Advice on dealing with friend's son
I met my friend when we had newborns and we had our babies a couple of months apart. They are both now around the age of 1 so we are into the mobile toddler territory.
My friend also has an older child who is 8. They have always been great with the babies but since my son has become mobile, this older kid will snatch toys from him.
We don't see each other a tonne with the older child in tow but this behavior is actually started to become a problem.
It's getting more frequent as the kids all get older. My friend does correct the behavior but it's a bit half hearted and the 8 y/o basically ignores her and after a break, will carry on.
It's not caused any massive issues because I just give the item back to my son or I distract him with an alternative but today, whilst my little one was eating his lunch, the 8 year old took the Tupperware from the high chair and tried to hide it so that my son couldn't have it.
Fortunately, my little boy is extremely laid back so was happy to wait for the food to come back but I was quite surprised by what happened. His mum was sat with us talking but seemingly failed to notice.
It also happened few times with him snatching toys where my son has become upset which has resulted in a more direct challenge by his mum but the behavior has resumed not long after. The snatching includes quite literally prying the toys out of my son's hands which I have intervened with but he keeps doing it despite his mum saying something and me literally telling him no.
This may he a stupid question but I have minimal experience with any children outside my own baby but is this normal behavior?
If feels a bit odd for a kid as old as 8 so I'm not quite sure how to address this with my friend because it's off putting for us to spend time together when her son has to be there.
It basically feels like my son is being bullied but fortunately has zero idea and I don't want this to worsen or continue to a point where he understands.
TIA