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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To still be furious at my parents for guilt tripping my son

30 replies

EmmaAsking · 06/11/2023 23:02

Two weeks ago I stayed at my parents house over night with my toddler. They live about an hour away so he'd fallen asleep in the car and was quite grumpy and screamy when we arrived as he'd been woken up. They made some snipey comments about him clearly not being pleased to see them. The next day he was overdue a nap as I was trying to leave (and he was being clingy and they didn't even think about offering to help distract him or gather our stuff together), and he had another meltdown. My mum essentially told him off, saying he should stop crying because he was making her and grandad feel very sad. I asked her not to guilt trip a two year old into pretending to feel happy, and she replied that he was nearly three. My dad then added that it wasn't fair on them if he's screaming when he arrives and then again when he leaves.
I'm still furious with them.
Am I being unreasonable?

OP posts:
Totaly · 06/11/2023 23:32

Bit over the top reaction.

you need a thick skin as a parent. Brush it off - it won’t matter when he’s an adult and it’s not worth losing relationships over.

Autumnleaves89 · 06/11/2023 23:32

Everyone is a bit unreasonable here. They had unrealistic expectations of how toddlers behave. That being said, to be “furious” and use emotionally loaded terms like guilt tripping is overreacting. Your son won’t remember or give a shit that he’s made granny and grandad feel sad. This isn’t worth falling out with your parents over.

TheOneWhereWeDontGiveAPhuck · 06/11/2023 23:29

I dont think she's said anything wrong by saying stop crying you're making Nan and Grandad feel sad...surely just a term said to a child to try and stop them crying.

ColleenDonaghy · 06/11/2023 23:10

YANBU at all, toddlers gonna toddler.

roseopose · 06/11/2023 23:04

They need to get a grip and appreciate he is a toddler, not an adult!