Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

So angry!!! My Mother ruins kids birthdays every year!!!! am I sensitive? This is not normal is it?

343 replies

Mememeandmeagain · 13/10/2024 13:43

my kid has been bullied and has no friends. Mum knows this. Every year the party is just her and us family. Yesterday, I said my maya and jack (my collegues) just texted happy birthday to you. My daughter says thank you, aww that’s so nice, they remember every year” She goes “wait really? They did? Haha I’m so shocked. I thought no one cared about your birthday other than me” “I thought I was the only wishing you a happy birthday year year” “lmao”

my daughter looked visibly upset after this. Even if this is true, was this necessary to say out loud?

The year before that, at my cousins sweet 16: “did you guys know my uncle died sitting on the toilet? Ewww I would not want to die sitting on the toilet” “with his pants, underwear down and everything” while we eating cake

Last year, when we are at our nephews birthday dinner party, eating cake in a good mood, celebrating, she starts out of no where talking about funerals and burials! “Oh I really want to put up a nice gravestone for my parents. Funerals are so expensive nowadays. I’m saving for my funeral btw, I would not want to be cremated” when I say “mom! Stop, This is inappropriate” She goes “oh cmon it’s only natural”

when I bring up what she said every year and how it’s upsetting, she says “omg, did I really say that???” I don’t even remember saying that, wtf is wrong with me, I must be losing my mind”, but does the same thing every year over and over again

my cousin got a terrible diagnosis that makes her unable to stand and move. On her birthday, we try to cheer her up, tell her it’s going to be ok. She says she will look for a different job where she can sit, after treatment. mom goes “who tf would want to hire you now?? You are a liability. Dead weight. useless. Worthless. No one”

again, even if true, why the tf would you say this out loud and like this?

the year before that, insists she will buy party food for my son. I give her a list. She buys only 2 small things on the list, and instead of buying a cake my sons wants, she buys a cake my son hates and my daughter is allergic to and puts it on his table. A cake she loves. When I ask her why would buy yourself a cake on his birthday, a cake he hates? She goes am I not allowed to buy a cake I love? (Why on his birthday thought?)Then goes on how she is too broke to buy party food. And how she has no money. Then, when my son is gifted an expensive cake and a box full of sweets by my husband, I go the kitchen to get them, they are gone!!! She ate the whole cake and the whole box of chocolates by herself!!!! Didn’t even leave him a piece or one chocolate! Am I sensitive or is this rude behavior??

my sons birthday 5 years ago. I’m busy with his party. I’ve been doing/helping mom with a very long year long extremely stressful project. She brings it up on his birthday. I say, “i need a break please, don’t want to talk about this now” she pretends she can’t hear me and goes on. I repeat again, “I don’t want to talk about this now, I’m very stressed, let me celebrate my sons birthday, tomorrow please” she again, pretends she can’t hear me. And keeps talking and showing me pictures while I’m running around decorating. I say “why are you ignoring what I just said??? I said NOT NOW PLEASE” She AGAIN pretends she can’t hear me, goes on shoving photos and documents in my face. I get mad and lose my temper and shout “wtf did I just say, what is wrong you??? She leaves, then bursts into tears at son’s party saying your mum screamed at me.

what she said to my daughter is the last straw, I warned her not to say anything inappropriate this year. She promised she would watch her mouth. Am I sensitive??? Or would it be right to never invite her again?

OP posts:
traybake81 · 14/10/2024 20:01

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:45

Yep, that’s what she says.

it makes zero sense

you can now see why people on here are wondering there’s something mentally wrong with her.

Edited

at this point OP, i’m wondering you have something going on

because on the one hand you say she doesn’t drink, never has done and abhors drinking

but randomly she says to blame it all on the drink

basically you had forgotten you’d said she doesn’t drink

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 20:00

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:45

Yep, that’s what she says.

it makes zero sense

you can now see why people on here are wondering there’s something mentally wrong with her.

Edited

this is getting so weird 😆

PotatoLove · 14/10/2024 19:58

Your mother is a narcissist, she gets off on the misery of others. Stop inviting her to social events and she won't be able to try and ruin them. Don't engage with any manipulative behaviour. They never change.

SliceoCakeAuntSally1 · 14/10/2024 19:55

Perhaps you need to have words about this. Tell her you’ve got a few problems that you want to get ironed out with her. Meet at hers so if she throws a hissy you don’t have the worry of her not leaving. If she’s at home she can throw you out and that leaves her as being the one who escalated things. No doubt she’ll try and make it about her but be prepared and strong. Maybe insist she seeks help and offer to go with her if needs be but insist it stops or her invitations stop.

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:50

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:37

so how did this lovely exchange today end (on anyone’s birthday?)

She stormed off and now I’m getting texts from mutual friends and few relatives living abroad that don’t know her that well that it’s disgusting how we treated a an elderly person who is sick with beginning dementia/mental illness 🤔she told them she has a diagnosis, being treated and everything. (Lies) How we need to be more understanding of illness, how poor woman is horrified that she said this and doesn’t even remember and how we should be ashamed of ourselves refusing a sick elderly woman to see her grandkids and turning them against her.

OP posts:
Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:45

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:41

she blamed drinking too much

but also

No she doesnt drink at all, is very against alcohol and judges anyone who drinks.

🤔

Yep, that’s what she says.

it makes zero sense

you can now see why people on here are wondering there’s something mentally wrong with her.

OP posts:
Smittenkitchen · 14/10/2024 19:45

I guess it's attention seeking. When it's someone else's party and attention is on them she feels compelled to say something so outrageous that everyone's eyes will immediately be on her. This doesn't excuse it, of course.

Dillydollydingdong · 14/10/2024 19:43

No, it's not normal. There's something wrong with her. Don't invite her to your house any more, just visit her on your own.

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:42

TheTwinklyPoster · 14/10/2024 19:37

You say here, your dm blamed what she said on having too much to drink but, when someone asked earlier if she drank, you said she didn't and hates drinking? This doesn't make sense!

Exactly! She says a bunch is stuff that makes zero sense. Word salad. why I and people here wonder if there’s something mentally wrong with her.

either she says she doesn’t remember what she said, she says she has dementia or she had too much to drink when we know she never drinks!

Her bs excuse was, she said before coming over, her new man offered her drinks at his house and she was worried he’ll think she’s boring, she really liked him and wanted to impress him, first time ever she accepted, and had too much, and that’s why she behaved like that

”see this is why I always said alcohol is so evil, and people should stay away, first time I drink, this happened”

such bs

she treats like we are stupid

OP posts:
traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:41

she blamed drinking too much

but also

No she doesnt drink at all, is very against alcohol and judges anyone who drinks.

🤔

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:40

TheTwinklyPoster · 14/10/2024 19:37

You say here, your dm blamed what she said on having too much to drink but, when someone asked earlier if she drank, you said she didn't and hates drinking? This doesn't make sense!

good spot

TheTwinklyPoster · 14/10/2024 19:37

Mememeandmeagain · 13/10/2024 15:25

She was cast out. No one in my family talks to her after this. Even though right after she said it she said “omg what tf did I just say, I’m such a stupid idiot. I must be losing my mind, I’m so sorry, wtf is wrong with me, I didn’t mean it, you are so talented and hardworking, any boss will be so lucky to have you, don’t listen to me, I’m just jealous of how successful you are” she says she had too much to drink.

she keeps begging for forgiveness but no one than me and my kids talk to her now.

Edited

You say here, your dm blamed what she said on having too much to drink but, when someone asked earlier if she drank, you said she didn't and hates drinking? This doesn't make sense!

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:37

so how did this lovely exchange today end (on anyone’s birthday?)

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:37

ok OP

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:35

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:34

shes always been mean to me growing up. And tell me how sensitive I was. And how I need antidepressants because it’s all in my head. Very nice to my kids and family though. ( until the last few years )

But she’s lovely and kind every other day aside from just birthdays

ok

I meant to my kids. Yes, Other than these last few years and only on birthdays, she is very nice, my kids adore her

they beg me to invite her

OP posts:
traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:34

shes always been mean to me growing up. And tell me how sensitive I was. And how I need antidepressants because it’s all in my head. Very nice to my kids and family though. ( until the last few years )

But she’s lovely and kind every other day aside from just birthdays

ok

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:33

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:31

because she is super sweet and kind the rest of the year

Well that’s quite a turn around

It’s like she has two split personalities, two people are living inside her

she acts so nice that my kids forget, forgive and beg me to invite her again every year

OP posts:
traybake81 · 14/10/2024 19:31

because she is super sweet and kind the rest of the year

Well that’s quite a turn around

Toptops · 14/10/2024 19:31

She sounds dreadful and so hurtful.
Whether or not this is because she's losing it, I wouldn't expose my loved ones to her vitriol and thoughtlessness.
Maybe you/partner, whoever, meet her in a cafe for tea occasionally.

Mememeandmeagain · 14/10/2024 19:30

traybake81 · 14/10/2024 18:53

I have to say
I agree

Even the very fact the Op was once again seeing the woman

and why the hell focus on birthday parties?! They’re once a year FGS. What about all the other days when this poisonous woman has been with the Op’s children

She lives on the same street as us (since she got into a relationship with one of our neighbours and moved in with him)

believe me, I did not want to see her

she knocked on the door last night saying she bought kids trainers as a gift, acting like nothing happened, that’s when my husband and I went outside, closed the door, we didn’t let her in, and told her this on the doorstep

the focus is on birthday parties, because she is super sweet and kind the rest of the year and my kids love her, any other time they never had a problem with her, she for some reason chooses parties to behave like this

i didnt have a chance to get to the part where we no longer want a relationship with you, she started screaming and bust into tears

OP posts:
80skid · 14/10/2024 19:27

You need to protect your kids from her. Why are you giving her the opportunity to do this? Just because you hope she will be better and wish your kids had a worthy grandmother doesn't equate to it being true. Having her around them is damaging them and you. This needs to end.

lololulu · 14/10/2024 19:23

Is she only like this on birthdays?

Trumpett · 14/10/2024 19:20

She reminds me very much of my own mother, probably not as bad as what you’re describing, but she also says really inappropriate things and she always causes drama on or around a big event, eg birthdays, Christmas and weddings etc. The situation you described where you’d told her to leave the topic of conversation for another day, but she persisted, is exactly something my mum would do. It’s made me dread special occasions, but I feel like I can’t leave her out, because despite it all I do love her and care about her. However, I do draw the line when she upsets the children and we have fallen out a number of times over the years, this seems to be getting more frequent because as the children get older (teen/pre-teen) she seems to think it’s ok to be nasty to them.
My mum is probably ND (I am and so are my children) but tbh I don’t think that makes it any easier. There’s a difference between saying something in the wrong way because you’re ND and you didn’t realise how it would come across or how hurtful it would be, and then there’s just being plain nasty and not caring about hurting people. And as someone who is ND myself, I try my best to not use it as an excuse for poor behaviour, yes it’s why I sometimes misjudge situations and make social errors, but it isn’t an excuse for just being horrible to someone.
Sorry I’ve not got any real advice, other than just set out your boundaries and make it clear that crossing your boundaries will result in you stopping contact. She won’t like it, because she’s so used to being able to emotionally manipulate you, but you can’t carry on with her behaving this way and getting away with it.

Nickyheet · 14/10/2024 19:12

Stop inviting her to events and stop helping her. Go low contact with her since it seems as if she doesn't care anyway.

AllyArty · 14/10/2024 19:06

Reduce contact with her and tell her that her behaviour is not acceptable and unless she ups her game it will be no contact. You have to be really strict with her and not let her away with anything. Exhausting I know but it’s the only way. She won’t be so horrible she knows she can’t get away with it.