My friend has 3 children. The youngest two often play with my two dc at each others houses. The get on well apart from one of my friends dc who hits whenever he doesn't get his own way or is a bit cross about something. He hits his brother who is older, although smaller, and he hits his mum. He also throws things at my children and has pinched them before.
I know that a lot of children go through this stage, one of mine did and it wasn't fun. But this boy is nearly 6 and seems a bit old for lashing out. My issue isn't that he hits but that his mum ignores it! She doesn't tell him off or anything which i find very strange.
His poor brother is hardly even consoled either.
She has never mentioned any particular parenting method that she is following for this behaviour and in fact seemed annoyed recently when he hit another child at soft play and the parents of the other child expected her to do something about it. She reacted as though it was ok that he hit because the other child snatched something from him. Whereas i think no matter what's happened hitting isn't ok.
Its making me reconsider our seeing each other, not just with the children but also for our nights out, because when we do go out she'll often talk about it and her opinion that his behaviour is fine and how horrible other people react to him.
He has no sn and is otherwise a bright, sociable boy. He just seems to have no consequences which is a shame in my opinion because if he carries on like this it won't turn out well for him.
I find it very strange. What do you lot think?