wading in. Sometimes life isn't fair and that's never a bad lesson to learn.

fairness/unfairness is a theme throughout life and teaching how to work through emotions surrounding it is the best gift

GazeboLantern · 19/12/2025 10:28

Regardless of the circumstances you are never being unreasonable in giving you dc the security of your support.

What stands out to me about this situation is the tangle of the social interactions, and your dd’s struggles to navigate them. Been there with my dc, too. But the difference in the way our school treated them was that in cases of he-said-she-said unwitnessed, unproveable claims, neither party was given the upper hand. They were also treated with politeness and consideration by their teachers!

doglover90 · 19/12/2025 10:30

'She was told by the teacher that she was a nasty girl, and evil bully and an embarassment...(thats verbatim btw...a 40yr old woman called a 16yr old.girl that).'

Did anyone else witness this or are you just assuming that your daughter is telling the complete truth?

youalright · 19/12/2025 10:33

I learnt a long time ago when my teens tell me things that have happened they often leave out quite significant things that they have done and only mention the parts that others have done to them. Don't get involved.

InterestedDad37 · 19/12/2025 10:35

Reads like someone dropped a lorry load of alphabetti spaghetti 🤷

LiteraryBambi · 19/12/2025 10:36

Sounds like a lot of drama. No need for you to get involved, let the school deal with it ao your DD can learn there are consequences to her actions.

Avoid using the term neurospicy if you can. You won't be taken seriously in a professional environment.

DolefullySingingMotherfucka · 19/12/2025 10:38

The teacher sounds over-invested in one party's version, but so do you.

PollyBell · 19/12/2025 10:40

No the labels you give your child os not relevant they are a bully or not

PaterPower · 19/12/2025 10:43

What have I just read?

“Mama bear” and “neurospicy fools,” indeed. I think you need some quality time away from your phone, as does your daughter.

Fends · 19/12/2025 10:53

Mama bear?

ArtTheClownIsNotAMime · 19/12/2025 10:56

She was told by the tr
eacher that she was a nasty girl, and evil bully and an embarassment...(thats verbatim btw...a 40yr old woman called a 16yr old.girl that).

Was she covertly recording the teacher for you to know that's verbatim?

You sound about 14 yourself. Embarrassing.

Itsjusttoomuchtoday · 19/12/2025 10:57

I normal don’t mind long posts but I just couldn’t get through this all. You need to take the emotion out of this and look at it objectively.

AstonUniversityPotholeDepartment · 19/12/2025 11:01

As a woman with AS who struggled a lot with friendships as a teenager, I instinctively have a lot of sympathy for your daughter.

However, she has to learn that it was royally stupid of her and her friend to be taking pictures of each other in that situation. Yes, even if it was in the break on a double period.

Have you considered that S may genuinely believe that they were taking pictures of her and posting them to their other friends? It was intimidating behaviour on your daughter's part, and she should apologise for that. When you are filming or photographing friends, you should make it clear to other people in the vicinity that you're not surreptitiously filming them. You can do this verbally or non-verbally, but it needs to be done.

If you can't do that, then no mobile photography.

You've painted S as an arch-manipulator, but by your own account, she is also a teenager, who has been struggling with friendships and consequences since primary school. I'm not saying your daughter needs to try and make friends with her, but you as an adult, need to keep it in mind that all your daughter's classmates are immature teenagers too.

DarkPassenger1 · 19/12/2025 11:08

YABU, you are WAY too involved and enmeshed with a teen's social life/friendship group, and she's gonna really struggle as she gets older to manage friendships and conflict with you breathing down her neck trying to puppeteer. You want to 'wade in' instead of empowering your daughter to address it maturely with the school, I'm wondering what it is you get from all of this, and what need it fulfils?

Eldest and BF were on snapchat in class (yes they shouldn't have been) messing about as it was a double and it was a brain break. They are neurospicy fools so post stupid face pics

You seem to make a lot of excuses for your daughter while simultaneously taking everything she says at face value as the absolute truth.

Using her neurodivergence as a cutesy excuse for rule breaking in school is only going to hurt her in the long run.

I get a feeling this isn't the first time you've got overinvolved at school, you're going to end up with teachers dreading hearing your name and trying to avoid being the one to speak with you about stuff. If something genuinely serious ever comes up you're gonna have a hard time.

27pilates · 19/12/2025 11:12

So your daughter is 16, if in England she’s a few months away from GCSEs and this is how she’s carrying on at school? ASD aside, deeply concerning behaviour. You sound like you need to get a grip on your emotions too and start impressing how important it is that actually concentrating on studying now (the whole point of school) is the absolute top priority.

doglover90 · 19/12/2025 11:13

'Eventually eldest had enough of it and BF took S seat - they did move her stuff off the place which I was not enamored with I wouldnt want someone touching her stuff either'

OP your daughter and her friend did something very unkind that could be perceived as bullying if part of a wider pattern of behaviour, but all you have to say is thst you were 'not enamoured with' it. I agree with the others that you seem willing to judge others very harshly and believe the worst of them while excusing your daughter's behaviour.

Angrybird76 · 19/12/2025 11:20

Are you also 'neurospicy' (hideous term) OP? I have ADHD and so does my daughter, I have to really separate myself out from her at times as our ADHD worlds can collide and collude! You are way too involved in this and the way it is written you sound the same age as your daughter. Do you have anyone, friend, partner, mum, counsellor who can help you get some distance and provide adult support for your daughter. That's really important as she needs to be able to navigate life, neurospicy or not (FYI, being neuro diverse is not the reason your daughter was using her phone in class. She was just breaking the rules)

TinselTitts · 19/12/2025 11:22

NgL, mama bear is pissed.

She should probably stay off the booze.

MrsChristmasHasResigned · 19/12/2025 11:33

Sorry, OP, but I don’t think your daughter is a reliable reporter. You can check out what happened for sure, but be neutral and open minded. Kids this age lie and embellish and her ADHD adds another layer of complications in terms of assessing what is happening.

BauhausOfEliott · 19/12/2025 11:39

Your daughter was absolutely in the wrong, and you need to stop attributing every fuck-up to her neurodiversity. She sounds like the archetypal over-dramatic, stroppy, self-absorbed teenager to be honest, and you'd do well to encourage her to grow up, rather than getting involved in her dramas.

PigeonsandSquirrels · 19/12/2025 11:40

It sounds like she was in a very difficult situation, but -
A) It was wrong to move seats because that is not allowed and looks as though she is excluding S. And to be on phones at school.

B) The school cannot believe S with no evidence. I would be asking for a meeting about this.

C) There are 3 sides to every story.

BillieWiper · 19/12/2025 11:43

Your kid is misbehaving and breaking the rules. So they are the consequences. If you teach her otherwise you'll be doing her a massive disservice.

The stuff about her friends is for her to navigate. You wouldn't have wanted your parents wading in on your social and romantic relationships when you were a teen? It's not some kind of cheesy soap opera.

Spanador · 19/12/2025 11:47

Did the 16 year old write this? Because I'm struggling to believe an adult would

Swipe left for the next trending thread