to really, really dislike children sticking out their tongues?

[Mmmcoffee]

I don't know, maybe I'm old-fashioned! I was always taught that it was very, very rude to stick out your tongue. It was the equivalent of telling someone to piss off.

We do it as a 'joke', with a grin, like when DH goes for seconds at dinner and me and DD make a comment about his wobbly belly, he'll stick his tongue out and laugh, but that's it. It's a joke.

Well DD (12) has a friend who does it all the time, to show she's annoyed. Like if she's here and asks for a biscuit and I say no because dinner will be soon, she sticks her tongue out at me.

I always say "Don't do that. It's rude." and she sing-songs "sor-ree". I'm good friends with her mum, but she also sticks her tongue out! I have mentioned it to her and she's sort of shrugged and ignored it - it's obviously just their way of showing irritation as a family.

Am I being stupidly, ridiculously over-sensitive about this? I mean, it's not a big, huge deal or anything, but it annoys the hell out of me.

Or maybe I'm PMSing and you should all send chocolate to the crazy lady.

I am with you on this one! I HATE it in older children but my DD2 will do it as a joke and it looks cute. Now, if my 9 year old did it to me because I said she couldn't have something I would go mental at her..

A 12yo should not be expressing her annoyance to her hostess when not given a biscuit. Anyone over about 4 should be able to accept your decision without saying or doing anything to show she doesn't like it. It's called politeness. I wouldn't be specifically worried about her sticking out her tongue - it sounds like her whole family have that as a habit - but the fact that she does anything when you refuse biscuits just before dinner. Pouting, eye-rolling, tutting, sulking etc would all be just as bad. And the "sor-ree" just makes it worse. Rude girl!

Not really the childs fault...and not a huge deal but I can see it might be irritating.

I never interpreted it as piss off though. Just cheeky.

Thanks Lisa I'm glad I'm not alone on this! MIS she is generally quite rude. I tend to ignore it as it's not worth causing a rift with her mum, who thinks she's adorable. I just 'set her right' if it's aimed at me.