AM I BEING UNREASONABLE (AIBU) TO DREAD HALF TERM?
By Claritita
Any ideas for a calm, bicker-free week for me and my 5 and 7-year-olds? Rain
and freezing weather mean we'll probably be inside all week and I think I
might go bonkers! Short of hopping to the Caribbean, what can we do to stay
sane?
By spokette
I'm planning to take my 4-year-old daughters for lots of walks to burn up
their energy. As long as they are properly attired, rain and cold weather
will not hurt them.
By FlyMeToDunoon
I once put up a tent in my older two's bedroom. They loved it, played in there
and slept in it, too. It was good for three days attention. In my daydreams
I have a scheduled day of painting/playdough/dvd/sticking/etc, but usually
ends up the same old muddle and me hiding in the kitchen with the computer
and cup of tea/glass of wine.
By Takver
I'm hoping to send husband and daughter to the mother-in-law's for some
quality grandparent bonding time.
By ChippingIn
Am I the only one who loves the school holidays? I love not having to say
“hurry up” or rather “HURRY UP” 400 times before 9am, not to have to do the
school run - to have nice slow mornings, friends over, days out. It's easier
than term time.
By MrsMattie
If it's pissing down with rain like it has been in London today, it'll be grim
. How many times can one woman go to the Science Museum? (sigh)
By Xenia
I recommend working full time so you never have to deal with a half term!
AIBU TELLING MY SON TO HIT HIS LITTLE BOY BACK?
By Nemoandthefishes
Little boy in my son's class has been bullying one of his friends for a couple
of months. Today he punched my son in the stomach. The teacher's response
was “just ignore him”. So I have told my son if the little boy punches him
again to hit him back.
By Seeker
Don't tell him to hit back. Go and see the teacher yourself. It needs to be
sorted out properly, and telling your son to behave equally badly won't do
anything to make it better.
By tiredsville
YANBU, obviously communicate with the school and let them know this boy is
bullying children. But I have always told my son, if anyone hits him, whack
them back twice as hard.
By lilacclaire
Oooh, gut instinct is to tell him to hit back, but best bet is for you to go
in and discuss the teacher's attitude, otherwise where will it end?
By Littlefish
I agree completely with Seeker. All you're teaching your son is that it's OK
to hit, while at the same time telling him that it's not OK for others to
hit. Go and see the teacher, and if you don't feel you've had a satisfactory
response, go and see the headteacher.
By Ohforfoxsake
Someone was fighting my younger son. I asked if he hit him back, ready to give
the “tell the teacher, you are stooping to his level of bad behaviour yada
yada”. He said: “I'm not just going to stand there, am I?” Fair point, well
made for a 5-year-old, I thought.
By herbietea
My eldest son was persistently hit by a child in infant school. He kept
telling the teacher and so did I. When it happened again my husband told my
son to hit the boy back.
The next day the head teacher phoned me and told me our son had punched the
boy back. She said sometimes it takes the “victim” to stand up to the bully
to make them stop. Our son was never punched by that boy again. I don't
advocate violence, but sometimes it does work for the bully to know how it
feels.
AIBU TO THINK MY HUSBAND UNFAIR: HE SAID I SHOULD BE CLEANING HALL SKIRTING
BOARDS AND NOT ON MUMSNET
By chewitt
My husband said I should clean the skirting boards and not be on mumsnet. I
have not sat down all day, was up loads in the night with my youngest son.
Is it normal to not do housework, even if there's stuff to be done, if
you're tired and want to sit and veg for a while?
By TrinityRhino
I have never cleaned the skirting boards, we have lived here for six years. He
is being Very Unreasonable.
By chewitt
He said I should be more houseproud...
By tumtumtetum
It's nearly 9pm on a Saturday night and he wants you on your hands and knees
scrubbing skirting boards?
By SheSellsSeashellsByTheSeashore
What are skirting boards? Why do they need cleaning? Is it even legal to clean
on a Saturday night?
AIBU TO THINK THAT BOYS ARE NOT HARDER WORK THAN GIRLS?
By AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump
So many mothers of boys seem to assume that it is a given that boys are harder
work than girls. Their boy won't take no for an answer! And the MESS!
Goodness me, it's exhausting looking after a boy. Meanwhile, my little girl
sits demurely at home asking me to plait her hair, and reading sweetly from
her book of fairy stories when I am busy. Er... no. My little girl is every
bit as revolting and chaotic as your boy, thank you very much. (I have one
of each, by the way).
By psychomum5
Three sweet demure girls here, then I got two boys to shock me out of my
smugness.
By nailpolish
Girls are so emotional. their complicated friendships exhaust me. I have two
and they drain me. Goodness knows what it will be like when they are
teens...
By AliceTheCamelHasGotTheHump
Some children are harder work than others. Gender is irrelevant.
By stealthsquiggle
My daughter is way harder work than my son ever was at the same age. And I
expect that trend to continue.
By StarlightMcKenzie
I have an easy daughter and an easy son. I like to think it is my parenting.
By stealthsquiggle
Hold that thought, Starlight, and don't have another one - I liked to think my
son's calm nature and impeccable behaviour was down to my parenting until my
daughter turned up to disprove it.
AIBU TO THINK THAT EVERYTHING A GIRL OWNS DOESN'T HAVE TO BE PINK?
By CharCharGaboriaInExcelsisDeo
I would prefer everything in my house not to be pink. My Mum wants to buy my
daughter a wooden trike for Christmas. I have politely said that I would
prefer the primary-coloured version of it. Same price, same toy, just in
nice vibrant colours, which in my opinion babies/v young toddlers prefer
anyway. My Mum has said that she doesn't think she could possibly buy that
since it's a toy for boys. AIBU to think that just because my daughter is a
girl doesn't mean that she can only have toys in one colour?
By SkyenSummer
I've discovered that it's not what you like but what your kids like that
matters. I'm not pink and haven't brought my kids up to be pink, but they
love it, so hey for a few years until they discover their own self I'm happy
to forgo my thoughts and be pink... I'm doing it because that's what they
like - it's probably just for a few years, so let them choose...
By ThomcatIsForLifeNotJustForXmas
Steer clear of pink while you have the option. My second daughter is obsessed.
She is 3 in a week and I asked her what she wanted for her birthday. Her
answer: “Pink.” I asked her “pink what?” She thought about it for a while
and said “pink things”.
By BingleJells
This gender stereotyping of all things - blue for a boy and pink for a girl -
is just a marketing ploy to get us to splash out twice on the same product.
AIBU TO SPEND MY DAUGHTER'S TUTOR MONEY AON A NEW HANDBAG?
By RubyRioja
Tutor had to cancel because of weather, shall I put fees towards a new
handbag?
By Frasersmum123
Yes!
By RubyRioja
I thought it was reasonable use of funds - I fancy black or purple.
By cheshirekitty
Ooh, naughty - but nice.
By RubyRioja
excellent - thought it might qualify me as “bad mum”.
By wotulookinat
Nah, you go for it!
By Qally on Mon 02-Feb-09 20:07:06
Happy mother = happy child. So really, you're thinking of her.
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