“He Is A Monster”: Aunt Uses A Spray Bottle To Discipline Her “Rainbow Baby” Nephew Who Is Spoiled Beyond Belief, Causes Drama
Recently, a woman turned to the AITA community to find out if she has crossed the line in disciplining her six-year-old nephew.
In a post that has been upvoted 19.7k times, the author wrote that while she loves him, “he is a monster.” She explained: “He throws tantrums when things don’t go his way. He screams if he loses playing a game” and he thinks that “any food is his.”
One day, the author’s sister and nephew came for a visit. The conflict ignited after the six-year-old started cadging for sugar-free cookies that his aunt keeps for her diabetic husband. But the boy didn’t take no for an answer and sooner than she knew it, the author saw no choice but to discipline him the way she disciplines her cat. Hint: a spray bottle.
A woman wonders if she was wrong to use a spray bottle to discipline her difficult nephew like she does with her cat
Image credits: Xia Yang (not the actual photo)
Image credits: Lisa Fotios (not the actual photo)
Image credits: cottonbro (not the actual photo)
Image credits: RealFun5865
A spray bottle is a similar disciplinary method used for training young puppies and kittens. While using it to discipline a child may be a debatable tool that would surely bring opposing opinions, two Texas moms have came up with a similar idea for a liquid discipline.
Called “Sassy Spray,” the invention came to light when one mom, Candice Romo, realized she needed “something personally that wasn’t as harsh as spanking but a little harsher than time out.”
According to the moms, whipping out the spray helps keep their kids in line. The spray is a mix of apple, vinegar, and vegetables. But some parents were far from impressed with the idea. Some say although it’s meant like a modern-day “soap in the mouth” disciplinary tool, anything that would humiliate a child like that could be harmful and is not recommended.
Many people expressed their support for the author in this situation
Others, however, thought that everyone was to blame in this conflict
NTA. Of course, this child isn't an animal. Animals are usually smarter. And it's not even OP's kid, so she isn't obligated to come up with suitable parenting techniques for him. It's his parents responsibility to teach their child how to behave and face the music if they failed.
Just saying, the kids got it after 1 squirt. That's not a bad learning curve.
Load More Replies...
Behave like one and treated like one. Wait, correction, most pets behave better than this kid
When I read these posts, I think of the disservice the parents are doing to the child. Kids adapt and behave as they know works to meet their needs and wants. The child is going to be disliked and spoiled if they don’t start changing those teaching. Spray bottles work great on all kinds of creatures. My dad used one of a friend of mine in high school when she talked through movies. Shut her right up.
My daughter had a bad temper starting at an early age. She would lay down and have a temper tantrum (around 1-2 yrs old). She did it in public, in the home, wherever she couldn't get her way. I talked to the doctor about it. This was in the 70s'. he told me when she did this take a small dixie cup put just a little water in and warn her what you were going to do. If she didn't stop, toss it at her. She was so surprised that she stopped what she was doing. I told her this is what will happen if you keep doing this. I only had to do it once more and she stopped. As for doing it in public, I would scoop her off the floor and take her home and Dad watched her while my son and I went back to the store and left her home. It didn't take her long to realize what she was doing wasn't working. So, I see nothing wrong with spraying his face with water. If he doesn't stop acting up, then I would ban him from my home until he knew how to behave. it's the parents' fault.
The last comment "Don´t be a d**k to kids." When they are d***s to me, I return it, easy as that. I love the idea of the aunt
Lol, the amount of folks losing their s**t because *gasp* a child was sprayed with water and it may have made him feel slightly bad is *hilarious*! The kid isn't traumatized, I *promise*, hell be fine. And no, OP shouldn't have to try to explain why he can't have a cookie. It's not his stuff, he doesn't need an explanation for why he can't have something that's not his, nor should OP have to deal with his tantrum when he doesn't get his way. I'd bar him and his mom if she didn't start teaching him manners.
This would be one of those "don't bring that kid around here no more" moments...Some parents tend to forget that rainbow babies can eventually turn into rainbow "a55hole" adults. Spray away lady!
NTA. How does the sister think his behaviour is acceptable? If your parents are siding with her then she's clearly the favoured child. What an absolute pair of entitled monsters. I'd try one last attempt at explaining to both her and your parents just how it's unacceptable behaviour. You shouldn't have to, I know but here we are ... Then, if they still don't get it, it's either continue to use the spray bottle or limit contact. On a side note - I know a few people who were warned about stealing other people's food and were stabbed in the hand with a fork for their entitlement. Never stole again haha. Not that I'm giving ideas or suggesting a small child should be assaulted or anything (I'm not) ... I'm just sayin' that some folk take the theft of their food very seriously...
My parents would use a spray bottle on my sister when she was a baby to get her to stop screaming (she wasn’t upset, she just liked to scream). Spray bottles work. And, it’s not like it hurts them. Of course OP isn’t TA. And the kid needs discipline. If the mom isnt going to do it, then the aunt can.
LOL. It's not like Auntie is using a power washer thingy. Seems the tyke got the message rather quickly. Sister might need a squirt or two, though. Hahahaha!
Load More Replies... It is probably is mean, but I would put cookies with chili in the jar the next time they come over. Say no to him getting one because they are special and because he threw the last one on the floor he doesn't get another one. When he helps himself he is in for a surprise - and will probably learn not to take food from others, especially if they said no to him.
Yeah, sorry… it definitely is mean. It would be different if it was an adult, but a kid’s tastebuds and the mucus membranes inside the mouth are newer and fresher, and more sensitive, than an adult’s; it would cause them more pain. Even if you do that to an adult, you have to be careful, too. The Legal Advice subreddit gets a lot of questions from people who are sick of their coworkers stealing their lunch from the break room fridge, wondering what kind of trouble they’d get in for spiking the food to discourage the behavior. When it comes to adding something hot and spicy, the potential consequences aren’t too clear-cut. You can always argue that you LOVE hot & spicy, and always season your food like that. The thief would be pretty much forced to admit to stealing food from you in the past to prove you wrong. Using other “revenge” additives, like Ex-Lax or a toxic chemical, will not only get you fired, but possibly charged with assault and are definitely not a good idea.
Load More Replies...
WAIT A SECOND HERE!! HOLD THE FREAKIN' PHONE!! Let's get this straight. Ok, "auntie" obviously isn't abusing her nephew & Mommy isn't disciplining him either. So, whatever works that's not abuse. I get it, ok. BUT A 42 YEAR OLD WOMAN CALLING HER PARENTS TO TELL ON HER SISTER???
Madre, the woman was 42 when she had the miracle child. She's now approximately 48 years old, tattling to her parents about her grown sister. Smh while LOL
Load More Replies...
Truly unfortunate the mother of the child is literally spoiling him ROTTEN, being afraid to set boundaries, structure, discipline and consequences for her "rainbow" baby is completely handicapping him, he'll have problems with relationships, quite possibly be difficult to employ and so forth since his mother is teaching him bad behaviors get rewarded, use the spray bottle on your sister, it's not appropriate to use on the cat though, talk with your vet or Google a reputable animal behavior site.....
I used a spray bottle through all my years of nannying. Worked like a charm.
As a bird mom who sprays her birds and says "cool down" when they misbehave, I 100% condone this. To this sister I would've said (for effect) ok I won't spray him next time I'll smack him... when she gets the shocked Pikachu face I'd be like "well? which is it?" Water is fine. To everyone that's like "Omg talk to him" NO he has not developed his cognitive thinking skills yet. Kids that young need reaction not a 10 minute speech. This is from me being a human mom that has raised 8 kids. All but two of them are now functioning law abiding adults. The other two are 15 and 16 respectively and also on the path of being successful adults. As you notice he got sprayed once with WATER, not vinegar, not bleach, not acid.... WATER. And he learned. Good on you Auntie.
Omg completely NTA this is hilarious and I wanna do it now thank you for the idea
Ok, I also laughed at this one. I understand the argument - a child is not an animal and shouldn't be treated like one. But on the other hand I also believe in 'My house, my rules'. And that child clearly needs some borders or he will have one hell of a time at school. And the mom really needs to losen up.
I laughed heartily at this one. Absolutely, my house, my rules. But I disagree regarding the mother needing to loosen up. She needs to tighten up her disciplinary skills with her squirrelly acting son. Oooh. Still laughing... :)
Load More Replies... I give auntie a pass for acting in the spur of the moment, but it would be pretty tacky to make a habit of it. Fortunately, she now has a good way to convince the mama not to bring the little monster over anymore.
I mean, if it works, it works. I'm not having a long conversation with a kid who's visiting my apartment on why they can't have something that isn't for them. If they can't handle the word 'no', then their parent/guardian needs to teach them better.
Load More Replies... 
I agree, i never used a spray bottle in any of my cats, honestly i took the advice of the " cat whisperer " ( dunno the dudes name ) but it works wonders, every time your cat is acting up, just give it something more interesting to see or do, i have a stick with a string and a colorfull feather on the tip, and they are crazy for that, só everytime One of them starts to f**k up i get the stick dangle it in front of them for a few minutes and he/She ( yes they are 2 and they are a male and a female ) forget what they where trying to do in the 1st place, i get what i wanted, and didn't scare the little furballs.
Load More Replies...
i dont see the issue, sprayed in the face with water is better than a slap
Spray bottle works wonders. Try it on your sister next tantrum she has.
No means no. Push it and face the consequences. That's the lesson that the nephew learned. He was lucky it was just a few squirts of water. My dad would have beat my a*s if I disrespected my aunt and uncle like that. This aunt is doing her sister's job for her.
Epic. Use it on her next time he acts up. Maybe she will go to him. Lol. And it's your house your rules.
Charge her for every cookie, plus clean up charges, duress, inconvenience charges, etc... tell her each cookie is $50 and you expect a hefty tip.
The spray bottle is a better method than the c**p kicking he is gonna get when another bigger kid has had enough of his selfish disrespect.
kid needs a thrashing with a belt, hell never f**k about again
🤣🤣🤣 Not sure I've ever heard of the spray bottle used on a kid. I would have blistered his spoiled a*s
A lot of what we do with pets is what we do (or used to do) to raise and train children. Now, we think we CAN'T do it with kids because it's for pets. Squirt bottle is new, but it seems harmless. That poor kid. He's going to be unhappy all his life because of his completely incompetent Mom. That's the story here - NOT the spray bottle.
NTA. It's sort of funny, and we are talking about a water spray, nothing nasty like pepper spray. It sounds like the kid is being raised spoilt, to feel entitled, not hearing no. But beyond that, if the kid doesn't accept no and snatches cookies with no reprimand/reinforcement, what is to deter the kid from snatching something else they think looks interesting like a tool, household chemicals etc thus putting themselves at risk. Having said that, with expensive sugar free cookies bought especially for hubby I think it would have been much better if, when there's visitors, they were in the cupboard out of the sight of little-eyed cookie monsters.
NTA It worked, didn't it? LOL Seriously though, the mother needs to step up and parent her child. One can be grateful for this "miracle" child but if you don't want him turning into a little demon, teach him the value of patience, waiting, empathy and whatnot. No one does their children any good by catering to them and disregarding anti-societal behaviors. This was water which is hydrating. lol He learned after one experience so he's teachable. That mother needs parenting classes.
Took a parenting class in 1995, one parent asked for advise on her child (9 y o) not being ready when it was time to leave for work. Advise was 'the car leaves at 7:20, you will be it , I have a bag of clothes and Poptarts, no one ever died because they arrived at school in their pjs' behind her was a mom who said it was her hubby's job to get their daughter ready as daycare was on her way and he leaves 45 minutes later. The instructor said the same techniques can train a spouse or co-worker ect. As in ' honey, my car leaves at 7:20, if the baby's not in there, you will be taking her to daycare. It worked! So if rainbow learned after one x , mommy will too. That child can act well in environments that have consistent rules (like school or bus or friend's house), the child will in her house too. if nothing else, tell the mom she's no longer welcome, if the boy can or will not follow rules, he too, will not be welcome, and stick to that standard if you want peace.
NTA. Your house = your rules, family be damned. The sister is an enabling AH and also needs to experience the spray bottle. Heck, I would garden-hose her every time she refused to control her kid. NC is the best solution here.
I laughed so hard! I think this is great. I am a parent and love what she did. NTA
I thump ears...oh wait that's the cats. Usually once is all it takes. Wish I had a spray bottle when the kids were young. Now they could take it from me and spray me. If parents won't restrain their children, you are allowed to protect your stuff and your sanity in your own home.
NTA... I love this. It obviously worked and the child was not injured or abused in any way. Sister should be glad you didn't spank the little brat.
You should slap the sh it out of the little brat, grab him by the threoat and stuff his stupid head up your sister's a*s. That will teach them both a thing or two about how to behave. BUT THOLE!
She called the parents to tattle? Maybe they all need to grow up here. Sister needs to parent her kid. And no, yu can't just spray a misbehaving kid, they don't learn respect by being treated disrespectfully. Tell the sister to make sure they behave or tell them to leave.
Actually the kid learned respect after being "disrespected" (sprayed) just once so apparently the technique DOES work. Back to the woke social media drawing board for your next opinion.
Load More Replies... NTA. If the mum doesn't like the way you discipline her brat, then she should do it herself.
Just tell her not to bring the kid over until he can control himself. Done and done.
ESH (ofc op not THAT much of an a*****e but still): Like that one comment said, just let the tantrum happen... I really don't know what it is with adults and not being able to let a child cry and be upset... They're kids they aren't gonna understand no matter how you explain... It doesn't have be "give in vs immediate punishment", You don't have to punish a child for being upset! You don't have to retaliate bcs they're upset they can't have something, tell them why the can't and let that be it!
Maybe because tantrums aren't cute in a 6 year old or in a 40 year old. If allowed, it reinforces the attitude that that behavior is ok. People don't miraculously outgrow childish behavior.
Load More Replies... I don't actually remember doing this, but I heard the story from my parents many times. I used to cry a lot as a young child, and my grandfather's advice was for them to throw a glass of water into my face to get me to stop. They decided to give it a try, and the next time I had a crying fit they did it. I immediately stopped crying. The next time after that when I started crying, they weren't able to get to the sink quickly & apparently after a minute or so I looked up and said in a dismayed/disappointed voice, "Aren't you going to throw water on me again?"
There’s always 3 sides to a story. Theirs, theirs, the truth. Whilst I don’t agree with spraying a child with water as form of deterrent/punishment, I agree that the child shouldn’t have been allowed to behave in the way they did. Even throwing the biscuit on the floor is disrespectful.
Good for you on using the spray bottle however, it probably won't keep working. Your sister has created the monster because she gives in and that creates a brat. I agree with most here that if he behaves like that and she wants you to give in I'd use the words, "Sorry, I know how to set boundaries. You can leave until you understand how to be a parent and not a friend to your child." This may cause issues in your relationship and unfortunately, I do not think your sister is going to understand what she has created. She will come back at you and say you are mean and unfair. Let it be. The child is her problem and if she can't be a parent then it shouldn't have to be put on you to do so.
If this would have been my brothers kid, I wouldn't have used a spray bottle, I would've used my hand upside the back of that kids head. Everything in this country started going to c**p once smacking a disobedient child become a taboo. I got my a*s beat as a kid when I deserved it and that's why im not in prison today.
Agree but NEVER on someone's head (animal or human).
Load More Replies... What? Who are these people that think this is ok? He's a spoiled little brat of a child who clearly has no boundaries. That being said, he's a CHILD. Don't invite them over to your house, say no repeatedly and let him scream it out, ask your sister to leave...there a multiple ways of fixing this issue without behaving like a terrible person. If this person sprayed another adult in this manner it could (and should) be considered assault. No wonder this world is the way it is!
No wonder the world is the way it is... It's the way it is because woke idiots think a tiny spray of water is assault!
Load More Replies...
YTA, but keep on. The sister and kid are assholes too. Use the squirt bottle on both of them, and on your parents. Text *squirt squirt* and say it in phone conversations. Tell them that you have boundries, and you're enforcing them, from now on, they get one warning. Then they get the real or virtual squirt bottle.
"They are mad at me for not giving in to their poor baby" No,they're mad at you for treating a six year old like a dog. I agree with the ESH commenters. My parents could discipline us without spray bottle.
The problem is that the child's parent isn't disciplining him. If the sister taught her son some basic manners, none of this would've happened. Just because he's a "rainbow baby" doesn't mean he should be allowed to get away with bad behavior. The squirt bottle might've been a bit over the top, but I understand the aunt's frustration. Plus, the sister (who is nearly 50?!) called their parents to tattle on the aunt? She clearly needs to do some growing up herself.
Load More Replies... ah, ESH, in my opinion. It's not aunt's place to discipline the child, it's the sister's. If the cookies were a problem, they should have been put away, that would have been an way to resolve the issue. OP or someone in the family should also have a frank talk w/the child's mom b/c yes, the child is a rainbow baby, but that's no reason to be a permissive parent and yield authority to the child
I dont agree with you, you're basicaly telling me, that i can't have what i want where i want because a ill manered child? I would agree with you if it was his mother's home, but its not. I have Asperger, and we ( Aspergers ) are not particularly known for our " tact " however i NEVER touched anything at my aunt's home when i was a kid ( and we use to go to her house a lot ) unless She gave it to me, because despite all her flaws, my Mother did teached to behave.
Load More Replies...
NTA. Of course, this child isn't an animal. Animals are usually smarter. And it's not even OP's kid, so she isn't obligated to come up with suitable parenting techniques for him. It's his parents responsibility to teach their child how to behave and face the music if they failed.
Just saying, the kids got it after 1 squirt. That's not a bad learning curve.
Load More Replies... Behave like one and treated like one. Wait, correction, most pets behave better than this kid
When I read these posts, I think of the disservice the parents are doing to the child. Kids adapt and behave as they know works to meet their needs and wants. The child is going to be disliked and spoiled if they don’t start changing those teaching. Spray bottles work great on all kinds of creatures. My dad used one of a friend of mine in high school when she talked through movies. Shut her right up.
My daughter had a bad temper starting at an early age. She would lay down and have a temper tantrum (around 1-2 yrs old). She did it in public, in the home, wherever she couldn't get her way. I talked to the doctor about it. This was in the 70s'. he told me when she did this take a small dixie cup put just a little water in and warn her what you were going to do. If she didn't stop, toss it at her. She was so surprised that she stopped what she was doing. I told her this is what will happen if you keep doing this. I only had to do it once more and she stopped. As for doing it in public, I would scoop her off the floor and take her home and Dad watched her while my son and I went back to the store and left her home. It didn't take her long to realize what she was doing wasn't working. So, I see nothing wrong with spraying his face with water. If he doesn't stop acting up, then I would ban him from my home until he knew how to behave. it's the parents' fault.
The last comment "Don´t be a d**k to kids." When they are d***s to me, I return it, easy as that. I love the idea of the aunt
Lol, the amount of folks losing their s**t because *gasp* a child was sprayed with water and it may have made him feel slightly bad is *hilarious*! The kid isn't traumatized, I *promise*, hell be fine. And no, OP shouldn't have to try to explain why he can't have a cookie. It's not his stuff, he doesn't need an explanation for why he can't have something that's not his, nor should OP have to deal with his tantrum when he doesn't get his way. I'd bar him and his mom if she didn't start teaching him manners.
This would be one of those "don't bring that kid around here no more" moments...Some parents tend to forget that rainbow babies can eventually turn into rainbow "a55hole" adults. Spray away lady!
NTA. How does the sister think his behaviour is acceptable? If your parents are siding with her then she's clearly the favoured child. What an absolute pair of entitled monsters. I'd try one last attempt at explaining to both her and your parents just how it's unacceptable behaviour. You shouldn't have to, I know but here we are ... Then, if they still don't get it, it's either continue to use the spray bottle or limit contact. On a side note - I know a few people who were warned about stealing other people's food and were stabbed in the hand with a fork for their entitlement. Never stole again haha. Not that I'm giving ideas or suggesting a small child should be assaulted or anything (I'm not) ... I'm just sayin' that some folk take the theft of their food very seriously...
My parents would use a spray bottle on my sister when she was a baby to get her to stop screaming (she wasn’t upset, she just liked to scream). Spray bottles work. And, it’s not like it hurts them. Of course OP isn’t TA. And the kid needs discipline. If the mom isnt going to do it, then the aunt can.
LOL. It's not like Auntie is using a power washer thingy. Seems the tyke got the message rather quickly. Sister might need a squirt or two, though. Hahahaha!
Load More Replies... It is probably is mean, but I would put cookies with chili in the jar the next time they come over. Say no to him getting one because they are special and because he threw the last one on the floor he doesn't get another one. When he helps himself he is in for a surprise - and will probably learn not to take food from others, especially if they said no to him.
Yeah, sorry… it definitely is mean. It would be different if it was an adult, but a kid’s tastebuds and the mucus membranes inside the mouth are newer and fresher, and more sensitive, than an adult’s; it would cause them more pain. Even if you do that to an adult, you have to be careful, too. The Legal Advice subreddit gets a lot of questions from people who are sick of their coworkers stealing their lunch from the break room fridge, wondering what kind of trouble they’d get in for spiking the food to discourage the behavior. When it comes to adding something hot and spicy, the potential consequences aren’t too clear-cut. You can always argue that you LOVE hot & spicy, and always season your food like that. The thief would be pretty much forced to admit to stealing food from you in the past to prove you wrong. Using other “revenge” additives, like Ex-Lax or a toxic chemical, will not only get you fired, but possibly charged with assault and are definitely not a good idea.
Load More Replies... WAIT A SECOND HERE!! HOLD THE FREAKIN' PHONE!! Let's get this straight. Ok, "auntie" obviously isn't abusing her nephew & Mommy isn't disciplining him either. So, whatever works that's not abuse. I get it, ok. BUT A 42 YEAR OLD WOMAN CALLING HER PARENTS TO TELL ON HER SISTER???
Madre, the woman was 42 when she had the miracle child. She's now approximately 48 years old, tattling to her parents about her grown sister. Smh while LOL
Load More Replies... Truly unfortunate the mother of the child is literally spoiling him ROTTEN, being afraid to set boundaries, structure, discipline and consequences for her "rainbow" baby is completely handicapping him, he'll have problems with relationships, quite possibly be difficult to employ and so forth since his mother is teaching him bad behaviors get rewarded, use the spray bottle on your sister, it's not appropriate to use on the cat though, talk with your vet or Google a reputable animal behavior site.....
I used a spray bottle through all my years of nannying. Worked like a charm.
As a bird mom who sprays her birds and says "cool down" when they misbehave, I 100% condone this. To this sister I would've said (for effect) ok I won't spray him next time I'll smack him... when she gets the shocked Pikachu face I'd be like "well? which is it?" Water is fine. To everyone that's like "Omg talk to him" NO he has not developed his cognitive thinking skills yet. Kids that young need reaction not a 10 minute speech. This is from me being a human mom that has raised 8 kids. All but two of them are now functioning law abiding adults. The other two are 15 and 16 respectively and also on the path of being successful adults. As you notice he got sprayed once with WATER, not vinegar, not bleach, not acid.... WATER. And he learned. Good on you Auntie.
Omg completely NTA this is hilarious and I wanna do it now thank you for the idea
Ok, I also laughed at this one. I understand the argument - a child is not an animal and shouldn't be treated like one. But on the other hand I also believe in 'My house, my rules'. And that child clearly needs some borders or he will have one hell of a time at school. And the mom really needs to losen up.
I laughed heartily at this one. Absolutely, my house, my rules. But I disagree regarding the mother needing to loosen up. She needs to tighten up her disciplinary skills with her squirrelly acting son. Oooh. Still laughing... :)
Load More Replies... I give auntie a pass for acting in the spur of the moment, but it would be pretty tacky to make a habit of it. Fortunately, she now has a good way to convince the mama not to bring the little monster over anymore.
I mean, if it works, it works. I'm not having a long conversation with a kid who's visiting my apartment on why they can't have something that isn't for them. If they can't handle the word 'no', then their parent/guardian needs to teach them better.
Load More Replies... I agree, i never used a spray bottle in any of my cats, honestly i took the advice of the " cat whisperer " ( dunno the dudes name ) but it works wonders, every time your cat is acting up, just give it something more interesting to see or do, i have a stick with a string and a colorfull feather on the tip, and they are crazy for that, só everytime One of them starts to f**k up i get the stick dangle it in front of them for a few minutes and he/She ( yes they are 2 and they are a male and a female ) forget what they where trying to do in the 1st place, i get what i wanted, and didn't scare the little furballs.
Load More Replies... i dont see the issue, sprayed in the face with water is better than a slap
Spray bottle works wonders. Try it on your sister next tantrum she has.
No means no. Push it and face the consequences. That's the lesson that the nephew learned. He was lucky it was just a few squirts of water. My dad would have beat my a*s if I disrespected my aunt and uncle like that. This aunt is doing her sister's job for her.
Epic. Use it on her next time he acts up. Maybe she will go to him. Lol. And it's your house your rules.
Charge her for every cookie, plus clean up charges, duress, inconvenience charges, etc... tell her each cookie is $50 and you expect a hefty tip.
The spray bottle is a better method than the c**p kicking he is gonna get when another bigger kid has had enough of his selfish disrespect.
kid needs a thrashing with a belt, hell never f**k about again
🤣🤣🤣 Not sure I've ever heard of the spray bottle used on a kid. I would have blistered his spoiled a*s
A lot of what we do with pets is what we do (or used to do) to raise and train children. Now, we think we CAN'T do it with kids because it's for pets. Squirt bottle is new, but it seems harmless. That poor kid. He's going to be unhappy all his life because of his completely incompetent Mom. That's the story here - NOT the spray bottle.
NTA. It's sort of funny, and we are talking about a water spray, nothing nasty like pepper spray. It sounds like the kid is being raised spoilt, to feel entitled, not hearing no. But beyond that, if the kid doesn't accept no and snatches cookies with no reprimand/reinforcement, what is to deter the kid from snatching something else they think looks interesting like a tool, household chemicals etc thus putting themselves at risk. Having said that, with expensive sugar free cookies bought especially for hubby I think it would have been much better if, when there's visitors, they were in the cupboard out of the sight of little-eyed cookie monsters.
NTA It worked, didn't it? LOL Seriously though, the mother needs to step up and parent her child. One can be grateful for this "miracle" child but if you don't want him turning into a little demon, teach him the value of patience, waiting, empathy and whatnot. No one does their children any good by catering to them and disregarding anti-societal behaviors. This was water which is hydrating. lol He learned after one experience so he's teachable. That mother needs parenting classes.
Took a parenting class in 1995, one parent asked for advise on her child (9 y o) not being ready when it was time to leave for work. Advise was 'the car leaves at 7:20, you will be it , I have a bag of clothes and Poptarts, no one ever died because they arrived at school in their pjs' behind her was a mom who said it was her hubby's job to get their daughter ready as daycare was on her way and he leaves 45 minutes later. The instructor said the same techniques can train a spouse or co-worker ect. As in ' honey, my car leaves at 7:20, if the baby's not in there, you will be taking her to daycare. It worked! So if rainbow learned after one x , mommy will too. That child can act well in environments that have consistent rules (like school or bus or friend's house), the child will in her house too. if nothing else, tell the mom she's no longer welcome, if the boy can or will not follow rules, he too, will not be welcome, and stick to that standard if you want peace.
NTA. Your house = your rules, family be damned. The sister is an enabling AH and also needs to experience the spray bottle. Heck, I would garden-hose her every time she refused to control her kid. NC is the best solution here.
I laughed so hard! I think this is great. I am a parent and love what she did. NTA
I thump ears...oh wait that's the cats. Usually once is all it takes. Wish I had a spray bottle when the kids were young. Now they could take it from me and spray me. If parents won't restrain their children, you are allowed to protect your stuff and your sanity in your own home.
NTA... I love this. It obviously worked and the child was not injured or abused in any way. Sister should be glad you didn't spank the little brat.
You should slap the sh it out of the little brat, grab him by the threoat and stuff his stupid head up your sister's a*s. That will teach them both a thing or two about how to behave. BUT THOLE!
She called the parents to tattle? Maybe they all need to grow up here. Sister needs to parent her kid. And no, yu can't just spray a misbehaving kid, they don't learn respect by being treated disrespectfully. Tell the sister to make sure they behave or tell them to leave.
Actually the kid learned respect after being "disrespected" (sprayed) just once so apparently the technique DOES work. Back to the woke social media drawing board for your next opinion.
Load More Replies... NTA. If the mum doesn't like the way you discipline her brat, then she should do it herself.
Just tell her not to bring the kid over until he can control himself. Done and done.
ESH (ofc op not THAT much of an a*****e but still): Like that one comment said, just let the tantrum happen... I really don't know what it is with adults and not being able to let a child cry and be upset... They're kids they aren't gonna understand no matter how you explain... It doesn't have be "give in vs immediate punishment", You don't have to punish a child for being upset! You don't have to retaliate bcs they're upset they can't have something, tell them why the can't and let that be it!
Maybe because tantrums aren't cute in a 6 year old or in a 40 year old. If allowed, it reinforces the attitude that that behavior is ok. People don't miraculously outgrow childish behavior.
Load More Replies... I don't actually remember doing this, but I heard the story from my parents many times. I used to cry a lot as a young child, and my grandfather's advice was for them to throw a glass of water into my face to get me to stop. They decided to give it a try, and the next time I had a crying fit they did it. I immediately stopped crying. The next time after that when I started crying, they weren't able to get to the sink quickly & apparently after a minute or so I looked up and said in a dismayed/disappointed voice, "Aren't you going to throw water on me again?"
There’s always 3 sides to a story. Theirs, theirs, the truth. Whilst I don’t agree with spraying a child with water as form of deterrent/punishment, I agree that the child shouldn’t have been allowed to behave in the way they did. Even throwing the biscuit on the floor is disrespectful.
Good for you on using the spray bottle however, it probably won't keep working. Your sister has created the monster because she gives in and that creates a brat. I agree with most here that if he behaves like that and she wants you to give in I'd use the words, "Sorry, I know how to set boundaries. You can leave until you understand how to be a parent and not a friend to your child." This may cause issues in your relationship and unfortunately, I do not think your sister is going to understand what she has created. She will come back at you and say you are mean and unfair. Let it be. The child is her problem and if she can't be a parent then it shouldn't have to be put on you to do so.
If this would have been my brothers kid, I wouldn't have used a spray bottle, I would've used my hand upside the back of that kids head. Everything in this country started going to c**p once smacking a disobedient child become a taboo. I got my a*s beat as a kid when I deserved it and that's why im not in prison today.
Agree but NEVER on someone's head (animal or human).
Load More Replies... What? Who are these people that think this is ok? He's a spoiled little brat of a child who clearly has no boundaries. That being said, he's a CHILD. Don't invite them over to your house, say no repeatedly and let him scream it out, ask your sister to leave...there a multiple ways of fixing this issue without behaving like a terrible person. If this person sprayed another adult in this manner it could (and should) be considered assault. No wonder this world is the way it is!
No wonder the world is the way it is... It's the way it is because woke idiots think a tiny spray of water is assault!
Load More Replies... YTA, but keep on. The sister and kid are assholes too. Use the squirt bottle on both of them, and on your parents. Text *squirt squirt* and say it in phone conversations. Tell them that you have boundries, and you're enforcing them, from now on, they get one warning. Then they get the real or virtual squirt bottle.
"They are mad at me for not giving in to their poor baby" No,they're mad at you for treating a six year old like a dog. I agree with the ESH commenters. My parents could discipline us without spray bottle.
The problem is that the child's parent isn't disciplining him. If the sister taught her son some basic manners, none of this would've happened. Just because he's a "rainbow baby" doesn't mean he should be allowed to get away with bad behavior. The squirt bottle might've been a bit over the top, but I understand the aunt's frustration. Plus, the sister (who is nearly 50?!) called their parents to tattle on the aunt? She clearly needs to do some growing up herself.
Load More Replies... ah, ESH, in my opinion. It's not aunt's place to discipline the child, it's the sister's. If the cookies were a problem, they should have been put away, that would have been an way to resolve the issue. OP or someone in the family should also have a frank talk w/the child's mom b/c yes, the child is a rainbow baby, but that's no reason to be a permissive parent and yield authority to the child
I dont agree with you, you're basicaly telling me, that i can't have what i want where i want because a ill manered child? I would agree with you if it was his mother's home, but its not. I have Asperger, and we ( Aspergers ) are not particularly known for our " tact " however i NEVER touched anything at my aunt's home when i was a kid ( and we use to go to her house a lot ) unless She gave it to me, because despite all her flaws, my Mother did teached to behave.
Load More Replies... 
73
89