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AIBU?

to think a 7 year old can sleep further than 1 room away from his parents

33 replies

wasabipeas · 20/07/2009 13:43

To cut a long story short, DH has recently got back in touch with his old flatmate from college via facebook and found out that he is living in Singapore with his wife and 7 year old DS.
They were due to come back to the UK for a few weeks, and were angling for somewhere to stay, so DH offered for them to stay with us for a couple of nights when they arrived and also before they leave.
Their DS has never been to London before and they want to do the sights. Staying with us saves them having to book a hotel, and we've got a couple of spare beds so it wouldn't be too much hassle for us.

They arrived as planned on Thursday night. Our DCs were already in bed, but we made them a bit of supper and had a chat.
They then both went upstairs to put their DS to bed.
Our house has got a quite higgledy piggledy layout and all the bedrooms are on slightly different levels with a few stairs in between. The bedroom we'd offered their son is on the first floor, and their room is an attic room.
A few minutes later, the friend came downstairs to say his DW wasn't happy with the sleeping arrangements and didn't want to be that far away (?) from her son in the night. Would it be possible to change rooms.
Which meant them sleeping in our room, which is next door to where their son would be.

In the morning, we were all up and out before they woke up, but when we got home that evening, I asked if they slept ok
"yes, but we were woken up quite early by the shower going in the bathroom"
Errr, yes, that will be DH getting up for work.
I then asked if their DS had slept ok. And yes, he had slept very well and they even had to wake him up this morning.
So I assumed that as all was well, except them being so close to the bathroom, we could have our bed back, but no, the wife was still unhappy because if he needed them in the night, he would have to climb up some stairs.
On Saturday, we thought it would be quite nice for us all to go out together for the day (our DCs are similar ages to their son) but they wanted to take their DS to London on his own. And then they had to catch a train up to Manchester.

DH is a bit down in the dumps that they had no intention of catching up with him, the DCs are wondering why this little boy didn't want to play with them and I'm fuming that I get kicked out of our bed, give them 2 nights of B&B and don't get so much as a bottle of wine as a thank you.

They were supposed to be coming back to stay the night before they catch their flight back, but I'm tempted to tell them to book a hotel
AIBU?

OP posts:
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Thunderduck · 20/07/2009 13:44

I'd tell them to book a hotel.

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sweetfall · 20/07/2009 13:45

good rant. I'd be livid.

I wouldn't have the guts to tell them to book a hotel but if you do I shall applaud you!

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cocolepew · 20/07/2009 13:45

Bloody ungrateful! Let them stay, but you stay in your bed and don't have them back ever again.

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MovingOutOfBlighty · 20/07/2009 13:45

Arses.

Let them come back for that night but tell them that you pissed the matress in your room the night before with the excitement of knowing you will be seeing them, so they can't stay in your room.

They sound awful. Personally I would also invest in some itching powder for the guest bed.

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pjmama · 20/07/2009 13:47

I think I'd be a bit peeved at obviously being used for free board and lodging, but I can understand why they wouldn't want to be on a different floor to DS in a strange house. After nicking your bed though, I think moaning about the shower is a bit bloody cheeky!

I'd think of an excuse why they can't stay with you on their way back home and then not bother getting in touch again.

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PeedOffWithNits · 20/07/2009 13:47

tell them it is not convenient/someone else is staying...or you have swine flu

i would not have them back

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Pikelit · 20/07/2009 13:48

YANBU.

Tell them that neither you or the house will be available. Bunch of liggers! I'm just sorry that your DH hasn't had a nicer reunion and that you've all been put to such trouble.

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TheProvincialLady · 20/07/2009 13:48

What a family

Under no circumstances let them into your house again. Seriously.

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TrinityRhinoHasASillyStepson · 20/07/2009 13:49

I think at seven their ds could cope with a few stairs in a strange house

surely he wouldn't be needing anyone in the night anyway unless he became ill at which point yelling for mum or dad would be fine and no need for climbing a few stairs

they sound ungrateful and annoying

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Lilymaid · 20/07/2009 13:50

Only let them come back but on the basis that they all sleep in the attic room. The DW is far too precious.

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wasabipeas · 20/07/2009 13:53

Forgot to say, our 7yo DD sleeps on the attic floor, which would mean a flight of stairs down in the night if she needs us, and that has never been a problem!
I could understand if he didn't sleep through, but by their own admission, he slept fine

OP posts:
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Stigaloid · 20/07/2009 14:01

That was a long story short? ;p

Hotel - how rude of them. YANBU and they sound extremely spoilt and rude.

You sound like lovely hosts though

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Stigaloid · 20/07/2009 14:03

By 'hotel' i meant send them to one. Sorry - not very clear.

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wasabipeas · 20/07/2009 14:04

Sorry Stig, once I started, I got carried away
Tis very cathartic, this ranting

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cat64 · 20/07/2009 14:04

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

piscesmoon · 20/07/2009 14:13

I would tell them to go to a hotel!
I would have just put the DSs mattress on the floor of their room if they didn't like the dstance. He was 7 yrs old-I'm sure he could cope anyway! They are using you-very sad.

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MorningTownRide · 20/07/2009 14:20

They angled that they needed somewhere to stay.

They complained about their sleeping artrangements.

They complained about shower noise.

They didn't want to socialise with you.

Er, they are completely using you as a free hotel.

You can lie and say one of you has suspected swine flu or let them stay and then tell them they are lousy guests.

Also, tell everyone on Facebook what fruitloops they are.

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Buda · 20/07/2009 14:26

Well I have a 7 year old who would not be happy being too far away from us at night especially in a strange house but I would not dream of asking hosts to move! And I would refuse point blank to let them move if they offered. We have had the issue and just ask if it is OK if he sleeps in with us - either one of us will sleep in bed designated for him if appropriate or we will move the mattress in with us.

We regularly stay with friends back in UK and always arrive with gifts, buy copious quantities of wine and either pay for a take-away or meal out while we are there. Have also paid for supermarket shop for friend a few times.

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MyNameIsInigoMontoya · 20/07/2009 14:41

To be fair they might be saving the thankyous/bottle of wine or whatever until they come back to yours at the end of the holiday.

Still quite cheeky tho!

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katiestar · 20/07/2009 14:46

Yes i thought that they would be saving a thankyou present for when they come back , too poster-above-with-the-long-name
I would just give them a camp bed fot their dc so he can share their room.

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Reallytired · 20/07/2009 17:52

Many seven year olds do get nightmares and some to occassionally sleep walk. However there are ways around this sort of problem with out inconviencing the host.

I think they did use you. If you were kind enough to put them up then they should have spent some time with you.

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bigchris · 20/07/2009 17:59

i cant believe they didnt give you anything, ungrateful buggers

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LIZS · 20/07/2009 18:00

if you and/or dh still feel obliged to host them on return leg put a mattress on the floor of room upstairs and cram them in.

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frogwatcher · 20/07/2009 18:02

I wouldnt let my dds sleep on another floor from us to be honest - we dont even at home (have an empty room on second floor). But if it had been me, my dh would have come and said to you that I would be sleeping with son in double up in attic and he would be sleeping in the single on 1st floor (or whatever it was)! I would not expect anybody to change rooms. Bloody rude - and not to give a present on leaving!!!

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Boys2mam · 20/07/2009 18:13

I agree Thank You gifts are probably being reserved for when they check out leave and re the trip to London, maybe they did just want to enjoy the 1-2-1 time with their DS? They still sound incredibly ungracious, not at least having a meal with you.

I think the suggestion that the DW sleeps in with the DS in the double room and the bloke stays in the kids designated room is what I would be telling them you'd decided as you 'wouln't want them to be disturbed by the shower again' (, cheeky buggers)

How does your DH feel about them coming back for the final part of their trip?

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