Parenting problem
By SViswan
@SViswan (12051)
India
November 21, 2006 8:01am CST
I need help. I would always complain that my husband was never around to help and now since the past one year he has been around more often. But this has posed a new problem for me...my well behaved balanced 6 year old has now turned into a brat and has started pitching us against each other...especially since my husband tends to believe him and puts me down in front of him. No amount of talking to my husband seems to work. He says I'm getting worked up over nothing and he's just acting his age. I know he's not like that and my husband knows it too. Infact, he was very proud when people would tell him that we had a well behaved child.
What's worse is that my husband's the first one to complain about a mother when he sees a child misbehaving! I think it's hypocrisy or indirectly hinting that I'm responsible for my son's behaviour! What do I do? He does't listen to reason...he feels discipling our son should start when he is 10. I feel it's going to very difficult if not impossible then! We have a lovely child who is just getting spoilt and losing all the wonderful skills that he has. HELP!
1 response
@BellasmamaTiff (2544)
• United States
23 Nov 06
One parent should NEVER be put down by the other parent in front of the child. Whats happening is that your son now knows that he CAN play you against eachother and get his way. He knew before that you would put your foot down and that his misbehavior would be stopped before it even started. Now, your husband is leverage for your son. He will continue to do this until your husband puts his foot down and shows your son that the two of you, your husband and yourself, are a team, and that what one parent says, GOES!
@SViswan (12051)
• India
23 Nov 06
I know! I kept telling my husband that when he started doing it in front of our son. He would never listen! I kept saying we have to put a united front. At first, I was silent in front of our son and talk to my husband later..but then I realized I didn't want our son thinking that I could be pushed over! The problem here is that my husband doesn't understand! He keeps asking our son..'Are you doing this so that I yell at mommy?' C'mon! He's 6. Of course he's going to say 'No'. He's doing it unconsciously. But later it's going to be a conscious decision and then it's going to be even more difficult to change! I guess it's more of a relationship problem than a parenting one!
