Replies to 'My Friend/Relative Won't Discipline!'

Quote From: skwirl

 I have been in almost the same situation except it was my husbands sister and her children. Talk about wild-child's! Totally out of control! She would gripe and gripe about the things that they did, but never followed through with any punishment. As far as your question, I don't think there is any way that you can state that the behavior bothers you with out offending someone. They seem to take it personal and get defensive. They brought the kids to my house one night and the Father just sat on the couch totally oblivious to anything going on around him and the mother just ignored their behavior. The were running all around my house, pulling out drawers and actually took a stamp out of the desk and started stamping my furniture! I finally had enough so I picked up the kids and sat them down on the couch next to their mother and father and proceeded to tell them that my husband and I did not have kids so there was not alot of things in the house that they could play with. I told them that Uncle Charlie and Aunt Shirley had rules, and the rules were, that if they wanted to play with something, they had to ask first. My sister-in-law got so mad at me she wouldn't even talk to me for a long time! I talked to my mother-in-law after that and said that I thought my sister-in-law was mad at me and she said, yeah, I already heard it. But I didn't care, I was sooooo mad! But the thing is the next time they came over with the kids, I was talking with my sis-in-law and here came the little boy flying into the room, jumped on the bed and started to grab the phone that was laying there. Right before he touched it, he stopped, and he said, Aunt Shirley, can I please use your telephone? I smiled and said, you sure can, but don't make any long distance phone calls, then I gave him a big hug and thanked him for asking me first. I never had another problem with the kids, but the sister-in-law has ALWAYS been mad at me. So I guess my question to you is, "Is it worth it to you to say something?". Just depends on what's more important to you. I just have a really hard time keeping my mouth shut, and I felt so much better when I said something, I could really care less what she thought! So let us know what you decide to do, I am very interested in your situation! GOOD LUCK!!!!!