Deliberately running over frogs with a lawnmower

[SlinkyMalinkyy]

When I was with my ex he saw no issue if there was a frog/frogs on the lawn he would deliberately run it over with the lawn mower with the kids watching. He would laugh while doing it. The first time he did it I saw the frog on the lawn and I thought it would be nice to show the kids, teach them about frogs maybe take it to a local park/lake. DH hacked it to bits! 😭 His excuse was that he had always seen his grandfather do this and it was no big deal. MIL got the kids involved in pouring boiling water over ants too. So any attempts to foster empathy for living things was over ridden.

Kids are older now but he still does this. It seems unnecessarily cruel to me and teaches the children a lack of empathy for living things.

AIBU in thinking this is not normal especially in front of children? It was part of a wider pattern of problematic behaviour. No frog is safe! 🐸

So long as you get the gist OP that your ex is weird. Cruel and twisted.
How you manage your children with him I am not sure.

What a thoroughly awful, sick individual. I hope he runs his foot over with the lawnmower.

Disgusting waste of oxygen. Wildlife Offences | The Crown Prosecution Service definitely a crime and has malicious intent. Although not a priority NPCC would also be very interested

What a nightmare. He is either sick or evil, and has corrupted your children too. His mother sounds nearly as bad, but that’s no excuse for him.

Good idea to ask the school for help.

Horrible behaviour. I was on a second date years ago with a man who seemed totally normal. We were driving on a country road and he swerved, deliberately, to hit a rabbit. 🤬 Sick bastard. I made him stop the car, I got out, and walked 5 miles to the nearest phone box (no mobiles back then!) to call my dad to pick me up.

hope someone runs him over in return.

Well done for getting away from him OP, I imagine that wasn't at all easy.
What an horendous influence he could be on your children, you must find ways to mitigate this by watching nature programmes with them (Secret Gardens on BBC is magical) and making them aware of the wonder of wildlife but first and foremost have as little contact as possible with him, don't provoke him and you need to build a support network.
Wishing you and you family all good things x.

What the FUCK have I just read? Jesus OP, let him carry on his psychopath ways but for the love of God, remove your children from him. There were two boys in my year at school who were cruel to animals. One is now in Boradmoor, the other has recently been released from prison post murder.

I was just about to say hopefully they don't take after their father and grandmother 😔

I think you need to be very direct with the kids and tell them that it is downright cruel to kill creatures like this, and also explain how valuable and important frogs are.

Don’t just hope that they will pick up ‘empathy’ from following your example.

How old are they?