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Relationships

Mumsnet has not checked the qualifications of anyone posting here. If you need help urgently or expert advice, please see our domestic violence webguide and/or relationships webguide. Many Mumsnetters experiencing domestic abuse have found this thread helpful: Listen up, everybody

DH & DS v's DD & me

6 replies

Heinz55 · 22/03/2013 18:39

DD is 10 and while usually sweet and kind, is apparently hormonal and moody and less constantly sweet than she used to be. DH works 6/7 days a week so has always been the softer parent, would not usually discipline the children other than with: "Mummy says no sweets" or "Mummy will get cross unless you go to bed". He and DD are always at loggerheads these days. I think partly because he was always more "pal" than parent but also because he stands up for DS. DS is just 4 and has a 4 year olds reason ("it's mine because I want it and I'm holding it, so there!" type thing), Whenever DH comes across the kids arguing he wades in asks no questions and just automatically yells at DD to stop picking on her brother, leave him alone. She is capable of antagonising him for sport but she is also very often kinder and more patient than I can be with him. So, they fight and DH ends up fighting with DD and I end up siding with her because I can see that she is not necessarily at fault. He gives out about her all the time, at times she can do no right. She cries to me that she wants to have a good relationship with her dad but that he's cross with her all the time. This ultimately ends up being a row between DH and I - which is why I am posting it in "Relationships" (as well as Preteens). What would you do???

OP posts:
tribpot · 22/03/2013 18:50

The thing that concerns me in your post is that your DH gives out about her all the time. Why is that? Because she occasionally challenges him? She's ten, he better get on board cos the teenage years are only round the corner.

I'm assuming he takes ds' side more because he expects the older sibling to be the sensible one / not wind up the little one etc. But also I'm guessing he's never really had to deal with antagonism between sibs since ds would have been too little until relatively recently. As he's there so little I guess he doesn't experience this all very much and hasn't learnt to adjust.

So assuming all that, why does he constantly criticise his dd? That sounds very upsetting and also unfair. Have you spoken to him about it?

WafflyVersatile · 22/03/2013 19:53

Sounds like his view is DS is only 4, while DD is 10, but she is only 10 and he is a grown up. It's up to the parents to find a way. If what you're (both) doing now isn't working then you need to find another way. It's not good for your DD to feel this way.

Heinz55 · 22/03/2013 19:57

He is also an only - very pampered - child who lived with both parents and grandparents and their lives revolved around him. He and DD are very, very similar in personality - and he doesn't like what he sees (he says) - but I love that she has so many of his lovely qualities which I say often. He does not like confrontation but at the end of the day I have to live with them and had hoped (needed) to get back to work and he was supposed to combine childcare with his job. Now I feel I will have to make alternative arrangements for her as I fear her confidence will be dented badly by his unfairness. AAAGGGHHHH! I never considered that this would be an aspect of parenting that would be so challenging!

OP posts:
wheredidiputit · 22/03/2013 20:12

I have say having been in your dd POV.

Your DH needs to change. He will make your DD hate him.

My dad sounds the same as your DH. Nothing I did was good enough. I ended with very low confidence. I grew to hate him. We only 'made up' when he was dying.

Please do something about his attitude as he will lose out in the long run.

JustinBsMum · 23/03/2013 04:29

Tricky.
But DD will not be moody 10 year old for long, hopefully she will grow up and be able to avoid these arguments with DS soon, or have other more important relationships with her friends etc so that then these spats happen less often.

Can DS be disracted so that he is not annoying DD?

DH is being v unfair imv but am not sure how to improve that. Except that the DS will grow up to be less amenable soon so hopefully things will be fairer then. Boys can clash seriously with their Dads as they get into their teens. DH is being naive to think DD has the problem.

CogitoErgoSometimes · 23/03/2013 09:54

Your DH needs to find something that he and DD can do together and get to know each other better. Off-site, age-appropriate, something that doesn't include her little brother ... just one-on-one time where they can enjoy each other's company and get closer.

Set him that challenge.....

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