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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

My ds keep shaming me

285 replies

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 10:17

My 4 and 5 year old DS have taken to calling me the worst fattest mum in the world every time I don't give in to TV or snack demands. They also tell me to shut my mouth and hit me. But the calling me fat all the time is relentless.

They come from a loving home and me and my husband parent seemingly the same as our other parent friends. Giving boundaries, organising things like baking and days out and socialise.

Where have we gone wrong? How do we fix this? We have done time outs and explained this language and behaviour isn't acceptable.

It makes me very sad and resentful.

OP posts:
somanychristmaslights · 08/02/2026 10:35

Where have they learnt that though? They wouldn’t just say that out of thin air.

Teacaketravesty · 08/02/2026 10:35

Sunshining20 · 08/02/2026 10:24

Time outs and taking toys away. What do I do next. How do you tear a 4 year old a new one?

I’d protest vehemently, with a raised voice and use words like ‘stop’, ‘no’, ‘not ok’, and I’d restrain any hitting hands. I’d do it alongside my husband and I’d take them to separate rooms, their own bedrooms if they don’t share, with toys except teddy/comforter already removed, and I’d give it 20 mins before my husband went in to talk to each, youngest first, about why on earth he’s doing this. i wouldn’t expect coherent answers: the aim is to make them realise it isn’t acceptable. I imagine there’s some similar behaviour at school
and they are copying it and your reactions are exciting, not because they want to hurt you, but because they are having a big effect, and that’s unusual and interesting when you’re a little kid who’s normally got no power over adults.

popcornandpotatoes · 08/02/2026 10:38

Shocking. Where on earth have the learned such language! Time to lose your shit

Smartiepants79 · 08/02/2026 10:38

Do the just do this to you? What about their father. Are they extremely rude to him too?? What does he do and say? A friend of mines teenager tried this once recently (just the once) his father made sure he knew in no uncertain terms that speaking to his mother like that was not going to be tolerated. His favourite thing was confiscated and she got an apology real quick.
The first time a four year old spoke to me like that I would respond with my firmest and angriest tone ‘I beg your pardon, what did you just say to me’? With follow up consequences if they dared to repeat themselves. No child I’ve ever met has. And I teach 4 year olds so have met many of them.

Wakemeupinapril · 08/02/2026 10:44

There would be no trips out except school
. If they can't behave at home they can't be trusted to go elsewhere..
No TV. No treats.
And speak to school...

AeroChambre · 08/02/2026 10:45

I would want to know where they even got the idea from? Where did they learn that language? Where did they observe sneering, critical or bullying behaviour?

If anyone of my dc were rude or insulting they would know from a look from me how badly they had overstepped. It would be explained very clearly how unacceptable their behaviour had been.

None of mine have ever even tried it.

SalmonOnFinnCrisp · 08/02/2026 10:45

I would give very little in the way of emotional response. Id explain its not acceptable and they are not to do it.

Further... I'd explain rude children who say horrible things dont get nice things so there will be consequences.

I'd take the 4 and 5 yr old to the bin. And let them watch as i throw out all the snacks and tell them of they talk like that there wil be no snacks. And they'd get fuck all crisps/ treats / "nice snacks" from me.

Every time they do it they get a consequence (load washing, tidy toys) if they repeat. They get a media blackout for the rest of the day no tv and no screens.

Id be neutral and calm but immovable and id stop relatives giving them treats etc too.

MyCatPrefersPeaches · 08/02/2026 10:46

They may well have picked it up from school. Both my DCs and my friends’ DCs have come home with some shockers at a fairly young age which have been picked up from the playground as it’s language not used in the home and not on the kinds of TV programmes they watch.

If it is a frequent occurrence, I would sit them down at a time when the language isn’t happening. Tell them this kind of language has been going on a long time and it isn’t acceptable. Do they talk like that in school? Do you need to speak to their teacher? (Mine have always been very focused on being “good” in school.) You expect this to stop, today. If not, you will impose X sanction until their behaviour improves. Then follow through. And make sure your DH/DP is on board.

Do they hit him as well? We had a lot of problems with hitting with one of our DCs but it was mainly directed at me. We have found DH seems to have more authority as he sounds more intimidating as a male. If this is applicable to yours, use it!

Twinkylightsg · 08/02/2026 10:49

Where have they heard this language? This would be what I would be investigating.

Stern talking to.

Privileges removed.

Also I would also do less for them. Not their basic needs, but just generally less. I take mine out for fun activities, bake and cook with them etc. I explain to them that I am setting a boundary now as hoe they are treating me is not OK. I do the same with the 4 year old. He understands that how you treat someone will effect how they treat you and this may very well be not playing with them anymore. He has speech delay and still understands.

However, neither of my children have used such mean language to me before. It usually is they have heard someone say shut up and are testing it out or just raise their voice at me rudely that would cause this type of consequence.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 08/02/2026 10:50

Mine would have a got a smacked bottom and then frog marched to a chair and made to sit there until they were told to move.

Wakemeupinapril · 08/02/2026 10:50

Totally agree above..

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 08/02/2026 10:55

I can't believe people are advocating smacking children as a way to stop them from hitting!

You don't need to smack children for any reason, but you do need to enforce rules and boundaries.

ForEdgyHare · 08/02/2026 10:55

My eldest dd went through a phase of this and I realised that it was coming from her watching Horrid Henry and her acting like him.
It makes you so sad 😞 but I would be looking at the programmes they are watching and talking to teachers at school about their behaviour.
Firm immediate consequences. No TV, treats.
It did pass once we stopped the horrid Henry and she realised that I was talking to teachers etc.
She was not calling me names as such but she was talking to me like absolute crap. It did affect my mental health too.

I would never say smack them, I have never smacked my children but this behaviour tested me in that way. I could absolutely see why my mum would have walloped me for it. I came close to it a few times 🙈

LVhandbagsatdawn · 08/02/2026 10:55

This is completely unacceptable behaviour as I'm sure you know. You need to go nuclear.

Not sure I'd go as far as a smack, but they definitely need the wrath of something bringing down on their heads. I'd ground them and only allow them down from their rooms for meals. Then straight back up, until they apologise and mean it.

Happytaytos · 08/02/2026 10:57

Pick something they REALLY care about. TV time is a good one. As soon as they call you that, TV is gone for the day.

You need to clamp down now OP, before this escalates further.

99pwithaflake · 08/02/2026 11:00

If I'd even dared to speak to my parents like that, I'd have been given the biggest bollocking known to man. I don't mean a smack or anything, but my parents would have made it crystal clear that my behaviour was unacceptable and I'd not have dared do it again.

fluffiphlox · 08/02/2026 11:00

I’d read them the riot act in quite a loud voice.

Crunchy7 · 08/02/2026 11:01

Eat some nice treats in front of them and tell them they aren’t having any because they are mean. The insults would soon stop.

CinnamonJellyBeans · 08/02/2026 11:02

First of all, if you are fat, you need to not be ashamed of it. Teach your kids, explicitly, or implicitly that while you are overweight, it's not a character flaw. It's a physical feature that is no more shameful than height, eye colour, freckles. the reason I say this is because children are parasites and they will exploit any weakness you show them to get more out of you. If they know you don't give a shit, it won't work as an insult.

There are very, very few times that my children have upset me personally. When they have done this, I have been very clear: I'm actually upset by what you said to me. I do not wish to be friendly with you. I will continue to feed and take you where you need to go and exchange information, but do not attempt to converse with me until tomorrow. Children are herd animals and hate to be excluded. This works for me, but won't work for everyone.

The hitting needs to be punished, especially if the child is in full control and not overwhelmed/having a meltdown. Do not hit back: You lose the moral high ground and don't solve the problem.

Your kids need to earn these treats, as they feel they are being robbed of what they consider to be an entitlement.

Their dad needs to be on board with the expectations and sanctions. I hope he/you do not insult each other.

If they have ipads/phones, or know how to use such devices, this stops immediately. I should have put this first, as this is often the cause and removal is solution.

Dgll · 08/02/2026 11:02

Children of this age need pretty instant consequences. Look completely shocked (although that ship has sailed a bit) and say very simply that they are being rude. Remove all snacks/TV remote. Try not to be emotional just shocked and disappointed. When DH returns (if he isn't there) explain in front of the children that there has been some rather shocking behaviour today and that you feel quite disappointed. He then needs to say that he is also very disappointed and hopes that he never hears his children speak like this again. A united front from both parents does tend to be more effective.

VeterinaryCareAssistant · 08/02/2026 11:02

AnnaQuayInTheUk · 08/02/2026 10:55

I can't believe people are advocating smacking children as a way to stop them from hitting!

You don't need to smack children for any reason, but you do need to enforce rules and boundaries.

They learn if they hit someone they get hit back.

sharkstale · 08/02/2026 11:05

Do you call yourself fat or complain about your weight infront of them?

Gggh · 08/02/2026 11:05

Zero screen time.
zero junk food if those are the snacks they are kicking off for.

Sweetiedarling7 · 08/02/2026 11:05

If you aren’t in control of them aged 4 and 5 then at 15 and 16 I can see this being much, much worse.
Zero tolerance measures.
Removing all the things they like and they have to earn them back.
Where have they seen fat shaming behaviour? School?

Onelifeonly · 08/02/2026 11:07

Stop explaining and come up with a simple non - emotional statement you make every time they say it, followed by a consequence for non compliance. Eg 'it is not ok to be rude' or 'you need to speak to me politely'. Don't let them know you're upset or angry, you're just enforcing a rule. Firm and clear works best. Then follow up as needed - 'no, we are not baking today as you were rude / called me fat / whatever. Maybe we can do it tomorrow.'

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