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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it's ridiculous to fall out over a Facebook post ?

161 replies

Doggomom91 · 15/09/2024 12:52

I posted on here yesterday as my mom and I had an argument on the last day of our holiday. It basically ended with me saying, apologise for your part in this argument (that she started) or I'm done with you both. As a result I said she will miss out on her granddaughter growing up. This was really not nice of me to say, but she was giving me the silent treatment and acting like a kid so I said whatever I could to get a reaction. She had been goading me all afternoon.

My mom has a real issue with admitting when she's in the wrong and is as stubborn as mule. I'm 33 with a 5 month old little girl and my parents and I have always been close, but my mom can be needy and a bit emotionally controlling. I don't think I need to go into that here, I just want to know if I'm being unreasonable. I don't think I am.

So after this argument we travelled back from holiday not talking, and the day afterwards I put my usual holiday Facebook post with a few snaps. There were none of my parents (my mom refuses to be in photos 90% of the time and obviously they were all of my precious baby on her first holiday!) and I didn't tag anyone in the post, not even my husband.
I texted her the same morning to apologise for my part in the argument and the nasty things I said, but asked if she could accept that she started it over nothing. She could not, and she said "agree to disagree". I reluctantly agreed. I'm fully aware that if I hadn't have made the first move, she wouldn't not have messaged me. Later on in the day, she texts me to say that she "hurt" because I didn't mention in my post that she and my dad were on holiday with us. My post was "lovely holiday with my little family". I explained we weren't talking at the time I posted, plus I haven't tagged anyone and there's no pictures of them to tag. She ignored that message and now we aren't talking. I actually feel a bit more relaxed now I'm having a break from her if I'm honest but I'm sad it's ended this way and don't see a way back.

AIBU to think it's pathetic for my mom to abandon myself and her granddaughter for the sake of a Facebook post?

OP posts:
Gymnopedie · 15/09/2024 13:48

Trickabrick · 15/09/2024 13:00

Yes sorry I somehow skipped the first line but my point still stands - why start another thread on the same issue?

www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5165098-grandma-drama

The previous thread gives a lot more detail about the mum's behaviour. And while I agree that 'my little family' was poking the bear, the not seeing the baby was the result of a lot of appalling behaviour from the mum, not the FB post.

thepariscrimefiles · 15/09/2024 13:48

Reading your other post, your mum does seem very immature and needy. She was basically criticising your in-laws in front of your DH which is really rude and unfair. He must have been really embarrassed.

She obviously feels like she is in a competition with your in-laws where your baby is concerned which is probably why she is so cross that there is no mention of her being on holiday with you and your baby.

sonjadog · 15/09/2024 13:48

Growing up with a mother modelling behaviour like your mother, it isn't surprising that you have grown up not being able to contact conflict well. You have learnt from her and you are reacting in similar ways. But you can do better and you are capable to reflecting over what happened and making different choices. Spend this time away from your mother thinking over who you want to be, how you want to respond, so that when you meet again and she says something that triggers conflict, you can handle it in a more mature and balanced way.

Seaside3 · 15/09/2024 13:47

Imagine, in years ti come, this is you and your daughter. She threatens you with not being a part of your grandchild life, then shares a fb post about her and her family going away. Despite you being there.

Seems like she already cut you out.

Now can you see why it may come across as hostile to your mum?

You need to sort your shit out, or this will be you and your child one day.

GrazingSheep · 15/09/2024 13:46

I feel sorry for your partner. Imagine having to live with this shite drama.

GoldenNuggets08 · 15/09/2024 13:44

You say your FB post was fine but also have admitted you weren't talking to your mother when you wrote it so sounds like you did kinda know it would only address your DH and baby? You call your mother controlling but tried to control her by threatening to not let her see her grandchild unless she did as you wanted. The fact you admit that you didn't mean it and only said it to get a reaction actually makes it kinda worse? Honestly you both need some self reflection here! Your relationship sounds absolutely exhausting. As your baby gets older, is this what you want her to see? Is this what you want to teach her about parent-child relationships?

Doggomom91 · 15/09/2024 13:44

alpacachino · 15/09/2024 13:42

Don't put pictures of your kid on the internet

My child = my choices. Profile is private.

OP posts:
Doggomom91 · 15/09/2024 13:43

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

hot2trotter · 15/09/2024 13:42

You both sound pathetic

alpacachino · 15/09/2024 13:42

Don't put pictures of your kid on the internet

Doggomom91 · 15/09/2024 13:41

GladBluePigeon · 15/09/2024 13:32

This.

I go with them every year, child or no child. Nothing to do with childcare. My post wasn't vicious at all. It wasn't meant to come across as a dig. It was completely innocent. If it was a purpose did then why would I be posting here looking for some sort of validation? I'd just get on with it and accept I'd been a bitch, but I haven't.

OP posts:
SummerFade · 15/09/2024 13:41

My mom has a real issue with admitting when she's in the wrong and is as stubborn as mule. I'm 33 ….. I just want to know if I'm being unreasonable. I don't think I am.

You should have grown up by now yet you’re still acting like a petulant child. Maybe you and your mum need therapy to change the child/parent dynamic in your relationship otherwise you’ll both still be acting like a pair of drama queens when you’re in your 60’s.

I also agree that parents should stop posting pics of their kids on social media when they’re too young to consent. I think it’s a breach of their right to privacy.

letmego24 · 15/09/2024 13:40

You also sound very self centred and selfish.

Rubyandscarlett · 15/09/2024 13:40

The apple never falls far from the tree, try and break this ridiculous cycle before your daughter learns it.

needsomewarmsunshine · 15/09/2024 13:39

Pointynoseowner · 15/09/2024 13:36

Are you American?

Why asking this, is it even relevant? Is it because every other person seems to go for therapy? Or the spelling of mom? I believe this is a common spelling of mum up north in UK

HawkersSouth · 15/09/2024 13:38

Really, you both sound as bad as each other. Sounds like she has a history but what you said was just nasty.
Your Facebook post was passive aggressive.

letmego24 · 15/09/2024 13:38

Oh FGS why so dramatic, why the ultimatum of threatening your mum with not seeing her GD growing up due to her not apologising. You both sound as stubborn and unreasonable as each other, no wonder you don't get on.
Just try to get on ??

needsomewarmsunshine · 15/09/2024 13:37

The pair of you need your heads banged together for being so tit for tat. She sounds needy and petulant, you sound childish and petulant. Not see gc grow up, that was so over the top, I'd be spitting if my d said that to me to be spiteful.
I'd leave it for awhile and let the dust settle a bit and then make contact with her.
Can your f help smooth the way?
If there is really no coming back from this then you need to consider your options, but c should be able to have a relationship with both gp, even if your h deals with it initally.

Pointynoseowner · 15/09/2024 13:36

Are you American?

allatseawiththis · 15/09/2024 13:35

Ponoka7 · 15/09/2024 13:14

Stop trying to play happy families because you aren't. Your Mother is emotionally abusive and exhibits toxic behaviour. You then react and because you haven't been given the skills to react healthy, you also use emotional manipulation. Your DD is going to see all this as normal behavior.

Don't use her as childcare. Stop going on holiday together and go LC. Don't make the first move, leave her to stew.

Completely agree with this ☝️ OP, have you had any counselling to talk about/work on your own emotional responses, and where they might stem from (i.e. the behaviour modelled by your mum growing up)?

GladBluePigeon · 15/09/2024 13:32

angellinaballerina7 · 15/09/2024 13:30

Oh don’t play dim, it doesn’t suit anyone. You know that you’ve put up a post that implies they weren’t there, “my little family”, honestly. Heres hoping you didn’t just bring them along for childcare and don’t plan on using them instead of nursery before you threatened no contact.

This.

Doggomom91 · 15/09/2024 13:32

Gingernaut · 15/09/2024 13:26

I texted her the same morning to apologise for my part in the argument

At this point, you could have

A. Made good the threat to go non contact, or

B. Decided you needed to keep up the drama

and you chose B.

Either you want this baby in your life, or you don't

You sound as bad as each other - next time, give Facebook a miss and get some prints for an album and stop making photos of your child public

Apologising wasn't "keeping up the drama".

Also - public? I have only people I know on Facebook. And it's up to me what I choose to put on there. It's my child.

OP posts:
Thatsajokeright · 15/09/2024 13:30

OP, Sounds like youhave an emotionally immature parent.

It's exhausting and I can see why you said and did as you did. I get it.

Just try and make some space between you both. Establish some boundaries of you think you can hold them or go low contact if you can't.

Also, read 'Adults of Emotionally Immature Parents' by Lindsay Gibson.

betterangels · 15/09/2024 13:30

Ponoka7 · 15/09/2024 13:14

Stop trying to play happy families because you aren't. Your Mother is emotionally abusive and exhibits toxic behaviour. You then react and because you haven't been given the skills to react healthy, you also use emotional manipulation. Your DD is going to see all this as normal behavior.

Don't use her as childcare. Stop going on holiday together and go LC. Don't make the first move, leave her to stew.

This is what I would do. Or your daughter will be caught in the middle soon enough. Not fair on her. Be a better parent than you had.

angellinaballerina7 · 15/09/2024 13:30

Oh don’t play dim, it doesn’t suit anyone. You know that you’ve put up a post that implies they weren’t there, “my little family”, honestly. Heres hoping you didn’t just bring them along for childcare and don’t plan on using them instead of nursery before you threatened no contact.