Kate Hackett
I’m not even sure where to start with this one. u/RealFun5865 wants to know if she’s an asshole for treating a spoiled child like a misbehaving pet — using a method I don’t even use on my misbehaving pets. Here’s the tale:
OP’s sister had a “rainbow baby,” which is when a child is born after a baby is lost.
My nephew is a rainbow baby. My sister had a lot of trouble conceiving and he was kind of a miracle. She was 42 when she finally managed to give birth. She was on bed rest for the last three months of her pregnancy.
The kid is six and an absolute nightmare. He has tantrums constantly.
My nephew is now six and, while I love him, he is a monster. He throws tantrums when things don’t go his way. He screams if he loses playing a game. He refuses to understand why he can’t ride my seven year old St Bernard.
The kid also thinks all cookies are his cookies, even OP’s special diabetic treats.
And he thinks any food is his. My husband is diabetic and he loves cookies. I found a bakery that makes amazing sugar free cookies but they are expensive. I budget for them because my husband deserves his treats when he gets home from work.
The nephew saw the cookies one day and OP said no; he could not be consoled. OP gave in and the nephew threw the cookie on the floor.
My sister was visiting and my nephew was running around like a squirrel. He tripped and started crying so my sister picked him up. He saw the cookie container on the counter and started asking for some. I said no that they were special cookies for his uncle. I offered him a regular cookie or some fruit but he got all upset that he was being denied. My sister asked if he could please have a cookie. I relented and gave him one. He took a bite and said it was yucky and threw it on the ground. I was a little upset.
So when the boy returned and asked for MORE cookies, OP said no. His mom said to give him one, but OP held firm.
A little while later he came back and asked for another cookie. I said no. My sister said to just give him one. I told her no, he wasted the last one. He started screaming that he wanted a cookie. I stood my ground. He eventually went away.
Then the kid came back and didn’t ask — he just went for the jar. OP sprayed him with a spray bottle.
Next time he came he didn’t ask. He just went for the container. I grabbed the spray bottle I use to keep the cat off the counter. I gave him a couple of squirts and said “NO”. He got startled and ran away.
OP’s sister said the kid isn’t a pet to be reprimanded, but …it worked!
My sister said her son isn’t an animal to be reprimanded with water. The next time he came into the kitchen I put my hand on the spray bottle. He didn’t even look at the counter and he went away.
My sister called my parents to tell on me for treating her kid like that. They are mad at me for not giving in to the poor baby.
So, is OP an ass? Reddit, to my surprise, actually says NO!
“I 100% have done this to my own kids. It’s not our go to but if they’re being assholes and I need to snap them out of it, I’ll grab the squirt bottle. If I’ve lost my patience I feel it’s better than yelling. It usually diffuses the situation and makes us all laugh,” wrote one user.
Another said, “t’s not the kids fault, it’s the mother’s. So when she fails to discipline him, grab the spray bottle and squirt her until she controls her kid. NTA.”
A teacher noted, “NTA. So I’m a behavior teacher and this is bad, and we don’t do this, but it’s hilarious and I can’t stop giggling about it. You are living the dream.”
