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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask my parents to move out ?

88 replies

mummymcphee · 07/06/2014 23:38

My parents offered to help me out with 2 days week childcare in return for board and lodging (they do buy some food).

My dad has been a big support to me since I escaped an abusive relationship whilst pregnant. He has helped with household chores and cooking and childcare where able since my DD was born. I work full time they are both retired.

My mum has been quite hostile towards me (including during DD's birth where she was absent for long stretches) and since moving in to my house she has set up a business and is out of the house at every opportunity, she told me she can't be the mother I wan't or need her to be and that she is unable to provide me with the emotional support I need and that she is keeping interaction with me to a minimum so she can survive the next year unscathed. Last weekend my parents went to visit my brother to ask him if they could move in with him. I was unaware this was their plan and my brother phoned me on wednesday to say my mum had said she had problems bonding with my daughter. Needless to say he didn't want them to move in.

When I talked to my mum about it today she just repeated... 'ididn't go behind your back' 'i don't need your love' and 'i can't be the mother you want me to be' and our relationship is 'irreparably damaged'. Our last heated discussion was when the dishwasher broke and I asked her about help to get it fixed. She ran upstairs to my dad and he came out defending her as he always does saying that I was lazy for not being prepared to wash the dishes as they have no money to help with repairs (it's their dishwasher and I was asking out of courtesy.) She denied today having said she hadn't bonded with my dd and said that it was our relationship that was permanently damaged.

Do I really have to live with this situation for the next year...they have been with me for two years now? I feel so lonely!!!

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Bogeyface · 08/06/2014 01:49

Bogeyface I think they are very worried about their financial security and as they own their own home ( big mortgage ) there are limited benefits they are entitled to.

And that is why you are in control here. They just dont want you to realise that.

I need to man up and just tell them to go.
Yes, you do.

I am sorry to have to say this in such a way because I am not a "its just words on a screen" person, I realise that sometimes what I say may hurt someone. But I think you need to hear this.

They will never love you as you deserve to be loved. They will never respect you as you deserve to be respected. Nothing you do will ever be right, or enough.

They will never love you as much as they love themselves. They will never see your DD as anything but something to be manipulated to get their own way with you.

You need to come to terms with the fact that the love you give to your daughter will never be a love you receive from your parents. They are using you because it suits them. The healthiest thing you can do for you and your DD is to kick them out and cut them off. Complete no contact.

I am sorry xx

Thumbwitch · 08/06/2014 01:35

Ah I understand - yes, I think I might even have considered it under those circumstances too.

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 01:33

Thumb I agreed to them moving in when I was pregnant and working full time and had know idea how I was going to cope with stressful nhs job and baby (wasn't able to take full maternity leave). I was feeling vulnerable as ex had been arrested and cautioned for assaulting me and was still living close by. Ex has since moved on.

I need to man up and just tell them to go.

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Thumbwitch · 08/06/2014 01:33

Oh goodness, what a horrible bunch of people you are related to! (Brother excepted, by the sounds of it).

Craving abusive parents' approval is very normal - but it's something you need to break free from. They are never going to give it (years of experience shows this to be true, you just feel like you can't ever give up, but you have to) so you might as well stop trying.

Your DD is very little at the moment, so they won't have started destroying her self-confidence and ability to form good relationships yet - but it won't be long. I can't believe that they managed to turn their own negligence back onto you after she was hurt, that's gobsmackingly appalling!

Please do throw them out forthwith, let them find rental accommodation since your mother seems to have a fairly thriving business - and then I'd consider going No Contact with them, for both your own and your DD's sake. She might love her grandad to bits now but how long is that going to last? And even if your parents do decide to love and know her, it won't be long before they start to poison her against you as well. They sound utterly toxic - your father too because he is enabling your mother - even weakness is toxic because it leaves you out in the cold.

(((hugs))) because it's so dismal - but truly you would be better off without their energy-sapping influence in your lives. xx

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 01:26

Thumb no cultural element. I think some relatives feel I should have made better choices and when I found out I was expecting DD and then single not having DD was one of the options put forward.

Writing this stuff is making me realise it is all horrible and I've just bottled it all up.

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BrianTheMole · 08/06/2014 01:22

You're going to have to be strong mate and tell them. It will be truly horrible for a while but you have to stick to your guns. For your dd's sake. You can't imagine being in this situation for a year or two more. So don't be. You'll always get support here when things get tough.

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 01:21

stay I realise that it is all interlinked but I so didn't want to turn into a victim. I have had problems forming relationships my entire life and I know a lot ofthis stems from childhood. My brother got the same t-shirt and so is 100 per cent in my corner but is reluctant to get too involved as it is all quite painful.

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Thumbwitch · 08/06/2014 01:20

I'm slightly bewildered as to why you let them move in in the first place if your relationship with your mother is so bad! I wouldn't have my mother in my home if she behaved like that to me, not under any circumstance.
When I split from my ex-fiancé (he left) she suggested I moved home again for a while - not a hope! And I got on with her a lot better than it sounds like you get on with yours.

Of course you can ask them to leave. They have their own home, they can always retrieve it from the tenants (with 2m notice), it's not YOUR responsibility to house them. They are making your life in your own home untenable. They have tried to move out to somewhere else so clearly they're not happy either - so you might just as well suggest that they go elsewhere sharpish, as the current arrangement isn't benefiting anyone as much as had been hoped.

I hesitate to ask because it doesn't really make any difference, but is there a cultural element to this? just the whole "being cut off by various family members" thing because you left an abusive partner - why on earth? Confused

AgentZigzag · 08/06/2014 01:16

'I just pray I have a better relationship with my DD'

That's unlikely isn't it?

Are you really willing to risk testing the theory out on your DD?

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 01:15

I know Brian I looked into selling my home for a while but I love the area, school etc where I live and renting would actually cost more...also I worked hard to get my house on my own.

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mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 01:13

Bogeyface I think they are very worried about their financial security and as they own their own home ( big mortgage ) there are limited benefits they are entitled to.

Financially everyone is struggling I know that but I think I am making poorer financial choices as my self esteem is so low! I am just getting the courage to have the chat with them.

It's weird at the end of the day I still crave their love and approval cos they are my parents. I just pray I have a better relationship with my DD

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BrianTheMole · 08/06/2014 01:10

Just thinking your options would be easier if you are renting.

BrianTheMole · 08/06/2014 01:09

Are you renting or buying yourself?

Staywithme · 08/06/2014 01:07

Awk OP, you say you had a relationship with an unsuitable man. Don't you realise that it was probably because of your feelings of unworthiness, due to the toxic relationship with your parents, that you got involved with this creep? You've had a shit childhood due to crappy parents, yet are still making excuses for them.

Get them out of your house and you will see your overheads come down, your self esteem increase and you'll be coming home to a happy house. You owe them nothing! They owe you respect! They sound like manipulative bullies and it will affect your daughter if you don't do something now. If your father truly loves your daughter he will maintain contact and if he doesn't then that says it all.

Bogeyface · 08/06/2014 01:00

It's very difficult to talk to them as they start to critisise me and my life and say how many parents would have moved in to help you under these circumstances and how will you cope on your own

They need you more than you need them. Without you they would be homeless. Without them you would be...what? Slightly worse off? But much better off emotionally which would leave you in a much better place to deal with your finances.

Your DB doesnt want them because he can see how it is for you.

Give them notice. Yes they will kick off, call you ungrateful, tell people how vile you are etc. This is because they dont want to have to sort themselves out with money and somewhere to live. Far easier to keep your in your place and sponge off you. Add up what they cost in terms of utilities, food, laundry, time off work etc and take that off the extra cost of childcare. I rather suspect you wont be as badly off as you think. Think about it, at the moment you are feeding and paying utilities for 3 adults and one child. They leave and your food and utilities will drop dramatically.

To coin a phrase... "Go Compare"!

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 00:58

Agent..DD was standing up in her buggy and tipped over and the handle smashed into her mouth.I was at work. Dad had nipped to the toilet. Mum was at a business meeting. I had asked mum not leave DD with dad for long (an hour max) but he had her all morning and paniced (blood everywhere) when she hurt herself. They spent an hour looking for her teeth and called me at one.... (accedent was elevenish) I arranged to meet them in A & E and the xray showed teeth in gum line. I have always treated it as an accident but had I been at home (or mum) it would not have happened.

The next day they let me have it both barrels verbally of course.

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mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 00:49

I know Mole! Life is too short. I have always felt very beholden to my parents. My brother and I spent a chunk of our early years in care as my mum had post natal depression and I know it's important to get things right for DD.

I suppose I am just working up the courage to do it....my dad will shout and say I'm ungrateful. I just feel very unloved and sorry for myself but you are right it's DD who is important here.

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SavoyCabbage · 08/06/2014 00:44

You can have a happy family with you and your daughter. That's your family.

They are not doing you an enormous favour by moving into your house and treating you badly. They have moved in for their own benefit. Not yours.

Your mum need a to get a proper job if your dad can't.

Your outgoings will be lower with just the two of you in the house. Especially as there will nobody in it durning the day.

At the weekends and in the evenings it will be you Nd your daughter. Your family. Doing things together, creating memories and generally having a good time.

AgentZigzag · 08/06/2014 00:43

Even if they were the most helpful and supportive parents you could think of, you'd still be totally within your rights to ask them to move out.

You're not a horrible person at all to want to do that, they've got you in a place where you're giving more weight to their opinions than they're entitled to.

You say you didn't blame them about your DDs accident, but you seem to be saying it was actually their fault (your mum ignoring you saying not to leave her with your dad for more than an hour, did he have her longer? and your dad not paying enough attention to your DD by multi tasking?)

That's a pretty big thing to get over, did they manipulate you into leaving your DD with your dad again?

BrianTheMole · 08/06/2014 00:43

Its not good for your dd to grow up in this environment. She's your family now. Time for a strong word and end date with your parents. It sounds intolerable.

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 00:37

the problem is halo that nobody else has really been there for me since DD was born. They have physically been there for me and DD. She loves her grandad to bits.

I know my mum is attacking my self esteem and self worth on a daily basis but I worry about not having any other support. Some of my other relatives have 'disowned me' due to my current situation (DD having no dad and me 'taking advantage of my elderly parents'....they are early sixties.

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halohalohalo · 08/06/2014 00:28

So you've swapped an abusive partner for abusive parents? It's not you, it's them. Don't let them mess with your head.

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 00:25

Yes team that's one of the ideas which makes sense. I have a full time nursery pace in September but holidays will be difficult so an au pair would make sense.

I suppose my difficulty is letting go of 'the happy family' I contantly chase and given that my DD's father treated me so badly I am feeling thatI must be a horrible person after all. I have escaped feeling sorry for myself until now but am quite low.

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TeamEdward · 08/06/2014 00:15

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

mummymcphee · 08/06/2014 00:08

Childcare has been helped by work who have been very flexible and let me do 3 very long days. So I have DD two days and she is at nursery one day but I struggle to pay to be honest. It's all a bit of a mess :-(

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