Today, my daughter was playing outside. I was watching her from the window, and I saw her pick up a dead bird. I ran outside to grab her. As I picked her up and started scolding her, she tried to scratch my face. In the attempt, her hand went straight into my mouth. FML
I agree, your life sucks (15768) - you totally deserved it (3497)
On 11/21/2009 at 10:25pm - misc - by gbabyy (woman) - United States (New York)
She tried to scratch your face? How is she that bad with her behavior already?! She needs to be spanked.
#3 - On 11/22/2009 at 3:27am by Quietcannon
Um, first, I believe you meant "eat". Second, I myself eat dead animals every day. I do not, however, pick dead animals off the ground and pop them into my mouth. There is a middle ground, hard as that may be for you to believe.
#16 - On 11/22/2009 at 5:38am by Funkengine12
No, not everything, but some children do need physical punishment to be taught a lesson. Not all children will sulk in a corner after you say "Now Mummy doesn't like it when you try to eat dead Birds and try and scratch her face off"
And I don't mean belting the child until you break your hand or something, one firm, swift smack on the bum will do it. My sister and I where smacked when we were kids and we grew up fine. My cousins, who weren't, have grown into lazy, disrespecting brats.
#18 - On 11/22/2009 at 6:14am by Emma89_
@ #14 - huge difference between beating/hitting your kid and spanking them. One is done in anger, the other is done in correction. One is a controlled motion, specifically intended to sting but not cause any real harm. The other is a reaction, and can very easily be uncontrolled. A swat or two on the behind isn't going to ruin a child. A smack across the face, or unrelenting spanking (continuous, or in excess of more than a couple) isn't good. Which would you rather do, have a daughter that thinks it's ok to claw at your face or one that doesn't. Remember, not everyone reacts the same way to a method of correction. One kid you can talk to and explain how it is wrong and they get it... another kid will think that they aren't even being corrected (grounding, yelling had NO effect on me... a swat or two on the butt would work wonders on my attitude) and will continue on doing what they were doing.
I think comments must have been moved around, so Funk's looks out of place...
I agree that something is seriously wrong if your child thinks that a proper response to being scolded is to scratch your face. In this case, spanking might not be the best option - you don't want to create an even more violent child. But you do need to figure out some way to control her.
#19
This exactly. You should NEVER beat a child. Don't hit hard, or out of anger. A stern swat to the behind does not hurt them. It shocks them and tells them what they did was bad. I can tell you out of experience that time-outs and telling a child not to do something does not always work.
It's pathetic how many brats I see who blatantly disobey adults and misbehave. It's not always the parents fault, it's society's. If someone even touches a kid there's someone calling the cops. They don't look at the whole situation and see if that kid was even really hurt.
It's just like those parents who got their kids taken away from them and were thought to be pedophiles because they got a picture of their one year old in the bath tub developed at walmart. Apparently that's considered child pornography. We're arresting so many normal people that the real disgusting perverts and rapists slide under the radar.
anyways, enough of my rant...
#58 - On 11/23/2009 at 1:20am by helloxmygoodbye
-.- There is a difference between spanking your child for discipline and 'hitting your child.'
Trust me spanking doesn't ruin a child... I was spanked plenty growing up. Ask any elderly person... they were probably spanked too. Most remembered phrase from my old family camping trips: "Go fetch a switch." Note that's a trap as it makes you think you have some control over whats about to happen. Get the biggest it hurts alot, get a small flimsy one... it can cut you... like a whip... V.V Switches are evil.
I agree with #19. #14's kids are probably the ones we hear throwing a temper tantrum in the middle of Walmart because they don't want to go home.
#77 - On 12/16/2009 at 7:47am by ChairForce
can you say behavioral issues? o_O
reminds me of that stephen king movie
with damien |:
#4 - On 11/22/2009 at 3:33am by allisha
Ah, kids... gotta love 'em. These kinds of things are to be expected. No one (intelligent) ever said parenting was easy.
#21 - On 11/22/2009 at 7:40am by blastvortex
Sorry to say, but you deserved it for allowing her to try to scratch you.
#22 - On 11/22/2009 at 8:32am by adventurepaws
Why would you 'scould' a child for exploring and being curious? Obviously you have to tell her not to pick dead animals and such up but you should just be calm when explaining. The little girl didn't actually do ANYTHING wrong, so YDI.
#24 - On 11/22/2009 at 8:50am by lmaoatyourlife
Yah no shit. If the kid is young enough to not have a reaction of OH EW DEAD ANIMAL she probably had no idea what she was doing was wrong.
How old is the kid in question? She sounds pretty young.
So you were letting her play outside alone (watching from a window don't cut it with young kids..obviously she had time to get to a dead bird)
Then you scolded her for picking up something interesting.
When you say "daughter," you mean "cat" right? That would make a lot more sense, in multiple places.
Seriously? You need to send you child to some behaviour and manners management classes cause she is acting like she hasn't been taught anything about manners. Scold, spank, and slap her, you just might get a ton of diseases like Bird Flu and you might get real hurt, she has no idea what she is doing. That really sucks OP definetly FYL.
@24, 14, and 5: You guys act like just a little talk to your child will make her all knit and ready to not pick up dead things like that? When you tell a child they f'd up, and spank for it, it sets off a chemical reaction into the brain saying that I shouldn't pick up dead animals because I will get in trouble, or if I pick up things that are dead and put my hand in my parents mouths, I will get in deep trouble. A talk is just a little remider you three, a spank in the noggin is carving into the brain.
#28 - On 11/22/2009 at 10:10am by Tchernov9
So, did she flip you the bird?
Was she able to shove the whole bird in your mouth? I hope you didn't eat it.
You know the old sayng: "A bird in the hand to the mouth is better than two falcon punches to the bush." Or something like that.
your kid has the lack of respect to scratch your face?
Child abuse is one thing, but some kids just need a damn good spanking. Discipline has gone down the drain, yo.
#30 - On 11/22/2009 at 10:35am by sampleinajar
i'm sorry but kids like that need to be slapped. i HATE parents who let their kids get away with being little brats. like, my cousin bit her sister and broke the skin through two layers of clothes, and no punishment at all. i'm not saying you need to really hurt her, but a smack will get her attention.
and also, i agree with whoever said this sounds more like you mean "cat," not "daughter"
#31 - On 11/22/2009 at 10:40am by starvingxartist
Part of the issue here is that we simply don't know the OP's whole story. That's the nature of FML, a quick story, and you're done. I'd say people shouldn't be so quick to judge, but this is the internet, and some text on a screen won't change anyone's inability to type and post before thinking it through.
OP - Care to elaborate any to further our understanding?
If this was the first time the child ever picked up a dead animal, scolding is not appropriate. Scolding is only appropriate when the child is aware beforehand that what they are doing is wrong and they do it anyway. This is the time to teach a new rule and explain why it's necessary.
if the child was never told picking up dead animals is not allowed then this is the time for teaching a new rule, not scolding.
I had to read this over... I thought you were talking about your CAT... but then I saw the word daughter.
Um...
#37 - On 11/22/2009 at 12:15pm by IllegalLight
I'm assuming, based on the child's behavior, that shes probably what? 4? 5? so, my question is, why were you watching her from the window instead of out there with her?? YDI
#41 - On 11/22/2009 at 12:50pm by TornRagDoll
Silly rabbit, every good parent knows that the proper scolding of children is done by picking them up, holding them at a safe distance, and shaking them until they learn their lesson.
...But srsly, FYL.
Yeah, kids are great.
Every time she does something like this just remember... you did this to yourself in deciding to have a kid.
Maybe you'd be travelling the world right now instead of brushing your tongue for an hour to get the dead bird taste out of your mouth.
Good luck with that... sounds like you have a real winner there! Enjoy!
#44 - On 11/22/2009 at 2:35pm by 13__Loki__13
She tried to scratch your face. Whatever you are currently doing to keep her in check is not enough. I wouldn't even sigh or roll my eyes around my mother.
I was once babysitting a little boy in a theatre scene shop. i got a really important phone call I had been waiting for and let go of Dylan for 1 second, and he walked over to a flat and swiped his hand through the paint.
Now, I was only 17 so I can be forgiven for letting go of the baby in my excitement. But even I knew that if you need to clean a baby's hand, because of paint or dead bird or whatever, you don't just scoop up the baby because they will rub that hand all over you and them. you have to hold their dirty hand, by the arm, in one of your hands while you pick them up with the other. that way, no dead bird hand in your mouth.
but you're probably not the best parent anyway. I suspect you severely over-reacted to natural curiosity and freaked your daughter out, causing her to try to scratch you, or you have taught her that scratching and violence is ok. so yes, fyl, but not for the dead bird taste in your mouth... you deserved that.
#49 - On 11/22/2009 at 4:31pm by wearinsexypants
I'm sorry, I thought you said it was your daughter, but the creature appears to react more like a rabid raccoon. Human children are not supposed to scratch at the parents' faces when they pick them up.
PARENTING, YOU'RE DOING IT WRONG. D:
Either that of you need to get glasses for yourself and call animal control for the rabid raccoon...
That or possibly go toss your daughter at the pound or something and try again with a baby you raise properly next time.
Also, YDI for the dead bird mouthful.
lolwat.
If your daughter is old enough to be outside by herself, then she's old enough to get slapped in the face. This is when you start disciplining your child. I believe a slap in the face is ideal as opposed to a spank on the ass, because a slap can be soft and unharmful enough to also be imposing and intimidating.
I actually don't understand AT ALL how parents these days can go without disciplining their children. If some inferior little brat disrespected me in ANY way, I'd get pissed off and punish them effortlessly! Be a little more assertive and have self-respect.
YDI.
#54 - On 11/22/2009 at 8:00pm by ROFLDOCTOR
Do you have any children? I do not think that you understand anything about parenting, and if you do have children, I am scared for them.
#74 - On 12/10/2009 at 1:15am by sarahrenee4487
Seriously, I had to go back and make sure I didn't read it wrong and it was, in fact, your daughter and not your cat.
YDI yourself. What the hell is wrong with you that you raise a child that plays with dead animals and then attempts to SCRATCH YOUR FACE when you discipline her?
If she's too young to know better, you're a deliquent parent for leaving her on her own (and she's still a sociopath for being that young and violent enough to attempt to scratch her mother).
If she's old enough to know better, she's a spoiled brat at best and a psychopath at worst.
#56 - On 11/22/2009 at 10:35pm by Chantallika
For all you people saying spanking is cruel; the better kids in this world are the only ones who were spanked, just ask.
#57 - On 11/23/2009 at 12:30am by hellokimmiee
I think her behaviour is by far worse than playing with a dead bird... I couldn't imagine mine ever raising a hand to me, and they wouldn't get far if they tried.
#60 - On 11/23/2009 at 2:11am by MissSparkie
What you are talking about is your child being a brat - it's not FML worthy.
#64 - On 11/23/2009 at 9:37am by beyondblue
Isn't that how Jeffery Dahmer started out? Nice little brat you brought into the world. Sounds like she has no respect for you at all.
why you scolding her? did she disobey when you told her not to play with dead bird before? how old is she? some kids just need to understand why something is bad. if i didn't know dead birds were bad and you came at me scolding me i'd not only scratch your face i'd punch you in your teeth!
Why the hell would you punch the mom in the face OMG?!?! You gotta be the dumbest person I've ever met, this is beyond stupidity, this is brute idiocy, even if you weren't told you would automatically learn that what you've done was a bad thing and you would take the punishment, and also she is saving your damn life! You could get some serious bacteria on these fresh ones and get like Bird flu or that stupid Swine flu which later leads to serious infection and impairment if your lucky to be alive the next few days, Swine flu cells latch onto your lungs and infect them until T-Cells come in and kill them but that leaves a hole where the Flu cell was, which leads you to drowning in your own fluids, I don't think a child survives something like that, or you can get some larvae and have them reproduce inside your organs make you puke bile, maggots, and food, which eventually deplete your resources, dehydrates you, and finally probably kill you if not medically helped right. open your eyes and walk into the common sense realm where everything is under control sir, it won't hurt you.
#71 - On 11/29/2009 at 3:22pm by Tchernov9
oh, and also, anyone bitching about the scolding, your kids are/will be obnoxious little brats because you have no parenting skills, just saying.
#67 - On 11/23/2009 at 3:53pm by starvingxartist
Research shows that redirection and explaining most concepts are more effective than scolding. In some cases scolding is a better choice, when a child should know better, but most of the time (even when a child may know better), redirection and explaining works better than scolding. Children forget things just like we do. Has your boss or has a teacher ever told you something and you had to ask them to explain it again? That is the same concept. Remember, you can attract more bees with honey than vinegar.
#75 - On 12/10/2009 at 1:19am by sarahrenee4487
Okay, first of all, I would guess that the OP made her daughter drop the bird before she picked her up because it wouldn't have made much sense to tell her not to pick up dead animals while she is still clutching the bird in her hands and being held in her mothers arms, so therefore, I doubt the bird went into either of their mouths.
Secondly, maybe "scolding" was not the best word for it but I get the feeling she didn't pick her daughter up and scream at her angrily. No matter the definition of the word "scold," I know I'm not the only one who thinks that scolding someone could be as simple as firmly telling them "No, don't pick that up! That's yucky." I've known a few kids from ages 2-7 that cry or throw a fit just hearing the word NO in a firm voice so OP may have just used the word "scolding" as a generalization to explain to us that she told her daughter not to do that. Maybe she ran out of characters while typing her FML and figured that word was the easiest way to get the point across... Oh well. Don't assume she is verbally abusing her child just because she used the word "scolding."
Also, maybe her daughter had never attempted to scratch her before?! It obviously would have to start sometime right? Maybe that was the first time she did such a thing. She isn't a bad parent because her daughter tried to scratch her! It doesn't mean she doesn't know how to control her kid. All kids will push their luck at some point and every parent has to deal with it as it comes. What are you gonna do, tell your kid before they can even walk that if they ever kick you in the shin for not getting their way, you are gonna spank their little a**?! Seriously... Haven't you ever heard of learning from your mistakes? It starts from childhood. It is common for a kid to learn a bad habit from other kids at school. Don't instantly blame the parent.
OP, FYL
#69 - On 11/24/2009 at 5:49am by I_Heart_Him
Since you are a woman, you should be used to having "bird meat" in your mouth.
#70 - On 11/26/2009 at 5:33pm by COBRAMORPH
In my household, everyone knows that "attempting to scratch mom in the face" equals "one broke-nosed child."
#72 - On 12/06/2009 at 9:03pm by Few_Absolutes
Sorry, but you realize that scolding her for picking the bird up would not have done any good anyway? Did she know already not to pick up the dead bird? Had she done it before? Did she have the schema to attach the concept to that she shouldn't touch a dead animal? Children need redirection, not all of this yelling and scolding that we do. You were right in rushing to her and taking the bird out of her hand, but then you should have gotten on her level and told her that she should not pick up dead animals and explained WHY. If she gets used to your yelling, she will not listen to you and continue to misbehave.
#73 - On 12/10/2009 at 1:14am by sarahrenee4487
A person commented on the fact that the mother may not have been "scolding" in the traditional sense of the word, and that the little girl may not have scratched before. They also brought up other good points. I had not thought of it that way and want to thank that poster for showing me some perspective.
#76 - On 12/10/2009 at 1:21am by sarahrenee4487
