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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to speak to his parents after these messages to my daughter?

411 replies

ittakesalongtimr · 18/07/2026 23:47

Can’t believe I’m writing this but desperate for some advice. DD14 was in a very brief relationship with a boy of 15. About a month. He came to our house a few times and seemed nice, we had a few chats and the same happened when DD when to his house. They go to school together. I don’t know the family at all.
They split up about 3 weeks ago, I’m still not sure why as DD didn’t tell me details but she was very upset for a few days. Hadn’t heard anything about the boy (I’ll call him Matt here) until today when her phone simply didn’t stop buzzing and she looked increasingly worried. She eventually told me tonight he has been messaging her telling her to jump off a bridge and kill herself, and added in messages about how old I am to be a mum of a teenager (not untrue but ouch) and that I’m cheating on my husband with (and then named a dad of someone in DD year). It’s nonsense but I’m upset this rumour has been started and more worryingly I’m upset that my DD received such vitriolic messages about killing herself. DD is adamant she doesn’t want me to speak to police, but I simply don’t feel comfortable doing nothing given I am also being brought into whatever vendetta this boy has. I wondered about going there tomorrow morning, calmly, to speak to his parents and let them know my concerns about the serious nature of the messages he’s sent. I would want to know if my daughter had sent the same kind of message as it feels a bridge too far from normal teenage tiff language.
I do not want to walk into an argument about our children or to try and involve them, but I do feel I need to do something, as it’s so serious that doing nothing feels like letting a bully walk away scot free.

Any advice? Am I being completely naive and this is the worst idea in the world?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
TrishM80 · 22/07/2026 02:02

SummerPeonies2026 · 21/07/2026 05:45

Op - I have teens and adult children and your hand wringing and reaction to the rumours are not helping your dd whatsoever.

You need to be more assertive and resilient, and so does she.

The rumours are stupid made up stories. Your dd needs to learn to speak up and tell her friends they are just silly lies and to ignore them. Do you actually think anyone with half a brain would believe any of it? It’s kids stuff. Playground antics, and needs to be treated as such.

Your dd needs to learn to say oh yes and my mum is also flying to the moon/ running for president in the US etc according to ex boyfriend. Managing this kind of silly behaviour is an essential life skill. The Chinese whispers will die down when the children realise how much trouble the boy is in - and when the other parents begin to hear about it, and have the same reaction as this thread.

Your dd has the skills to manage this, encourage her to look beyond herself and look at the possible risks to others if nothing is done. How she might feel if the next girl he picks on actually comes to harm. The gravity of the situation.

Whilst supporting her is good op, indulging her with self pity is not. Time for DD’s big girl pants - she isn’t a young child anymore and young adult life can be really tough sometimes.

Edited

What are you talking about, it's blatant slander! Anyone spreading those rumours about me would be getting a solicitor's letter sharpish.

Brideofclover · 22/07/2026 11:36

ittakesalongtimr · 20/07/2026 21:19

What doesn’t help is the online chats continuing without her, so she’s hearing second hand from friends about the rumours about me which upset her the most as she’s embarrassed (understandably). Nobody her age seems to be taking seriously the “jump and kill yourself” comments as apparently “everyone” says this sort of stuff. I feel ill equipped to know how to manage this and just very sad this is the new normal.

I’m glad you went to the police!
Sorry but this next bit will sound a little harsh but Please sit your daughter down and explain to her in no uncertain terms that this boy could’ve sent those messages to someone else and they COULD HAVE KILLED THEMSELVES as a result!
By going to the police it should send a clear message out to ALL that this is not acceptable!
What is also worrying is that you didn’t immediately go to the police and came here asking for advice - WHY have we as parents STOPPED doing the right and absolute just thing for fear of upsetting our children?????
I’ll go back to reading the rest of the thread now but I’m absolutely fuming on behalf of ALL those kids that have been bullied in this way and ended their lives because “everyone does it” these days and no one holds these cretins accountable!

Rubes24 · 22/07/2026 11:40

I would 100% want to know if this was my son, unfortunately you have no idea what the parents are like so I think its better that you go straight to the school. Assuming they go to the same school? The school need to deal with this as a bullying and safeguarding issue. That way his parents will be spoken to, as will he and there will be consequences.

Foggydaze · 24/07/2026 03:20

Go to the police. This is harmful.

mydogisthebest · 24/07/2026 08:31

Foggydaze · 24/07/2026 03:20

Go to the police. This is harmful.

Might be an idea if you READ the thread or at least ALL OP's posts!

LeopardStar1 · 24/07/2026 19:38

School and police.

He's committed a crime AND if nothing else, he's still a minor himself. You also have a duty of care to him, reporting him is caring for him too

RampantIvy · 24/07/2026 19:47

LeopardStar1 · 24/07/2026 19:38

School and police.

He's committed a crime AND if nothing else, he's still a minor himself. You also have a duty of care to him, reporting him is caring for him too

Might be an idea if you READ the thread or at least ALL OP's posts!

NoCommentingFromNowOn · 24/07/2026 20:03

RampantIvy · 24/07/2026 19:47

Might be an idea if you READ the thread or at least ALL OP's posts!

Can we not make some sort of petition to ban these people from using the internet for six weeks or something?

suki1964 · 24/07/2026 20:10

How are you doing @ittakesalongtimr

I can imagine this has to be your longest week ever, especially with the strain its put on you and your daughters relationship

Update if and when you can, but I wanted to post so you know you are still being thought about and routed for

Travsmam · 24/07/2026 20:16

You have to look at the murder of Holly Newton, 15 years old and murdered by her ex. It’s so sad. Your daughter really should watch it. It might show her the actual danger she is in and what an amazing mam you actually are x

raspberryrisotto · 25/07/2026 14:55

ittakesalongtimr · 20/07/2026 21:11

Thanks so much everyone.

DD is utterly miserable and not talking to me at all after hearing I called the police. She says she can’t trust me after I broke her request not to call them. Will have to ride it out. She’s refused a “old fashioned” phone and is very upset she has had to temporarily lose her one, through no fault of her own. Rocky week ahead I think. Police left me a message to say will be end of the week earliest before they come round.
Finding it all very hard and feel powerless

Sadly, this is how most teenagers would react.

How are things now?

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