A mother has vented her anger and frustration after discovering that her own mum opened social media accounts for her children.
The mother-of-four took to parenting forum Mumsnet and said she was ‘fuming’ after finding out what had happened.
She revealed that her own mother created Instagram and YouTube accounts for her grandchildren, but encouraged them to keep it a secret. And also bought one of the kids a mobile phone.
‘This really annoyed me as I wanted to decide when I thought these things were appropriate and also we wanted to be the ones to give them, getting your first phone is a big deal and we would’ve done it for a birthday present not just on a random Tuesday,’ she wrote.
‘But once she’d done it I couldn’t take them off them could I, as this just reinforces my role as the bad guy, so they have them but only at her house.
“We’ve had some issues with them accessing inappropriate things on YouTube and I lost my s*** a little bit about parental controls and as far as I’m aware that’s now been done.’
She continued: ‘This brings me to today DS1 has told me that he has an Instagram account and a YouTube channel that Nannie said he could have ’if he didn’t tell Mummy’!!!!! I am f***ing FUMING!!
‘How f***ing DARE she teach my children to keep secrets from me!!! And make them feel guilty for not doing!! That’s without how angry I am about social media! I have no idea how to even begin with what to say to her.'
Users certainly sympathised with the mother and gave her some advice on how best to deal with the situation.
One person asked: ‘How old are the dc? Once you've calmed down you need to go and see her and tell her this stops today.’
Another suggested she confront her mother, and suggested: ‘Start with - she doesn't get to tell your kids to keep secrets from you! Go in hard with a “What kind of grandparent sets their grandchildren up to keep secrets? How dangerous could that be? Who the hell is going to teach them internet safety if she is encouraging them to keep it a bloody secret?" drown her in ChildNet leaflets etc etc.
‘And if she really would shout at him for telling you the truth you need to rethink her having unfettered access to them! Basically, you need to protect your children from your mother. She has no idea what she is doing!’
A third user simply wrote: ‘Wow, she really has overstepped things.’
