Posted: Mar 26, 2020 5:26 am
Fallible wrote:jamest wrote:You're right. It's a silly man thing I guess, a bit like refusing to wear pink. I'll bear it in mind.
I lost my rag today as my 18 year-old step-daughter sneaked out for a last Mcdonalds lunch before it closed. I'm pretty sure that calling her a selfish moron was over the top, so now I feel bad, but it pisses me off that she's not taking it seriously enough. Not the greatest advert for a self isolating family, regardless.
Eta: we're not actually a self-isolating family as my missus and I are both deemed 'essential workers', apparently, but in all other respects we want to be one.
Er...well we all parent a bit differently, but no, it’s not a great idea to be name-calling one of your children because you lost your rag. I dunno how long ago she became your step-daughter, but I do know that relations in a step-family can be somewhat fragile and need careful management. Plus if you’re both out of the house regularly, you might as well not bother trying to isolate in order to protect the family. You bring the possibility home with you each time you bring yourselves home - her exposure once at a fast food establishment is possibly less of a risk than that - I doubt you and your wife separate yourselves from your children when you get home anyway.
I don't believe that any family exists which hasn't at many points had a fall-out involving differences of opinion etc., but during these very troubling times it will happen much more often. As I said, I don't feel unjustified in telling my step-daughter that she was wrong to go to Mcdonald's on Monday. Without qualifying her behaviour as moronic and selfish, I don't know how I could have justified that judgement, nor culled it.
Is there any kind way of telling people that they've acted like a cunt? Seriously. I mean, she's 18, not 5.