to wish I didn't have to tell DS#1 off for grabbing a little girl's arm when she persisted in hurting our cat?

[OrmIrian]

Spoilt little brat! I normally like children but this one has been pampered and treated like a princess from the moment she was born. Unfortunately DS#2 likes her and DD also likes her big sister. And they live in our street.

They were playing game in which big sis was the mum and DS#2 and child were children. All well and good until they decided that mog would be their pet. Cue lots of cat teasing and grabbing. I asked them not to. Went out of the room and it started again. DS#1 told them off. Then a few mins later lots of shouting and I went in to find DS#1 holding little girl's arm and protecting the cat who was hiding behind the sofa. Cat fled like the wind.

I of course told DS#1 off for being rough but I didn't feel like I should have to.

I wouldnt have told him off. Its not like he hit her, was just holding her arm to stop her hurting the cat.

Ditto. Might have reminded him to be gentle with someone littler but would have praised him for stopping the teasing.

That's what I did wb. But she is only 6 and he's a big 12yr old. So I felt uncomfortable about it.

That's true. Could have been a lot worse.

Apologies for original bad-tempered rant btw . I struggle with this child but she isn't really that bad I guess. It was just upsetting at the time.

I wouldn't have told him off either - I'd of made quite a show of thanking him for looking after the cat!! Telling the Spoilt Little Princess that if she wanted to keep breathing playing at our house she'd better leave the cat out of it!!

I am a cat hater, but have to agree with the other posts here, it is never okay to hurt/tease an animal.

Slightly off topic, but we had to remind kids at our junior school (DH teaches, but we live in) that DS was not an animal the other day (they were 'stroking' him with sticks)to which some smart aleck replies 'but he can't even talk'

seriously, who is parenting these kids that they think it's okay to do whatever they want to someone/thing that is smaller and weaker than themselves??

I wouldn't have told him off either! I'd have said "Thank you for caring about

I wouldn't have told him off either.

I would have been very proud of him for protecting his cat and I would have been very firm with the others that the cat should not be part of their game.

Yes. Good. I did feel bad but I didn't want to prompt an interparental incident

However she hasn't been back since.

YANBU - out of curiosity, did you tell the little girl's mother?

No. I didn't want to make any more fuss of it really.

Good shout - not worth starting world war 3 over, especially if she lives in your street. Can just imagine how something like that would escalate into hostilities of G8 proportions. I agree with everyone - don't tell DS off.