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Grandma choosing dog over her grandchild

497 replies

If123 · 28/04/2024 23:09

I just need to get a feel if I’m being unreasonable or not. So my daughter is the first grandchild. I have given up my job to look after her as my flexible working request was denied. I have an interview for a really great part time job which would fit around my Fiancés job and mean that we won’t have to pay childcare. My Fiancé is on his stag do which we knew when I found out the interview date. I asked my mum with 2 and a half weeks notice to watch my daughter to allow me to go to the interview. She said this was fine and wouldn’t be a problem. Fast forward to the evening before the interview she let me know at 10pm that she needs to watch my sisters dog so now won’t be able to watch my DD. She basically gave me the option of bringing the dog with her to my house (I’m not sure this was a real option because the dog shreds things and is not trained and I have a lot of wedding bits and pieces about because we are due to get married in June) or for me to drive and pick her up to drop her off at my sisters house (25 mins away) to have to go back for her at the end of the day- I wasn’t sure on this either because of the amount of time it will take me to drive there and back and get to the interview would be cutting it very fine. I feel like she’s prioritising the dog over my child. Am I being unreasonable if I pull her up on it and explain how disappointed I am to be let down last second? I’m considering not going to the interview now because of all the stress it’s causing. If I had been given notice I could have sorted out a different arrangement. Feeling so gutted at the idea that my daughter is second in line to a dog in her own grandmas mind. It completely breaks my heart to think that could be the case.

OP posts:
SongWriter · 29/04/2024 10:01

GoldenTrout · 29/04/2024 10:00

OP didn’t say she was unhappy about the dog being around her baby, she said she wouldn’t drive the 25 minutes to drop them off.

OP also hasn’t answered the many posters who have asked why a relatively short drive is such a problem?

I'm guessing that it's because that would make it in practice 50 minutes, there and back? To say nothing of faffing about at the other end getting the baby and the baby's stuff out, so it's more like an hour.

An hour is not a big deal.

GoldenTrout · 29/04/2024 10:00

OP didn’t say she was unhappy about the dog being around her baby, she said she wouldn’t drive the 25 minutes to drop them off.

OP also hasn’t answered the many posters who have asked why a relatively short drive is such a problem?

I'm guessing that it's because that would make it in practice 50 minutes, there and back? To say nothing of faffing about at the other end getting the baby and the baby's stuff out, so it's more like an hour.

Herdingcatz · 29/04/2024 09:59

MILhere · 29/04/2024 09:54

But the compromise the sister could make would be to take the dog round to OPs which the OP isn’t happy with.

How is op allowing a feral dog in her house an example of the sister compromising? That's compromising and having to put up a with a shit and unexpected change,which will likely mean her home is damaged

Well she offered for the OP to go to the sisters, that was a no. She offered for them to come to the OPs house, that was a no.

The OPs only solution is that mum takes care of her kid and that the dog isn’t involved.

meganorks · 29/04/2024 09:58

The issue is that she committed to helping you first. But I guess she thinks she can do both. Can you speak to her about it?

Can you find a friend to have your daughter?

KrisTheGardener · 29/04/2024 09:55

If123 · 29/04/2024 09:29

For extra context my baby is 6 months and I have never used a babysitter/ childminder or nursery before so finding one on the day would probably not be viable.
yes my other half now realises he has been a bit selfish and gone away for too long but at the time of booking he didn’t think it would be a problem. I do agree it takes the piss but he needed to make his own choice to realise that.
my sister has messaged me and said that ‘I need to be very careful or she won’t be helping or turning up to the wedding’
Of course I will not be relying on mum for childcare again and am seriously considering asking her to step back out of our lives. This is not the first time she has cancelled for the dog- she made a fuss for my wedding dress appointment and had me in tears when I was pregnant with my little one. I do feel like this could be the final straw for me. I keep on allowing this behaviour. It also wouldn’t have been a huge problem if she gave me notice she couldn’t do it but a few hours is just not enough to find an alternative.

If my sister messaged me that, I'd probably uninvite her on the spot.

SecretSoul · 29/04/2024 09:55

OP didn’t say she was unhappy about the dog being around her baby, she said she wouldn’t drive the 25 minutes to drop them off.

OP also hasn’t answered the many posters who have asked why a relatively short drive is such a problem?

If the sister has an arrangement with the mum that she’ll look after the dog whenever her DP has to go into work, then it’s understandable why the mum is trying to please everyone. Presumably if he has to go into work, he can’t get out of it - and if they need dog sitting to be done that the mum has agreed she’ll always make herself available for then it’s understandable why the mum is trying to help everyone. She doesn’t want to let either daughter down.

Obvs that doesn’t mean OP should be let down but there does seem to be a lot of wailing and throwing hands in the air. A short drive to drop off the baby would sort it all but instead OP is now saying she’ll go NC with the mum who’s trying to keep both daughters happy.

Bonkers.

MILhere · 29/04/2024 09:54

She did offer to pick up the dog and drive to OP's house to do the caring there.

She doesn't want it in her house, it's even worse

MILhere · 29/04/2024 09:54

But the compromise the sister could make would be to take the dog round to OPs which the OP isn’t happy with.

How is op allowing a feral dog in her house an example of the sister compromising? That's compromising and having to put up a with a shit and unexpected change,which will likely mean her home is damaged

KrisTheGardener · 29/04/2024 09:52

MILhere · 29/04/2024 09:07

If she was trying to please them both, the compromises would be on the sister. OP agreed her one first.

She's prioritising the sister.

She did offer to pick up the dog and drive to OP's house to do the caring there. So she was willing to do the leg work, driving and running around where OP wouldn't have had to change a thing.

Totorooooo · 29/04/2024 09:50

Did you go to the interview? I hope you found a way to make it work. It’s all on you once you become a parent really. It sounds like you half expected to be let down, so at least you know what the future holds in terms of support. Good luck today

bloodyeffinnora · 29/04/2024 09:48

DappledThings · 29/04/2024 05:30

I don't think she's putting the dog before your child or your sister before you. She's just trying to help both of you at the same time which isn't unreasonable.

this is my thought

LakieLady · 29/04/2024 09:48

Your DM is being perfectly reasonable, take DD to your sister's.

If I couldn't do that for any reason, I'd be telling DP to either delay setting off for the stag do or to come back early. He's a parent and his child should take priority.

Pheasantsmate · 29/04/2024 09:47

MILhere · 29/04/2024 09:07

If she was trying to please them both, the compromises would be on the sister. OP agreed her one first.

She's prioritising the sister.

But the compromise the sister could make would be to take the dog round to OPs which the OP isn’t happy with. There are a number of solutions proposed and the OP won’t accept any of them. You can’t compromise with someone who refuses all options

Littlestminnow · 29/04/2024 09:46

coconutpie · 29/04/2024 09:39

You need to stop with the narrative with "she let my baby down". No, she didn't let your baby down. She let YOU down. She is prioritising your sister over you.

She also thinks the dog's needs are far more important than your own baby's safety.

That alone would make me go no contact with her.

This. I agree you should go low contact. She agreed to help you so you could get another job, and to let you down at the last minute for such a crappy reason is unforgiveable. Your sister is the one who should make alternative arrangements.

BollockstoThis1 · 29/04/2024 09:46

Hope you got to your interview in the end and managed to find a workable solution? Personally, I would have driven to sisters house and set off earlier as it seemed the best solution?

Your mum was being unreasonable leaving you in the lurch so late in the day as is your partner for selfishly and irresponsibly prioritising a stag doo and drinking over you and your little one for an entire week.

I am guessing your mum was possibly nervous looking after your baby if she doesn’t do this often or didn’t really want to do it in the first place and maybe your dsis either deliberately through a spanner in the works or maybe she didn’t.

My DM always prioritised looking after my niece or my DB’s dog over my DC every single time. Every time I was reminded of my place in the pecking order. As a result I don’t prioritise her now she is elderly.

paintingvenice · 29/04/2024 09:46

The fact you are framing this as the dog is preferred to your child is dramatic and sounds a bit manipulative. Your mum has offered a compromise, I don’t know why you don’t take that- it sounds a bit like you are looking to be a martyr here.

SongWriter · 29/04/2024 09:46

Your all seem really petty and to not like each other much.

From this thread and another you posted, your partner seems like a bit of an arse.

You seem prone to over reaction, saying that your mum refused to look after your daughter and has let you down when she has said/done no such thing. She’s said she will look after your child and the dog.

You are also very dramatic about a short drive.

Your sister and partner needs to train her dog. They’re irresponsible.

Nightmare family. Hopefully you all sort yourselves out before this child has to be aware of any of this behaviour.

lovecrazyhorses · 29/04/2024 09:46

As a grandma myself it does sound thoughtless of your mum. I don't know about choosing others over you but more being reliable - does she feel worried about babysitting and it's an excuse? Do you have other childcare options at all ?

hobocock · 29/04/2024 09:44

It sounds like your Mum isn't very reliable and possibly favours your sister. It's not about dog vs grandchild.
I can see why this is upsetting.
What I don't understand is why you'll be cutting it fine to get to the interview. Has your Mum specified a time you have to bring your child to your sister's house? Can you not just take her earlier leaving more time get to the interview?
Or let them come to your house and quickly tidy the wedding things away into another room.
I'd do one of those two things (go earlier to sister's or let them come to yours) before I would give up on going to the interview.

And once the interview is over you can go forward knowing that you will need to make alternative plans for things like this because your Mum is not reliable.

RedHelenB · 29/04/2024 09:41

Ollieneedsourhelp · 28/04/2024 23:36

Surely you just set off earlier to drop DC with your Mum? That's what I'd do if the job was important to me.

This.

Ollieneedsourhelp · 29/04/2024 09:41

I think context is needed here. Your sister messeged you that out of the blue or in response to a messege you'd sent her, spurred on by all the hate on here?

Remember OP there are a lot of people on here who love abit of drama, they will not be having a second thought about you tommorow when you've cut off your family.

Haydenn · 29/04/2024 09:40

I think you are unreasonable for framing this as a dog versus grandchild issue. It’s a you versus your sister. You both need help and she is choosing to help your sister.

coconutpie · 29/04/2024 09:39

If123 · 29/04/2024 09:35

You are probably all right in saying it’s not about the dog it’s more about the fact my mum has chosen to be unreliable and not be there for me at the last minute on more than one occasion. I just didn’t expect this behaviour to extend to letting my child down at the last second too. I have tried having the dog at my house before but she broke into the food cupboard and ended up eating a hot cross bun which caused an expensive emergency vet trip- she can’t be left without eyes on her at all times and I feel like that’s not totally safe with a baby in the mix too. She has a cage but then scratches and barks to get out which makes little one upset. It’s not ideal but I did say to mum she could stay in the cage which she said would be unfair on her- I don’t really think there is much of a solution here. I hate that my sister didn’t bother training the dog and let’s it run wild and not be toilet trained etc but I don’t really want an accident to either dog or baby because my mum can’t realistically safely watch both at once.

Edited

You need to stop with the narrative with "she let my baby down". No, she didn't let your baby down. She let YOU down. She is prioritising your sister over you.

She also thinks the dog's needs are far more important than your own baby's safety.

That alone would make me go no contact with her.

GanninHyem · 29/04/2024 09:37

What is your sister going to do with her feral mutt that seemingly cant be left for any amount of time when it comes to the wedding?

coconutpie · 29/04/2024 09:36

If123 · 29/04/2024 09:29

For extra context my baby is 6 months and I have never used a babysitter/ childminder or nursery before so finding one on the day would probably not be viable.
yes my other half now realises he has been a bit selfish and gone away for too long but at the time of booking he didn’t think it would be a problem. I do agree it takes the piss but he needed to make his own choice to realise that.
my sister has messaged me and said that ‘I need to be very careful or she won’t be helping or turning up to the wedding’
Of course I will not be relying on mum for childcare again and am seriously considering asking her to step back out of our lives. This is not the first time she has cancelled for the dog- she made a fuss for my wedding dress appointment and had me in tears when I was pregnant with my little one. I do feel like this could be the final straw for me. I keep on allowing this behaviour. It also wouldn’t have been a huge problem if she gave me notice she couldn’t do it but a few hours is just not enough to find an alternative.

I'd be considering messaging sister back and saying I don't need either of your help and neither of you are welcome at my wedding.

Your mother and sister are both bloody awful. Screwing you over when you had made arrangements well in advance for childcare so you could attend a job interview.

Do not allow a destructive, untrained dog near your precious baby.

When is your DP home? People reschedule interviews all the time, things happen. It's not ideal but if you apologise and suggest alternative dates for the interview. And start looking into proper childcare now. Never ask your mother for help again.