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AIBU?

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Expecting 73 year old mother to travel to visit us?

230 replies

Frazzledmum77 · 06/06/2024 14:40

My 73 year old mum has been giving out signals for a few years now that she doesn’t want to make the train journey to see us (about 4 hours including tube across London). Today I invited her to come for a few days next week and she said sorry no, she really doesn’t like the travelling and could I please come to her instead? I gently explained no, the kids need me here. She had 3 kids herself so I’m really surprised she even suggested it tbh, it’s not something she would ever have done in my position, except in emergencies. I’m the primary caregiver and I can’t just swan off to stay with my mother in the middle of the week! I get that she has some form of travel anxiety and I know this is common. But she still manages to take flights to see family overseas, as recently as a couple of weeks ago. Part of it is definitely that she’s not so keen on DH and sadly also seems to have little time for my kids, she seems much happier when she’s just with me, and she can talk at me for hours about whatever she likes. Im feeling a bit bruised, this isn’t the first time this issue has come up, but it’s the first time it’s been a definite “no”. We’ll see a lot less of her if she’s not prepared to travel, her house is tiny and we can’t stay with her as a family. Not sure whether to fight this or just accept it?

OP posts:
Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 06/06/2024 14:47

@TruthorDie

Perhaps the air travel is less stressful than the train and tube (;I know which ai would rather do) and it is nicer when she gets there?

LemonCitron · 06/06/2024 14:45

Can you arrange to go with the kids (and with or without DH, depending on work etc) in the summer holidays?

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 06/06/2024 14:44

She’s made up her mind, OP. She doesn’t think she can cope with the travel (as a person of a similar age I can sympathise ) and it sounds as if she doesn’t much like it when she gets there. You are just going to have to talk on the phone, and maybe meet halfway when you are less tied?

TheSnowyOwl · 06/06/2024 14:44

Why doesn’t she have much time for her grandchildren? Is it that they are too energetic for her deal with or something else?

If your DH doesn’t get in with her and perhaps she doesn’t feel welcome, it’s not really surprising she doesn’t want to visit.

Do you reciprocally visit because if she you will still get to see her when you go to her.

TruthorDie · 06/06/2024 14:42

I would accept it but not do anything to mitigate it e.g. stepping up the number of visits to go to her. It’s interesting she can go away on holiday flying but l suppose that’s where her priorities lie. Still doesn’t make it feel great though lm guessing