Throwing drink cartons out of bedroom window

[Livingingangstersparadise]

How strict would you be on this?

Dh just doing the front garden and came in with an empty drink carton saying ‘They’ve thrown this out of the window’
Dd, 7 and friend playing in her bedroom upstairs, I called up to ask her and she said her friend did it to be silly to our dog (he’s a lovely boy) I just said ok and not to throw rubbish again.
Dh angry about it, is it really that bad? It’s not ideal at the end of the day, but they’re only 7

She shouldn't be chucking litter around anywhere. Is your DH annoyed as he's the one who had to pick it up.

I'd be irritated as she should know better but angry, not really.

I'd be somewhere between the two of you. It's not the end of the world but it needs to be made very clear that throwing things at the dog and throwing rubbish into the garden are both unacceptable.

Her friend did it, not her, but normally a great boy, no trouble. No i’m usually the one doing most tidying, he just saw it as was doing the garden

Natural consequence is that drinks no longer go into bedrooms until they’re grown up enough not to be so silly. But I would treat as silliness rather than a great offence.

Is it really worth going that far though? They knew from me calling up and mentioning it they shouldn’t do it and friend who did it is likely embarrassed

It’s nothing to be angry about. Your DD has explained that it was a brief moment of silliness, you’ve asked her not to do it again, end of story. I can understand a flash of annoyance from your DH, but being angry - or worse, remaining angry - is a little over the top.

I’ll ask the usual Mumsnet question before anyone else does, OP - is your DH usually quick to anger over trivial incidents?

To me, he seems over the top sometimes. For example yesterday out at a relaxed, outdoor cafe, no one sat near us and going on at her for shaking her chair around, I just pick my battles, think he forgets they’re kids.

They threw something at the dog?

No, she said he was playing and pretending

They have been told, it's dealt with. If they were to carry on doing it, that would be another thing.

Personally we don't allow food and drinks in the bedroom due to mess but not as punishment.

That’s true, it was Dh who gave them the drinks and snacks 😅

I simply would've told her not to do it again, but made her go down and pick it up and put it in the bin.

well he is the plonker then. He should have called them downstairs to have them there.

I wouldn't believe her when she said her friend did it. At that age they know when someone's done something wrong and they don't want it to be them getting told off so they blame the other person. So she already knows it was the wrong thing to do.

But anyway hopefully it won't happen again. I wouldn't dwell on it personally.

I would have told them off, rather than asking they didn't do it again. My 7 yr old has had it drummed into them at both nursery and school not to litter (and is incredibly preachy about it!). I also wouldn't allow bad table manners, either at home or at a café, no matter how relaxed it was. Yes they may need reminding, but it shouldn't be tolerated otherwise you have to undo bad habits later on.

It was definitely him, she wouldn’t say that and in front of him like this, he’d strongly contest it and say it wasn’t him

Teach them to recycle

And at aged 7 is when they should learn if they have not by now that you don’t throw rubbish around. Nor do you do things to be silly to an animal.

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean by this. Where was the dog - in the garden? What was he pretending?

I have never allowed DC to have food and drink upstairs. A recipe for disaster! In fact, all meals or snacks have to be eaten at the dining or kitchen tables when playing indoors.

You sound far too indulgent/lazy parenting. I’m team DH.

In this case, I’d be having firm words with the visitor about the rules in this house include not littering and not trying to annoy the dog etc. All Kids need to know what the boundaries are in your home.

What will you do if this child hurts your DC or the dog when they’re ‘only playing’ ?

They know not to, well Dd does at least

Same.
The dog was in the garden?

Id be mighty fucked off if a kid threw a drinks carton in the garden while the dog was there.

He’s nothing like that, both good kids
I’m definitely not a lazy parent, I just don’t feel the need to constantly get at her about small things.

Less fucked off if the garden was empty. I'd wait till the friend had left and then calmly tell DD to make sure her friends don't throw anything out of windows again please.

I dunno. If you don't keep on top of the little things you tend to find you suddenly have big things with kids .....