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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not spend the whole week in the All-Inclusive that my sister paid for? She called me a CF

438 replies

HitTheLight · 17/08/2024 17:48

I’ve ruffled a few feathers in the family but I personally don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong. My sister eloped with her lovely DH in March, they’ve been together over a decade and have 3 children already so they didn’t see the point in a big white wedding. They invited us all to lunch the day after to tell us the news then surprised us saying they wanted to take us all on holiday to a lovely all-inclusive. Invited on the holiday (other than them and their DC, obviously) was me, my DP, our brother and his girlfriend, and my parents. Her DH is Australian and his family are over there hence why his side of the family weren’t included.

They were very generous. We were only expected to pay for flights but that was fine given it’s a destination covered by dirt
cheap RyanAir flights. My parents have always been quite poor so the idea of a holiday abroad was a real novelty for them. We were all incredibly grateful, lots of hugs and tears over the dinner table.

We’re on the holiday now, 5 days in and it has been quite stressful. Sister and her DH have left the resort every day together so far for “couple time” leaving us with the DC for 6+ plus. They said it’s a wedding celebration combined with their honeymoon hence why they want time alone during the day but to then come and drink with us on the evenings (though my poor DM is usually stuck in the hotel room with sleeping children). One child is a toddler so it’s been hard work. My parents, me and my brother have been splitting childcare mostly. Nobody feels as though they can say anything because Dsis and her DH paid for the holiday.

Me and my DP have been getting a bit bored, and yesterday at breakfast we announced we were going out for the day. We’re on a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean with so much history and culture and we wanted to explore. We announced we were going to look at some buildings and then eat out for the evening and that we’d see everyone later. Nothing was said. We said anyone was welcome to come but nobody fancied where we were going.

When we got back we headed to our usual spot where we tend to congregate for evening drinks. We noticed a vibe from everyone so I asked what was up. Dsis then said she found it “fucking cheeky” for us to leave the resort for dinner when she has already “paid for all of your meals” and that she felt I was ungrateful. My dad said me and DH seemed off at breakfast and he also felt it was a bit cheeky of us to announce we wanted to get out of the hotel for the day. I tried to apologise and state that it’s been lovely and we adore the hotel but that we just want to see the island, but a few drinks had been had and it got heated (I did end up feeling quite hurt so made a comment about how they have used mum for childcare, which didn’t go down well) so everyone went to bed. I tried to reconcile at breakfast this morning but there was still a lot of tension, so we’ve mainly been in our rooms.

Were we cheeky?

OP posts:
Starlight1979 · 19/08/2024 09:41

CormorantStrikesBack · 17/08/2024 19:28

I hoped you joked back that at least that’s one more than they’re bothering with.

THIS!!!

diddl · 19/08/2024 09:38

I think I'm more surprised that people have gone along with it for 5 days!

StmMary · 19/08/2024 09:27

I'd say they were very crafty indeed.
They used you all for their own needs.
They should have said, would it be OK if we left the kids with you a bit..whilst we did some time out.
Them kids are there's and their responsibilities.. And a bit it should have been.
Your poor mam, left with the kids in the room.
That isn't a holiday for her... I think you did right having a day off.
Your not all there to run to their every whim..
A family holiday don't always go down well.
Happy days. You'll be home soon...

laraitopbanana · 19/08/2024 08:02

Penguinmouse · 18/08/2024 20:38

What are you talking about, it’s not a prison? “You should have asked if it was ok to leave” Give your head a wobble.

Implied : to do all the childcare.

simple courtesy goes a long way, you should try it one day.

KimberleyClark · 19/08/2024 07:16

You are not the CF in this story.

LouLou198 · 19/08/2024 07:13

Your sister is the CF. She wasn't treating you all to a holiday, she was taking you all to provide childcare whilst she enjoyed her honeymoon!

AbraAbraCadabra · 19/08/2024 00:05

FumingTRex · 17/08/2024 17:59

Yeah your sister messed up by not telling you she expected you to be scivvy in return for the holiday.

This. 100%. Sounds like she just wanted you all there for childcare purposes, and why is it ok for her to fuck off with her DH for the day but dictate to you what you do. If she.was only offering the holiday in exchange for childcare she should have said do. Not make out like she.was doing you a favour then get pissed off when you want to actually enjoy your holiday.

wellington77 · 18/08/2024 23:42

They are the cheeky ones! Why pay for the holiday if you’re not allowed out the hotel! Bloody weird! They are using you as free childcare. You shouldn’t be apologising for going out the hotel. They sound nuts!!

qwertyasdfgzxcv · 18/08/2024 23:34

No! So they go off and leave the hotel but you aren't allowed to?! They don't own you just because they paid for the holiday!

Jumpingthruhoops · 18/08/2024 23:16

JabbaTheBeachHut · 18/08/2024 20:29

Her Mum's a grown woman who can speak for herself.

The OP should've left her out of it.

Not at all. The mum may well have wanted to speak up but didn't want to 'rock the boat', so OP did it for her. Or are we really at the stage where a grown-up daughter can't defend their own parent?

I would have done exactly the same in OP's shoes.

Flamingosrule · 18/08/2024 22:51

Iwantamarshmallowman · 17/08/2024 18:02

I think your sister is the CF here. she should have discussed her expectations before the holiday was booked, especially regarding childcare. she's being a hypocrite for having a go at you for leaving the hotel one day when she has left every day.

This! Your sister is the CF here!

EdithBond · 18/08/2024 21:57

No, you weren’t being cheeky.

Though perhaps you could’ve mentioned it a little sooner. So everyone had a bit more warning you’d be away all day and evening.

I expect your sis is a bit stressed, having their honeymoon with everyone. She should’ve chatted it through with you all before booking.

Too late now. But maybe an hotel wasn’t the best choice for an extended family group like yours, where it helps to share childcare. Might’ve been better to have a large house, perhaps with it’s own pool, near plenty of restaurants. That way, once the kids are in bed everyone can sit together, including outside, rather than someone having to sit in an hotel room. Everyone can fix themselves drinks,
and light meals, e.g. kids’ cereal. And you all get to go out to eat, so no one has to cook and you get to see a bit of the place as a family and as couples.

NigellaAwesome · 18/08/2024 21:51

OP, how have things been today? Is it still frosty?

DreamTheMoors · 18/08/2024 21:50

I was that younger kid.
My older siblings got treated to trips and days out that I never got to experience just because they were older.
And I’ve gotta say — it wasn’t the best feeling in the world to be excluded from all those things when I was old enough to know I was being excluded just because of my age.
And when I was old enough, nobody took me on those trips or days out or to those special places.
Thwy just forgot that maybe I would’ve enjoyed those same experiences.
If you’re giving the older kids a treat, don’t forget about the little kids when they catch up.
You think they don’t notice it or they’re too little to care or they won’t remember.
But you’d be wrong.

Peakpeakpeak · 18/08/2024 21:39

notanotheronenow · 18/08/2024 18:13

Why didn't all you adults who were getting a free holiday all club together and pay for resort childcare, or at least an evening nanny service? I would have done it as a wedding present or a thank you for the trip, it's not going to be cheap for them to have paid for everyone.

None of the adults are getting a free holiday. They've had to pay for their own flights, and expected to intuit without being told that their board and meals are payment for childcare.

Also, even if it were a free holiday, Dsis has said she doesn't trust the kids clubs.

Doubledenim305 · 18/08/2024 21:32

TakeMeDancing · 18/08/2024 20:35

*Plus, the teachers on the school trip aren’t paying for their own flights!!!

As a teacher I've done it in the holidays and paid my way🧐. Just saying...

Norizzle · 18/08/2024 21:01

Sorry but what kind of ‘holiday’ is it when you’re stressed out and child sitting? Clearly it wasn’t free; the price was your peace and freedom. They’re the CFs.

Penguinmouse · 18/08/2024 20:38

laraitopbanana · 18/08/2024 19:11

That. You throw your mom under the bus hoping to get people’s votes and you found out.

you should have asked if that was ok for you to leave to your mum and dad or actually suck it up and stayed.

it isn’t nice I know but then you would have had your turn next instead of a stir :/

apologize to your mom, she will make the others quiet about it 🌺

What are you talking about, it’s not a prison? “You should have asked if it was ok to leave” Give your head a wobble.

VickyPollard25 · 18/08/2024 20:37

I think your sister is the CF, not you.

I guess this just reinforces that old saying that there is no such thing as a free lunch!

TakeMeDancing · 18/08/2024 20:35

Exception7 · 18/08/2024 19:57

Look at the AIBU results. I think they’re pretty conclusive……

If you genuinely had absolutely no idea that you were going to be expected to provide child minding six hours a day for the duration of the holiday, your sister is absolutely 100% the CF. Three children with one a toddler is a lot of hard work, even split between you all. It’s a bit like being a teacher on a school trip abroad, but at least then you have no illusions about what you’re letting yourself in for!

*Plus, the teachers on the school trip aren’t paying for their own flights!!!

Mjayy1 · 18/08/2024 20:34

HitTheLight · 17/08/2024 17:48

I’ve ruffled a few feathers in the family but I personally don’t feel I’ve done anything wrong. My sister eloped with her lovely DH in March, they’ve been together over a decade and have 3 children already so they didn’t see the point in a big white wedding. They invited us all to lunch the day after to tell us the news then surprised us saying they wanted to take us all on holiday to a lovely all-inclusive. Invited on the holiday (other than them and their DC, obviously) was me, my DP, our brother and his girlfriend, and my parents. Her DH is Australian and his family are over there hence why his side of the family weren’t included.

They were very generous. We were only expected to pay for flights but that was fine given it’s a destination covered by dirt
cheap RyanAir flights. My parents have always been quite poor so the idea of a holiday abroad was a real novelty for them. We were all incredibly grateful, lots of hugs and tears over the dinner table.

We’re on the holiday now, 5 days in and it has been quite stressful. Sister and her DH have left the resort every day together so far for “couple time” leaving us with the DC for 6+ plus. They said it’s a wedding celebration combined with their honeymoon hence why they want time alone during the day but to then come and drink with us on the evenings (though my poor DM is usually stuck in the hotel room with sleeping children). One child is a toddler so it’s been hard work. My parents, me and my brother have been splitting childcare mostly. Nobody feels as though they can say anything because Dsis and her DH paid for the holiday.

Me and my DP have been getting a bit bored, and yesterday at breakfast we announced we were going out for the day. We’re on a gorgeous island in the Mediterranean with so much history and culture and we wanted to explore. We announced we were going to look at some buildings and then eat out for the evening and that we’d see everyone later. Nothing was said. We said anyone was welcome to come but nobody fancied where we were going.

When we got back we headed to our usual spot where we tend to congregate for evening drinks. We noticed a vibe from everyone so I asked what was up. Dsis then said she found it “fucking cheeky” for us to leave the resort for dinner when she has already “paid for all of your meals” and that she felt I was ungrateful. My dad said me and DH seemed off at breakfast and he also felt it was a bit cheeky of us to announce we wanted to get out of the hotel for the day. I tried to apologise and state that it’s been lovely and we adore the hotel but that we just want to see the island, but a few drinks had been had and it got heated (I did end up feeling quite hurt so made a comment about how they have used mum for childcare, which didn’t go down well) so everyone went to bed. I tried to reconcile at breakfast this morning but there was still a lot of tension, so we’ve mainly been in our rooms.

Were we cheeky?

At the time when your DS and her DH let the family know that they wanted to celebrate them getting married, that they were treating everyone to an all paid for holiday - did they at all mention that actually it’s a come on holiday and babysit for us? That they 2 alone will explore and tour but due to their 3 kids - they needed childcare 🤨 I mean if anyone here is the CF then it’s your sister!! What I would have said is: do not dare turn this around and ruin our “holiday” because you have spat the dummy out!” I always go with the motto ‘do not rely on anyone, cause then no one will let you down’ your sister is simply put….A Brat

JabbaTheBeachHut · 18/08/2024 20:29

Jumpingthruhoops · 18/08/2024 18:19

But it's true though. What you call a 'dig' is someone realising they've been taken advantage of and merely calling it out.

The fact there was truth in the comment and it hit a nerve frankly isn't OP's problem. 🤷‍♀️

Her Mum's a grown woman who can speak for herself.

The OP should've left her out of it.

bryceQ · 18/08/2024 20:01

What an awkward situation. I really don't think you did anything wrong. It all sounds stressful

Exception7 · 18/08/2024 19:57

Look at the AIBU results. I think they’re pretty conclusive……

If you genuinely had absolutely no idea that you were going to be expected to provide child minding six hours a day for the duration of the holiday, your sister is absolutely 100% the CF. Three children with one a toddler is a lot of hard work, even split between you all. It’s a bit like being a teacher on a school trip abroad, but at least then you have no illusions about what you’re letting yourself in for!

Rinks31 · 18/08/2024 19:43

Sounds like they just wanted a childcare. You have not done anything wrong, if U r on holidays you can do what you like especially when it's only one day. Should have cleared the ts n cs before leaving.

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