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Parenting

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DH and DD1 (9) aren't getting on. How can I support both of them? :(

5 replies

Kellamity · 12/03/2012 11:11

DD1 can be a delight to be with but she can also be Miss Attitide I'm sure along with many other 9 year old girls but DH isn't dealing with it very well and is taking everything she does/says extremely personally. I now feel it's goes to the point where she continually irritates him, says/does one thing "wrong" and he is cross/angry/upset.

She can be a pain, and one of the most irritating things she does is storms off mid conversation. I usually let her go for a couple of minutes and then go and find her and talk through what just happened, how storming off is rude, not want we want her to do, would rather talk through the issue but DH can't see beyond this.

DD now feels DH is on her case ALL of the time and he doesn't like her and DH is saying that she is no longer a pleasure to be around Sad and that he does so much for her but she's ungrateful.

I can why they are both feeling the way they do but I'm not sure how to bring them back together. I think DH shows his love in what he does for DD while sometimes DD just wants to sit and chat with her dad and I'm not sure he knows how.

Not sure if this is making sense. He's a great dad he really is. Very hands on I think he's just struggling with a little girl that's growing up.

OP posts:
CogitoErgoSometimes · 12/03/2012 11:57

DH is entitled to get cross if she's being awkward and, if she's storming off mid conversation, it's probably because she's not getting her own way. Please don't go running after her as it undermines him. Instead, if you want to improve matters, use a team-building approach i.e. throw them together on a task or activity, stand well back and make them get on with it.

TheFoosa · 12/03/2012 12:13

I have had the same problem with 9yo dd and dh - I think getting them to spend 1:1 time together is important, it has really improved their relationship

Kellamity · 12/03/2012 12:17

Sorry I didn't explain myself properly there - I don't run after her when she's stormed away from DH I meant when she does it to me, rather than get cross with her I leave her to calm down for a bit and then go and find her (or she finds me) to have a chat about what happened and how she reacted.

Team building approach - I like that idea!

1:1 is something we could improve upon too. DH spends more time with DS as he loves to help his dad out in the garden/garage, maybe DH needs to find something he and DD like doing together like a bike ride?

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Moomoomie · 12/03/2012 12:23

Definitely more 1:1 time.
I have 3 daughters and they all like their special time with just mum or dad.
Very important, especially when neither of them really want to spend time together.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 12/03/2012 12:39

As well as leisurely things they like doing together I'd also suggest a bit more of a challenge. Something where DH is as much out of his comfort zone as DD and they have to work together to make it happen. Example I'm thinking of is when DS (11) and my father (75) had to organise their own supper a few weeks ago when I had to be away on business. He has a family reputation for being hopeless in the kitchen but I came home to find neither of them poisoned, stabbed or sitting in the ashes of my house... and pretty pleased with their joint effort.

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