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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be upset that family members thought it funny to frighten my son and film it?

106 replies

Mrsknowitall · 05/05/2026 10:41

If you saw a video of your child running down the road hysterically crying and screaming and adults aged between 27-30 laughing, filming and screaming out RUUUUN (because they had been playing knock down ginger) how would you react? He thought he had people running after them.
me and dh was away for the weekend and left our children with my daughter (younger child 8 stayed with my parents) but then went to stay with dd on the Sunday, younger one is autistic and our ds 10 I suspect has something there too. It was my 10yo that was hysterical but they seemed to find it oh so funny to see him in such a state and I’ve now been made to feel like I have over reacted at seeing my child in distress after leaving them with family that I love and trust to look after him. There has been a massive fall out as my mum has tried to defend the adults and make excuses for them, they haven’t been told that it was out of order and you shouldn’t scare kids like that and I have had no apology at all, had they of taken accountability for it and said actually watching that video it does look really bad and I’m so sorry for upsetting him then I would be able to move on from it, but nothing, in fact my daughter sent me a message telling me I was out of order for arguing with my mum for defending them. My mum seems to think it will all blow over but without them seeing what they actually did wrong I don’t think I can move on from it. I trusted these people and they have completely broken that trust now. Have I overreacted? Is that something loving family members find amusing? To see a little boy so distressed and laugh and carry it on making it worse? Just to add it was my dd, dn and their partners. Sorry if I’m not making much sense I’ve hardly slept for 2 nights. We are a very close family so this fall out has hit me hard.

OP posts:
Frankie5678 · 09/05/2026 09:14

Not acceptable at all. Adults making fun of children, causing them distress and then choosing to film said distress, instead of comforting them is disgusting. When I am looking after children, I go out of my way to make sure they are safe and comfortable. What is wrong with people!

Frankie5678 · 09/05/2026 09:15

jdb9803 · 05/05/2026 21:52

Is there jealousy at play here?
There is a big age difference so guessing you were young when you had DD. Did your mum help raise her - is that why she is taking her side?
Does your DD see you with your kids now when you are older, in a stable relationship and being more 'present'
Just want to add, I hope this doesn't sound judgemental or suggest you weren't a great mum to her - just wondering how she can treat her brothers this way

Jealousy could be a factor although your son should have been cared for and he clearly wasn’t.

TeaCupTinsel · 09/05/2026 12:22

You're in the 'right' with this. I'd go absolutely nuclear. They clearly aren't mature or responsible enough to look after children; I'd never in a million years humiliate my nephew like this.
They are most likely getting defensive as they know deep down they are in the wrong!

Frankie5678 · 09/05/2026 12:31

ButterYellowFlowers · 05/05/2026 21:42

Its never nice to see your child so upset. And if he has additional needs that obviously explains why he was upset and that’s horrible. But if he was neurotypical I’d think he was having an extreme reaction tbh which is probably what your family is thinking. Hes almost at secondary school but was hysterically crying at playing Knock a Door… that’s unexpected for his age. And not his fault, but I wouldn’t blame the adults for not anticipating he would react like that. However I do agree that they should have apologised to him and comforted him when he clearly was distraught.

You are very wrong. The child was frightened, perhaps thought everyone was going to get into trouble. He was not overreacting at all. The blame and shameful behaviour lies with the adults who instead of caring for the child put him into a very stressful situation and filmed his distress. OP, you don’t need people like this in your life.

rainbowunicorn22 · 09/05/2026 12:35

for one that was not a good thing to play; a lot of people would have been scared to get unexpected knocking on the door.
for your poor child to be scared out of their wits i would give them short shrift and would not leave my kids with them again

NotThisShitAgain121 · 12/05/2026 09:38

Cut contact and never leave him with them ever again. Evil little shits. How can they find this funny. If anyone is out order it is all of them. I would be fucking livid and ripping them all a new arsehole!

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