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AIBU?

My mum bought the wrong paint

54 replies

bluestardressinggown · 28/04/2017 01:34

I'm moving in a couple of days into a flat that my parents bought. I will be renting from them, competitive rate.

Anyway, quite a lot needed to be done to the house before anyone could move in. I have ended up having to paint all of the rooms. It was agreed yesterday with my mum that I would go to the house to finish off painting the living room after work and that she would pick DD up from school and babysit. I told her that I had run out of a particular paint and will have to pick it up after work. She said she would get it and confirmed that she had bought it via text when I was at work. Anyway, I got to the house, change into my painty work clothes and see that she has got the wrong paint! I end up going to the nearest b and q 3 miles away via Uber to pick up the right paint. I had to finish painting tonight as I have no other opportunity to do before we move and that is what I discussed with my mum yesterday.

I was very annoyed when I realised that she got the wrong paint. Had a bit of a 'Basil Fawlty' moment on my own in the empty house, shouting etc. I texted my mum just letting her know the paint was the wrong one and I'll be getting another.

A couple of hours later I call her, I ask did you get my text, she said yes and starts saying 'ooh are you in the flat painting?' and makes out as though she didn't realise that was the plan. She then asks how long I'm going to be and how long she will have to wait until she goes. AIBU but this has really annoyed me. She either is claiming she can't remember out lengthy conversations about tonight's plan or she is just annoyed that I pointed out that she made a mistake. I would have liked her to at least acknowledge she made a mistake and apologise knowing that it was very inconvenient for me. It took a whole hour out of my paint time going to and from the shop to get the right paint. It also cost me a fortune. I was already knackered because I had worked a full day at hospital.

I hate moving anyway and am pretty stressed out so it is not going to take much to get me upset at the moment. I have this move and a whole load of other stuff going on...

OP posts:
highinthesky · 28/04/2017 01:49

I can understand you being cross with the situation but not DM. She's neither your personal slave nor mindreader.

Try being grateful for her help and clearer in your communication!

bluestardressinggown · 28/04/2017 02:02

Perhaps. But it is technically still her living room and she did buy the original paint.

OP posts:
LordAnthony · 28/04/2017 02:04

Fucking hell, your parents are providing you with a home for you and your daughter and whilst you pay rent, you have security of tennure and are able to decorate the flat in colours you've chosen. I bet your parents aren't going to do the usual !andlord trick of jacking up the rent every year either.

Your mum was doing you a favour and made an honest mistake, you are overreacting massively and being unfair to your mum.

PenelopeFlintstone · 28/04/2017 02:11

to the nearest b and q 3 miles away
That's not very far.
via Uber
Is it your mum's fault you couldn't drive there due to no car, no licence, whatever?
We all make mistakes. It's fine to rant but give mum a break now.
Good luck in your new home Smile

MakeitStopNeville · 28/04/2017 02:12

You wrote this at 130am and I'm presuming you're in the UK. Sleep it all off and I'm pretty sure you'll realise you're the one being ur.

bluestardressinggown · 28/04/2017 02:12

They are not providing me with a home, I already have a home. I am being charged the usual rent and they have said that they don't know how long they will keep it so it's not like they are 'giving me a house for free'.

I'm annoyed because my mum knew that I will have a long day today. I am doing them a favour too, by decorating the house for them. They could have done it themselves or paid someone to do it. I'm annoyed that she made out as though it wasn't agreed that I would spend hours painting after work today rather than just admit she made a mistake.

OP posts:
LineysRun · 28/04/2017 02:12

Don't post on AIBU ever expecting sympathy.

Btw you should be able to return the wrong paint and get your money back, assuming it's unopened. Get the receipt from your mum. Is it B&Q? I've done this before with them, they're ok about it.

I can see why you're stressed.

Out2pasture · 28/04/2017 02:13

it's happened to me before where the person mixing the paint made the mistake...

bluestardressinggown · 28/04/2017 02:19

It is my mum and dad's living room! It is their house which I am decorating. Yes I'm moving in, but I am paying the same as joe bloggs going into the local letting agent would. They also bought the original paint so they should know which is the right paint. They do this sort of thing all the time. It is frustrating because I have so little time to do anything.

3 miles is quite far when you live in a busy city.

BTW I wasn't in any way rude to my mum.

OP posts:
OldGuard · 28/04/2017 02:23

I get your frustration but... they are your parents .... they are human ... most people have trouble admitting mistakes ... and they cleaned your bottom and spoon fed you for quite a few years and taught you how to talk ... I don't think it's worth blowing a casket over

Orangebird69 · 28/04/2017 02:25

You said in your OP that the rent was competitive... Hmm

LineysRun · 28/04/2017 02:31

I think OP meant market rate

bluestardressinggown · 28/04/2017 02:31

Yes orange that means that I will be paying the competitive rental rate for the area i.e not getting family discount. What is your point?

My parents bought the flat as an investment and planned to rent it out. they then got cold feet about letting some 'random' move in and potentially damage/not look after it so they offered it to me. It's the same rent as my current flat. If they had rented to someone else they would have had to decorate etc. My frustration has been that they have left it all so late, and that I have had to do most of it despite my job and other commitments. I feel like it should be a team effort. Today, it just felt like 'you had ONE job!' and they got it wrong. And I didn't appreciate my mum's clear stroppiness at the fact that my work had been delayed due to me having to go and get the new paint when it was actually her who got the wrong one.

OP posts:
tallwivglasses · 28/04/2017 02:54

Oh OP please cut her some slack. We all fuck up don't we? Sometimes the people we love the most are the ones most likely to drive us up the wall. I get your frustration though Flowers

LedaP · 28/04/2017 05:53

She didnt just have one job though did she. She also picked uo and babysat your child. And probably had some of her own stuff to do.

She made a mistake. We all do it. Even you. Yes its annoying. But just let it go.

LedaP · 28/04/2017 05:54

And tbh, if the rents not cheap and you don't know how long you are going to be able to have it for, why are you moving in?

Especially when you already have somewhere.

Bluntness100 · 28/04/2017 06:04

I'm sure she didn't do it on purpose, it was a mistake. Maybe the sfress of moving is making you unreasonable. You also write like you are doing your parents a favour by moving in, if it's all about them why are you doing so? Why didn't you just stay in your home?

Gallavich · 28/04/2017 06:05

Sounds like you're doing what should be their job - ie getting their investment ready for tenants. Why are you doing it?

KallyBox · 28/04/2017 06:06

Seriously?! Don't act as if you are doing them a favour by moving in. If the flat wasn't better and/or cheaper than where you're living now, you wouldn't be moving in.

Your mum didn't get the wrong paint on purpose it was an accident. You honestly sound very entitled.

For what it's worth, I rent from my parents too. A 3 bedroom house that needed completely modernising. They let me decorate how I wanted it, and I have spent a small fortune over the past year on decent paint, a new bathroom and a new kitchen. I don't expect them to pay for that or help decorate (although I'm very lucky that they did offer to contribute with both).

You're really acting like you're doing them a favour when they are the ones helping you. Because if they weren't helping you, why would you move in?

AddToBasket · 28/04/2017 06:06

'They do this sort of thing all the time' - why haven't you learnt to put important instructions in writing?

Frillyhorseyknickers · 28/04/2017 06:11
Biscuit
Dishwashersaurous · 28/04/2017 06:19

She made a mistake.

If you don't want to move in then don't

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FrancisCrawford · 28/04/2017 06:24

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

AnotheBloodyChinHair · 28/04/2017 06:31

Something here just isn't adding up.
To be honest, if your mum getting the wrong paint has made you feel this way, living in a property own by her could give way to all sorts of problems.
It was a simple mistake, move on.

NorksAreMessy · 28/04/2017 06:36
Hmm
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