Woman left feeling like 'world's worst mum' after 'bully' neighbour complains about poorly baby
Rhiannon Ingle
Featured Image Credit: Catherine Delahaye/Getty Images/Tara Moore/Getty Images
One woman was left feeling like the 'world's worst mum' after her 'bully' neighbour complained about her poorly baby.
The mum took to Mumsnet 'looking for a little bit of advice' and began the dilemma explaining that she has a nine-month-old daughter who was born with Strep B.
"She was extremely poorly at birth and spent a week in ICU," she added. "We were so very lucky that she made a full recovery and thankfully has no lasting effect from the infection."
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However, the mum noticed her little one was 'constantly poorly' since starting nursery some three months back.
She explained: "She’s had every cold, cough and runny nose and hasn’t been sleeping great at night.
"This last week, my little one has been to the doctors twice and admitted to hospital with an extremely high fever which we now know is a viral infection."
The woman shared that seeing her daughter so poorly was 'heartbreaking', adding: "We as parents are doing our very best."
After providing some context, the mum then explained that her child's sickness has indirectly caused a rift with her neighbour.
She continued: "My neighbour knocked on my door this morning, for reference they have no kids so they don’t understand.
"However, after being awake every hour in the night with my poorly baby who keeps getting temperatures of 39+, already emotional and exhausted, he proceeds to complain about her crying and keeping him and his wife awake."
The neighbour then told the mum to 'seek support' leading her to feel like 'the world's worse mum because [her] poorly baby is crying in the night'.
While admitting that her daughter has been crying 'a lot', the mum assured that she is doing 'everything in her power' to help the situation including sleeping with the tot again so she's able to get to her 'as soon' as she hears her murmur.
"I’m personally in shock, as I would never complain about a neighbour's baby crying," the mum finished.
"But I’d like to know what other mums think and if I’m being unfair?!"
Well, it didn't take long for the people of the internet to share their thoughts on the matter, with one Mumsnet user hitting out: "What does he expect you do?
"He is a stupid bully, he should be commiserating not playing the big I-am.
I would have looked at him, raised an eyebrow and closed the door.
"Be very thankful that you are not him and get on with your life. Your baby will get better, he is likely to always be an a-hole."
A second offered: "It’s not nice for anyone to be kept awake with a baby crying, so I get their frustration, but honestly if there’s nothing you can do, then they will have to deal.
"They can get ear plugs etc."
And a third penned: "I suppose it depends on tone and intention and as you say they don't have children, so won't understand, but he's right, a parent of a child of that age regularly crying in the night probably does need support.
"I can also see it would be challenging to live next door."