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.

AIBU for making DD12 give up her treat for eating more than her share of a takeaway?

540 replies

SongsOfSongs · Today 09:23

My DD12 is a big eater and honestly can be quite greedy. She has often tried to take more than her fair share when sharing food with her sister DD11. This weekend, we ordered takeaway and there was a side for the two of them to share. Typically they will divide the side up to start with so there are no complaints about either of them eating too much of it. However, we were in the middle of watching a movie when the food came. I told DD12 to divide the side up and she said "oh, it's ok, we can share it reasonably" and I said fine since we were in a hurry. Maybe 10 minutes later I look and she has eaten all but 2 pieces of the side (out of 30 maybe?). I ask DD11 if she's had any and she bursts into tears and says no. DD12 says sorry repeatedly and that she didn't mean to do it.

It wasn't something that was easy to rectify at the time, so we said that DD12 would owe DD11 something. DD12 is in secondary school and gets an extra pound or so each week to spend on a treat at lunchtime on Wednesdays. AIBU to tell DD12 that she needs to buy the Wednesday treat and bring it home for her sister tomorrow? If there is a better suggestion, please let me know!

OP posts:
LiviaDrusillaAugusta · Today 21:24

FudgeFudy · Today 21:16

I agree. There is a strong whiff of 'The OP is always wrong' about a lot of the posts here, and also an amazing amount of people who will diagnose eating disorders at the drop of a hat. The OP's approach seems fine to me; the offending daughter is old enough to understand deferred consequence and to know what she's doing.

Both daughters are old enough to sort it out

Ferrissia · Today 21:32

SongsOfSongs · Today 11:49

I know this is an issue, but I really don't know what I can do other than telling her off, making her apologise, make amends, etc. when I see her do something that's not right. As the younger sister, do you have any suggestions? I obviously want them to get along and have a good relationship in the future, but I'm not sure what to do. You can't just make someone like someone also or make someone be kind.

There is so much information readily available online regarding how to address issues like this with a supportive (rather than punitive and shaming) approach.

rollerblind · Today 21:34

I’m wondering how tightly you control food…

jinglejanglescarecat · Today 21:44

I think based on the context of what has happened, their ages and taking into account being careful of food related punishments I’d probably just withhold the treat this week but not ask for the sister to have it. That feels a bit much maybe. And then leave it.

Do you think she got carried away with watching the film and just kept nibbling without thinking?? My kids do this. All the best intentions and then all forgotten!!

Londonrach1 · Today 21:50

Has she been medically checked. You saying she's greedy but sounds like she has good issues. Id be concerned if my child.

Snugglemonkey · Today 22:04

Viviennemary · Today 10:04

What she did was wrong. But I don't think your punishment is any good. Just split it yourself next time. Also tell her how greedy and selfish she was.

DO NOT use words like greedy around food with teenage girls.

Snugglemonkey · Today 22:14

EvangelinaMae · Today 10:28

I don't think I've seen a more dysfunctional thread on here tbh.

And all over what sounds like fucking popcorn chicken.

I feel sorry for the 12 yr old, jesus Christ.

Edemame. A fucking vegetable.

Snugglemonkey · Today 22:18

Booboobagins · Today 10:35

Is she over weight too.

When you knew she was a suckker for gluttony why ask her to share a side out? Take the control away from her.

And yes make her buy her sister something with her own money. Frankly I'd stop the extra £1 until she can control her eating.

Wow, ok, because punishment about weight is a surefire winner!

ThisHeartyQuoter · Today 22:18

Londonrach1 · Today 21:50

Has she been medically checked. You saying she's greedy but sounds like she has good issues. Id be concerned if my child.

I have always had a big appetite. There's nothing medically wrong with me. The OPs daughter is sporty apparently and isn't overweight. She's maybe not eating enough if she's sporty and growing.

Taluulaah · Today 22:31

Can’t say I know the best way to deal with the situation, though I think the suggestion you made is pretty fair. I’m simply commenting to say respect to you for how you’ve handled the responses on this thread, some of which seemingly are posted solely to antagonise. You sound really level headed and patient, and I’m guessing that reflects in your parenting of your two girls - and hopefully some of the over-the-top comments here won’t make you second guess or alter that!! You know what you’re doing and I don’t think there’s anything unreasonable about your post at all.
Hope you get everything smoothed out re: edamame-gate!

GingerdeadMan · Today 22:34

AnImmenseDislikeOfPeople · Today 20:21

It is amazing how many people are deliberately missing the point.

If OP had bought a bag of 30 jelly beans and DD12 had eaten 28, when she was meant to share equally with her sister, would we all be saying 'it's fine, don't punish her, you'll give her an eating disorder'?

If it wasn't food, would everyone think it was okay for DD12 to be selfish? What if both daughters liked colouring? Let's say OP bought 10 colouring sheets, and asked DD12 to share them equally, only to then see she'd coloured 8 herself and given 2 to her sister? Would we tell OP not to enforce a consequence, just because DD11 'should have said something'?

This isn't about hunger, it's about a child who is plenty old enough to understand fairness being selfish. At the least, she was careless and unthoughtful, which can create pretty horrid people unless dealt with early.

There should be a consequence. Doesn't mean it's a punishment.

But it was about food 🤷‍♀️

And it all sounds like a load of bloody drama over next to nothing.

Hubbalooloo · Today 22:38

I wouldn’t make a thing of it. Yes she took more than she should have. She’s been told. Next time you do the sharing out. I’d leave it at that.

LiviaDrusillaAugusta · Today 22:47

SongsOfSongs · Today 10:23

Honestly, I don't know how DD11 didn't notice that her sister was eating all of the food -- I guess she was just distracted by the film. The girls were at the table and DH and I were on the sofa so I didn't have a clear view of them. It was only when I got up to get something that I saw all the scraps on DD12's plate.

We definitely encourage DD11 to stand up for herself, but she's better at it some times than others. However, I don't think there's any chance she saw her sister eating all of the food and just let her. Also, she cries a lot so the tears were not out of the ordinary.

She apologised immediately though. If your younger child was distracted by the tv then it is possible that the older one was too. You said she was in full view of you.

The younger one knew that crying would make you more angry at DD1. You say she cries a lot - I hope you are helping her to calm this as it won’t go down well at senior school

Some people are naturally kind and like sharing and some aren’t. How do you force someone to be less selfish? There is a place in the world for both types of people.

SongsOfSongs · Today 22:49

Taluulaah · Today 22:31

Can’t say I know the best way to deal with the situation, though I think the suggestion you made is pretty fair. I’m simply commenting to say respect to you for how you’ve handled the responses on this thread, some of which seemingly are posted solely to antagonise. You sound really level headed and patient, and I’m guessing that reflects in your parenting of your two girls - and hopefully some of the over-the-top comments here won’t make you second guess or alter that!! You know what you’re doing and I don’t think there’s anything unreasonable about your post at all.
Hope you get everything smoothed out re: edamame-gate!

Edamame-gate! 😅😂

I appreciate your comment. I posted here for honest, helpful feedback, and also because I knew I'd get some entertainment out of it as well, so I'm not taking anything personally or getting offended by the antagonistic responses 😅

OP posts:
Franjipanl8r · Today 22:51

This is sibling rivalry and they’re old enough to sort it out amongst themselves. All you need to say is that she was wrong and should apologise. It’s for DD11 to plot her revenge!

New posts on this thread. Refresh page