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AIBU?

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FIL pissed me of

444 replies

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 14:19

So totally expect to be told I'm unreasonable but hear me out. Myself and DH are married 25 years, three DC aged 17 , 16 and 14. We have only been away from our kids once since the oldest was born and that was for three nights. PIL minded the kids. They have never offered and apart from those three nights we never asked as we knew they wouldn't mind the kids , especially FIL.

So about three weeks ago my DH booked two nights away for me and him. It's a 40 minute flight. He asked MIL could she just stay the two nights in our house with the kids. She agreed. Kids get on well with MIL. Kids are good kids but just wanted an adult there with us being in a different country. All good so far.

The thing is one of our DDs plays soccer at a high level and she has just signed for a new team and has a match on Sunday. We thought all the paperwork might not be gone through on time so we would be ok to go away. Bear in mind that during the season we are unable to go away due to her football.

So DH asked FIL could he bring her. His response was " no I go to lidl on a Sunday morning". This was after DH had just done FIL a huge favour ( not the first time). He then had the neck to say" I will drop your mother around on Friday night, I heard you are ordering takeaway so I will stay for that and then head home"

OP posts:
Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:58

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:58

I'm curious to know how you worked that out though as I can't infer that from her posts at all.

It’s so obvious when you read all the follow up posts

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:58

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:56

I’ve been trying to encourage her too

It would help posters understand.

I'm curious to know how you worked that out though as I can't infer that from her posts at all.

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:58

Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:57

Okay. So she wouldn't be welcomed in a taxi or have friends willing to help out? Or because she has daughters that cannot be allowed out unaccompanied?

I see....... the OP should have stated facts when posting instead of wriiting ambigously about 'my country' and how kids 'here' apparently don't use public transport and almost eighteen year olds cannot be left for a night.

Edited

Not that she wouldn’t have been welcomed in a taxi

but the community wouldn’t have wanted her alone with a stranger man

Jinglejells · 15/01/2026 17:57

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 15:00

I would not expect her to do that.

Then there’s your problem. Why couldn’t you ‘expect’ her to do that? She’s 17, could get pregnant and have a whole child at this age but can’t sit in a coffee shop for 2 hours?
Theres a perfectly easy solution here but you refuse to put anyone out except your FIL

Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:57

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:53

She will be, yes. It ticks every box

Okay. So she wouldn't be welcomed in a taxi or have friends willing to help out? Or because she has daughters that cannot be allowed out unaccompanied?

I see....... the OP should have stated facts when posting instead of wriiting ambigously about 'my country' and how kids 'here' apparently don't use public transport and almost eighteen year olds cannot be left for a night.

HoskinsChoice · 15/01/2026 17:57

Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:52

I'm intrigued. Is she part of the travelling community?

I hope not as they're terrible at travelling!

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:56

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:56

Well she should have said that from the very beginning as it is obvious now the reluctance to take taxis. Instead she just shot down every suggestion and gave evasive answers and suggested the whole country was like that when they are very much not and it is actually a feature of the travelling community. No wonder PP's are confused.

I’ve been trying to encourage her too

It would help posters understand.

Lightingfail · 15/01/2026 17:56

I sympathise- some members of my family are quite similar and it feels horrible to have to practically beg for help, especially when that other person knows you would always try to help them.

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:56

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:52

Correct

Well she should have said that from the very beginning as it is obvious now the reluctance to take taxis. Instead she just shot down every suggestion and gave evasive answers and suggested the whole country was like that when they are very much not and it is actually a feature of the travelling community. No wonder PP's are confused.

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:55

TrickyD · 15/01/2026 17:55

A traveller who doesn’t travel.

Very common in these communities

TrickyD · 15/01/2026 17:55

A traveller who doesn’t travel.

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:53

Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:52

I'm intrigued. Is she part of the travelling community?

She will be, yes. It ticks every box

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:52

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:52

What community? Travellers?

Correct

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:52

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:47

In Ireland, yes

Not in the community the Op is in

What community? Travellers?

Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:52

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:47

In Ireland, yes

Not in the community the Op is in

I'm intrigued. Is she part of the travelling community?

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:52

so you have not “only been away from our kids once since the eldest was born”

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 17:52

Bbnose · 15/01/2026 17:42

You have left them alone overnight?

Doesn't look like it in your OP We have only been away from our kids once since the oldest was born and that was for three nights. PIL minded the kids.

Edited

Abroad

OP posts:
Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 17:51

Dontbeatwat · 15/01/2026 17:48

You said you've only ever left them once before and they stayed with your PILs?? Now you're saying you've left them overnight?

Nope I said we left them once to go abroad. Its in my first post. We have left them overnight to stay in hotels in our own country.

OP posts:
Oneforallandallforone · 15/01/2026 17:51

I am gobsmacked that 16 year old Irish kids are scared of taxis. My nieces and all other teens I know use them all over the place if the bus isn't an option

I hope the OP returns to tell us that she lives in South Africa but I think I'm right and its Ireland,
Just to clarify for the normal readers. Many Irish kids take taxis. Many Irish kids take buses and trains to school. Many Irish kids are independent and encouraged to be so by their parents.

The OP and her attitude to actively discouraging independence is not a reflection on Irish kids in general.

FerrisWheelsandLilacs · 15/01/2026 17:50

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 16:42

I never said I was city centre. Its a different county to where we live.

So it’s nothing like Manchester to Liverpool because it’s not city to city and it’s half the distance apart?

liamharha · 15/01/2026 17:50

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 17:40

Not true.My DD17 flew to Portugal on her own last year to visit her cousins. They regularly take public transport and we have left them on their own overnight.

So she can fly to Portugal (despite being a child -your words )alone but can't accompany dd16 in a taxi or be for a couple of hours or manage in the cold whilst mum and dad have a rare break ,,you don't want her to give up free time but you want fil to give up his ?
They stay overnight alone but MIL is staying this time despite living only 3 mins away ?

If I'm wrong op then I apologise but you've been contradictory in alot of your statements .
I wonder if your pulling out legs .

Maray1967 · 15/01/2026 17:49

Yes, FIL is very unhelpful, and needs to be told no next time he asks.

But I’m very surprised you don’t think the oldest one can go with her and find a cafe for a couple of hours. She’s 17. Dies she not go shopping on her own or with friends?

EchoesOfOurDreams · 15/01/2026 17:49

JudyMoncada · 15/01/2026 17:38

Don't you have any friends yourselves (unrelated to the club) that could drive her there if a taxi is so prohibitively scary/expensive?
If one of my friends said to me 'Judy, John has booked a weekend away first one in forever, sods law, Rosie has a footie match at X and we can't get her there, can you help?', I would happily say yes, get her there, stand and shout encouragement from the sidelines and take her to the coffee shop afterwards for a debrief on how she thought it went. I would take photos/film her and send them to you.

They would do the same for me. I had one who drove 50 miles (not km) to wait with me when my car broke down and I was on my own. For others, I have last minute scooped them up to get them places when trains have been cancelled.

I am gobsmacked that 16 year old Irish kids are scared of taxis. My nieces and all other teens I know use them all over the place if the bus isn't an option.

In general they are not scared of taxis. OP is just a massive control freak.

Dontbeatwat · 15/01/2026 17:49

I can't get over having only been away from a 17 year old once before 😮. That is fairly ridiculous!!

Shakeyshakeybaby · 15/01/2026 17:49

TrickyD · 15/01/2026 17:46

This whole thing is reminding me of the Peaty saga. I hope the devoted OP will not be uninvited from any future wedding.

That's funny and reaching. I have a great relationship with all my children. We are a very happy, contented family. Sorry if you don't like that.

OP posts:
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