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Parenting

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Kids caught "playing doctor" other mum furious

233 replies

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 13/05/2018 18:58

So I'm horribly confused & frightened now and not sure what to do. My DC's (DS 6, DD 4) spent the day at my DF's house with her two DD's (also 6 & 4). They've all been friends since they were babies, so we're very excited. When I picked them up, all seemed normal. Well a few hours later, my DF calls and tells me that she caught her eldest DD & my DS in the bathroom touching each other. She said she heard my DS ask her DD to lie down and open her legs, and he touched her vagina. He also had his pants off. Apprantely they were laughing and giggling. (When I asked DS & DD later, DS said friends DD asked him to take his pants down first, DD confirms this, and that the two 4 year olds we're opening the door and thought it was all very funny).

DF finished telling me what happened and said she now has to think of her daughter and that my son is no longer allowed near her, and that we can no longer be friends.

I'm in shock. Part of me thinks, that while inappropriate, this whole thing is nothing more than normal childhood doctor. But her reaction has me looking up psychologists for my DS, who has never done anything like this before, as far as I know!

I've been googling signs of sexual abuse but he doesn't fit any of those.

I'm scared and upset 😟 and I don't know who is overreacting.

OP posts:
SubtitlesOn · 15/05/2018 10:22

Looking back to the history of the friendship group - can you see anything that you have in common with the other family she lied about?

What I mean is - is there something about the other family and/or your family or your standing in the expat clique that in a weird warped mind she might be threatened by?

I don't mean something obvious like you have been nominated for ladies golf club chairperson and she wanted it but something more subtle

Have a new family joined the group and you met them before she did?

Or have you held a party and everyone had an amazing time and talked about how fantastic your party was and she feels she can't match your hosting skills?

IMHO there is something about your family that she feels threatened by in her warped weird mind and so she wants to turn everyone against you by making up lies about your little boy

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 10:40

Looking back to the history of the friendship group - can you see anything that you have in common with the other family she lied about?

Not that I can see. DH thinks it's because she needs the attention. Bless his OCD heart (he is actually diagnosed with OCD, so I'm not being flippant), he's made a list of all her "crisis's" over the past few years. Seems like whenever something happens in one of the friends lives, the shit will hit the fan in hers. Friends DF gets cancer, she starts having massive issues with her DH, I lose my job, her DM gets cancer, friends DM gets Alzheimer's, this happens. There are far more instances spread out over 6 years, but it seems like she can't cope with not being the center of attention.

Amazing how hindsight is 20/20.

OP posts:
SickofPeterRabbit · 15/05/2018 10:46

That is quite disturbing to be fair.....

I know someone who's 7yr old son was found to be 'touching' his sisters. Sadly in their case it got worse as he got older and he became an abuser. Obviously I'm not saying your son will be, of course not, but I think it would be irresponsible of you as a parent if you don't have a Doctor/Psychologist talk to him

SickofPeterRabbit · 15/05/2018 10:47

@Isthisnormalfor6yearolds How can your friend control if/when her mother gets Cancer?! How insensitive!!!!! Shock

Opalfroot · 15/05/2018 10:49

I remember doing similar with a female friend who is a year younger than me. We used to play 'boyfriend and girlfriend' and take turns having a Willy Blush

She's being alarmist.

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 10:52

@Isthisnormalfor6yearolds How can your friend control if/when her mother gets Cancer?! How insensitive!!!!! shock

To be fair, I never met her mother and have no way of knowing for sure if she did or did not get cancer, or if she's making it up for the attention.

OP posts:
Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 10:53

I know someone who's 7yr old son was found to be 'touching' his sisters.

If you RTFT, we've found out he hasn't touched anyone.

OP posts:
shirking9to5 · 15/05/2018 10:54

i do think it's weird that none of your close knit group have questioned it - i hope that changes. I'm worried for her children if the mum is that strange - you have to think perhaps her DD has heard her mum talking about the earlier 'abuse'? I wonder whether you should report it to the school for the sake of her DD.

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 10:56

i do think it's weird that none of your close knit group have questioned it - i hope that changes.

So do I, but I'm not sure what she's told them. She comes across as quite genuine and level headed.

OP posts:
shirking9to5 · 15/05/2018 11:05

even so - the children are really small, the other friends must be a bit gullible to believe without any question that your 6 year old DS had intent to do that and knew what he was doing - there's no 6 year old in the world that could stand trial for any crime. I'd be cross with them too.

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 11:07

the other friends must be a bit gullible to believe without any question that your 6 year old DS had intent to do that and knew what he was doing - there's no 6 year old in the world that could stand trial for any crime. I'd be cross with them too.

I know. I honestly have no clue what the hell they are thinking. The only thing I've heard from them is not to mudsling and it's a private matter. I don't see how her accusations are in any way a private matter. I'm honestly floored by the whole thing.

OP posts:
shirking9to5 · 15/05/2018 11:10

yes, how are you mudslinging when she's gotten your DS & you excluded from his entire close friendship group and made him out to be some sort of child pervert? I'd be spitting. My DH is like yours, he'd want lawyers to wipe the floor with her.

Oblomov18 · 15/05/2018 11:11

Both my ds's did this. I was horrified, but MN calmed me down. No one suggested reporting it to the school.

Dobby1sAFreeElf · 15/05/2018 11:17

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

PickwickThePlockingDodo · 15/05/2018 11:23

That is quite disturbing to be fair.....

No, it's really not.

I know someone who's 7yr old son was found to be 'touching' his sisters. Sadly in their case it got worse as he got older and he became an abuser.

Totally different. This boy was not touching and certainly not his sister. They were 2 friends having a giggle and playing 'doctors and nurses'. I think the boy in your case was obviously being abused himself, no? For which I hope he got help.

gussyfinknottle · 15/05/2018 11:33

There was touching according to the op. I played with boys as a kid and never experienced this.
Teach your son about boundaries and the PANTS rule.
If your son touched my dd's vagina as you say (i assume you mean vulva), I'm not sure I'd be keen on him being near her unsupervised.

Isthisnormalfor6yearolds · 15/05/2018 11:40

There was touching according to the op.

RTFT.

OP posts:
BelieveAnything · 15/05/2018 12:02

The other Mum is obviously overreacting but I guess it’s possible that her daughter has told her a very different story and that she is equally as sure that her daughter is telling the truth as you are that your son is telling the truth.

It’s no excuse for the mother’s behaviour but it might explain it,

FellOutOfBed2wice · 15/05/2018 12:12

WTF?! Your former friend is utterly mad. Totally normal.

GrabbyMcGrabby · 15/05/2018 12:14

Flowers Bloody awful situation to be in. Having encountered similar, I would try to keep doors open with friends but at the same time time keep your distance... I guess she will have to refocus her attention seeking / domination on the group that believe her. They are likely to get in contact when she does the same to them, one by one.

I have joined after school activities miles away just to avoid being stimatised further. Hope your lawyer is helpful. I think in the circs a casual but firm chat with a member staff at his school would be worthwhile.. Pre-empt any further ostracisation Flowers

SeriouslyBanana · 15/05/2018 12:23

What an awful situation. Hope the meeting goes well Thanks

EdgeOf17 · 15/05/2018 12:48

As a mother of two boys this situation really worries me for their future.

OP - I believe your DS Flowers

gussyfinknottle · 15/05/2018 13:02

If her daughter told her a different story why would she believe you and your son over what her daughter has said?
I'm sorry that this is such a worry for you but I would always take my daughter's word for an experience first. It may be that further evidence will change my view but I would believe my daughter first.

shirking9to5 · 15/05/2018 13:08

i don't think anyone's saying that they'd want this repeated, gussy for the sakes of the welfare of all the dc involved, or that the mum should not believe her DD. Nevertheless, ringing around your friendship group and badmouthing the boy, getting him uninvited from parties - does that seem a proportionate response? Both children are 6 years old.

SprayingMonsters · 15/05/2018 13:18

As a mother of two boys this situation really worries me for their future

Yes it worries me too, when things like this happen it’s always the boy child that is in the wrong, when little girls can be very inquisitive.

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