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Can't believe his family

58 replies

MrsCadbury · 29/12/2006 16:12

On boxing day me, DH and DD went his parents house, we took along our presents to his family so they had stuff to open from us. His 9 year old nephew was there and we had bought him a playstation game his parents said he would "probably" like. Anyway we just assumed that if he didnt like it he could take it back and exchange it for something else.

So we got there, this kid (who to be honest I dislike at the best of times) was moping all day as he had not been allowed to take his nintendo DS with him, he was sulking and snapping at everyone until he realised we had some presents.

So after dinner we started to give the presents out, we had bought his younger sister a fisherprice thing which was quite big in size so when he got his present he moaned "god its tiny, why does she get a big one?" . His doting dad then pointed out that it was probably a playstation game or a dvd that was worth more money than the big present his sister had!!!! this was bad enough but when he opened up the game he pulled a face and said "oh great, that looks crap, I wanted san andreas" ! I was so annoyed at this point that I went into the kitchen and made small talk with MIL to get away from him. Anyway when we went back into the living room I heard MIL say "oh don't do that, just take it back if you don't like it...!" I looked over to see him booting this game around the room and DH and his brother just stood there watching!!! , I said "if you dont want it give me it, Im sure Ill find someone that does" so he just smirked at me and said "no i wanna break it instead" and started to drag pens down the cover etc to rip the plastic covering the sleeve.

I was fuming and told DH that I wanted to go home, his family just gave me mucky looks and when we got outside he said I had shown him up being so OTT over a game and that I should apologise to his family! We're still not really talking as I am so angry about this kid and DH just keeps saying the kid had a right to be annoyed if he was expecting a "good game".

So did I over-react??

OP posts:
charliecat · 29/12/2006 16:14

er no. you didnt. I think I would have taken it out of his hands myself. Cheeky shite.
Bet his parents are relaly proud of him.

SherlockLGJ · 29/12/2006 16:15

Cadders is that you ???

ledodgychristmasjumper · 29/12/2006 16:15

on your behalf, next year get him nothing.

PanicPressiePants · 29/12/2006 16:18

No, definitly not!

Don't bother next year.

theUrbanDryadWithSparklyWings · 29/12/2006 16:18

spoiled brat....how old is he? nine? i would've reminded him that San Andreas has a certificate of 18 and i would be amazed if his parents would be happy with him playing that! although, from the way you describe his parents, it doesn't sound like they'd give a toss.

did his sister like her present?

DizzyBinterWonderland · 29/12/2006 16:18

disgusting behaviour. you didn't overreact at all.

Sheraz · 29/12/2006 16:19

What an ill mannered liitle slob! You were more restrained than I would have been. My 6 yr old Ds would never behave like that, he knows to say thank you ( he might have a whing when he gets home). Buy him nothing next year or something really cheap and nasty!

airy · 29/12/2006 16:19

Bloody hell no you definitely didn't overreact!, If anything I'd say you were pretty restrained!
What a spoilt little brat he sounds. I would have without a doubt physically taken the game from the little sod and told him you won't bother buying him any presents again.
As for your dh, I think he's the one who should be telling his family to apologise to you!! Of course the kid didn't have a right to be annoyed, what an odd pov, he the same as every other priveliged child who got presents this christmas should have been grateful.
Ooooh I'm very angry on your behalf!

Kbear · 29/12/2006 16:19

that would be the last present I ever bought him - ungrateful little sod. Boils down to the parents I'm afraid, he must know he can get away with such spoilt brat behaviour.

Ooh, I'd be livid!

LittleSarah · 29/12/2006 16:20

That is absolutely horrendous, I cannot believe the other adult relatives would allow such behaviour. Hold your ground.

LittleSarah · 29/12/2006 16:21

Even worse that your dh agrees with them! Grrrr so angry for you!

ledodgychristmasjumper · 29/12/2006 16:21

"DH just keeps saying the kid had a right to be annoyed if he was expecting a "good game"

They sound like quite a materialistic family as well if you don't mind me saying. He should have not expected anything and been grateful for what he was given.

bigknickersbigknockers · 29/12/2006 16:21

the cheeky little shit
I would make sure every year that I got him a crap pressie and something nice for his sister.
cant believe his parents wernt angry/embarrased at his behavior

DizzyBinterWonderland · 29/12/2006 16:26

get him a goat next year. then see his face. lol.

2nervesnapartridgeinapeartree · 29/12/2006 16:28

My dd 5 had a tantrum when she opened the bounce bounce tigger game my brother bought her. I think it was because she saw 3+ on there box and said it was a babies game she didn't want. I was horrified and put her on the naughty step until she apologised and thanked them. I can't control what she does but I would never allow her to behave the way your nephew did unchallenged. His family should have been horrified too.

She now loves the game of course and has beaten my brother at it twice.

theUrbanDryadWithSparklyWings · 29/12/2006 16:28

better still, get him one of those nice charity presents, like a herd of goats for a family in lebanon or something...then moralise at him for an hour. that'll learn him!

bah, and also, humbug...

MrsCadbury · 29/12/2006 16:28

his sister loved her present until he got his hands on it and tried to break that too only then did the other relatives step in and stop him kicking hell out of it, it was actually mil that stopped him, his dad just said "he's just getting a bit excited" , he's a horrible kid and I know that sounds bad about a 9 year old but he really is horrible, he told my DD that father christmas, tooth fairy etc etc was not real and he's caused loads of trouble amongst the family telling people that others have said this and that about them. I wont be buying him a thing in future. might buy BIL a parenting book though!

OP posts:
cadeauxbury · 29/12/2006 16:29

Not me LGJ

But at Mrs Cadbury's nephew! That'd be the last Christmas pressy he got from me.

whatwouldjesusdo · 29/12/2006 16:34

well out of order to allow that sort of behaviour.

I wouldnt argue the point about your nephew, just ask your dh if he would want his son to behave like that?? Right to be annoyed, what rubbish!

wannaBeWhateverIWannaBe · 29/12/2006 16:34

god no you are not overreacting. spoiled little brat. That would be the last present I ever bought him and I would make it very clear to him, and his family why.

As for your dh, he should be the one apologising, to you, for not sticking up for you.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 29/12/2006 16:39

I would have reminded this family that the PS San Andreas game (sounds like this child's definition of a "good" game) he mentioned is an 18 cert game with adult content and thus not suitable for minors.

Your DH's primary loyalty should be to you - you were in no way overreacting.

There is no excuse for this child's behaviour whatsoever. There is a mulititude of reasons no doubt as to why he is acting like this. No child is born bad - they are a product of their environment. At heart he does seem very unhappy and also confused (no proper boundaries set by parents) re some aspects of his home life to act this way and his parents are not helping him any. His parents need to get real and act fast if they do not want a both unhappy and tearaway teen on their hands.

MrsCadbury · 29/12/2006 16:44

This same kid also beat a baby rabbit to death when he was 6 because "it scratched him", I so wanted to report them but DH wouldn't let me. (it didn't die straight away either, they took it to the vets and the vet had to put it down as there was nothing he could do for it) .
I know he must have "issues" but I'm sorry, I can't stand the kid.

OP posts:
Elasticwoman · 29/12/2006 16:45

I am not so shocked by the 9 yr old's behaviour, though it is bad enough, but by the way his parents dealt with it. I agree with all the other posts saying don't buy anything for him at all next year. You might also tell his parents straight away, in writing or by email that you were offended by their allowing this behaviour - emphasising that it is their parenting and not the boy himself that is the problem. Tell them plainly that you have no intention of ever buying him another present unless there is an apology forthcoming from the boy.

I have to admit you'd be a bit brave to do all that. But you'd be in the right and in the long run you'd be doing the boy a favour.

I feel sorry for this little boy - he is going to find life difficult if things go on like this.

theUrbanDryadWithSparklyWings · 29/12/2006 16:50

eww and also at the rabbit.

think buying your BIL a parenting book forxmas is an excellent idea...try alfie kohn's "punished by rewards"

wakeupandsmellthecoffee · 29/12/2006 17:30

God this kid really does have issues (you all know what I mean ) I wouldnt want to meet him in a dark alley in 10 years time . FGS try and keep your kid away from him . Say nothing in the future and keep your head down . But please please buy him a goat from oxfam for his birthday or christmas which ever comes first . LOL