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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think DM is unfair to ban the twins from visiting?

487 replies

timetoban · 29/05/2026 14:27

My sister has four children: an 6-year-old, a 5-year-old and 2-year-old twins.
The older two are easy visitors. They tend to sit quietly, chat a bit and spend a lot of time on their screens. The twins, however, are typical two-year-olds. They run around, make noise, have the occasional tantrum and create a bit of mess.
DM is very house-proud and likes everything neat, tidy and pristine.

She has become increasingly irritated by the twins whenever they visit. She complains that they don't sit nicely, don't behave properly and are too noisy. Personally, I think her expectations of two-year-olds are unrealistic.

The latest development is that she has told DSis that the twins are no longer welcome at her house. She says DSis can bring the older two, but not the younger ones.

The problem is that DSis's husband works long hours and isn't always available to stay home with the twins. So in practice, this means DSis often can't visit at all, or has to choose between seeing DM and staying with her younger children.

DM says it's her house and she's entitled to decide who comes into it. DSis feels hurt that two of her children have effectively been singled out and excluded.

OP posts:
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Lovelock1984 · 05/06/2026 21:42

Your Mum has made her boundaries clear - but I would be making it clear back that these boundaries have consequences. No more visiting her - she doesnt get to exclude some children and that be accepted. From what you have written she seems uptight, cold and quite frankly self-absorbed. When the children naturally have better relationships with the MIL and none with your Mum you can make it clear why. Even putting the eldest children on screens seems nasty. It seems all about her wants and no-one else's. I would be taking a step back.

timetoban · 05/06/2026 21:25

Lordofthebantams · 05/06/2026 14:28

The older two aren't behaving as such,just absorbed into screens by the sound of it??

The older two are absorbed by screens but more capable of sitting down quietly than the 2 year old twins.

OP posts:
Lordofthebantams · 05/06/2026 14:28

The older two aren't behaving as such,just absorbed into screens by the sound of it??

thing47 · 05/06/2026 14:09

I agree with this. And I would add that a grandmother who bans some of her young grandchildren from visiting her house while still expecting the same close relationship (and regular visits) from their mother is probably going to get a harsh dose of reality when she realises that isn't going to happen.

It doesn't sound, from OP's posts, that her mother has quite grasped this yet.

WhatNoRaisins · 05/06/2026 08:22

The majority of the population will judge a person that bans her grandchildren from her home and makes no attempt to find some sort of compromise as a bad person. The minority who see this as a rational decision because of her sensory issues are going to be at odds with how most people think. I wouldn't say they're necessarily wrong though, the concepts of bad and good are very subjective and open to debate.

Anarchy99 · 05/06/2026 08:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Apparently I’m not allowed to contribute any further because people don’t agree with my comments. So I’m out 😆

Andtheyreofffortheday · 05/06/2026 07:15

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Andtheyreofffortheday · 05/06/2026 07:13

This reply has been deleted

This has been deleted by MNHQ for breaking our Talk Guidelines.

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 12:15

sprigatito · 04/06/2026 11:40

Have they “come at” you? Or have they just disagreed with your view?

You seem very keen on your own right to express yourself, but your grasp on other people’s right to do the same is rather less tenacious.

If they just disagreed with my view they could choose to disagree and move on. But instead people are having a go about me having a different opinion.

You can make me out to be thick if it makes you feel better of course. 🤣

This is just an internet forum and it couldn’t matter less in the general scheme of things. It’s not me that is seeking validation 😬

timetoban · 04/06/2026 12:02

Skybluepinky · 04/06/2026 10:58

How old is your mum?
Is there a family history of dementia?
My FIL was like that with BIL children 5 years later diagnosed with dementia.

Early 70s. No history of dementia.

OP posts:
timetoban · 04/06/2026 12:01

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 11:24

I have explained why I posted like I did, so not sure why you are now sniping with another poster about me 🤷‍♀️

If you don’t agree with my posts then you have the option to ignore.

If you don't like the 'sniping' then you have the option to ignore 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:
sprigatito · 04/06/2026 11:40

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 11:37

I could but then I have a right to defend myself when people come for me for daring to suggest a different view. 🤷‍♀️

Have they “come at” you? Or have they just disagreed with your view?

You seem very keen on your own right to express yourself, but your grasp on other people’s right to do the same is rather less tenacious.

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 11:37

sprigatito · 04/06/2026 11:26

They also have the option to respond. They are exercising that option. You could always ignore it if it bothers you.

I could but then I have a right to defend myself when people come for me for daring to suggest a different view. 🤷‍♀️

sprigatito · 04/06/2026 11:26

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 11:24

I have explained why I posted like I did, so not sure why you are now sniping with another poster about me 🤷‍♀️

If you don’t agree with my posts then you have the option to ignore.

They also have the option to respond. They are exercising that option. You could always ignore it if it bothers you.

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 11:24

timetoban · 04/06/2026 10:02

That is why I said to her do you know my DM? She keeps acting like she knows her even down to mentioning her thoughts! Weird.

I have explained why I posted like I did, so not sure why you are now sniping with another poster about me 🤷‍♀️

If you don’t agree with my posts then you have the option to ignore.

Skybluepinky · 04/06/2026 10:58

How old is your mum?
Is there a family history of dementia?
My FIL was like that with BIL children 5 years later diagnosed with dementia.

DaisyChain505 · 04/06/2026 10:17

Anarchy99 · 03/06/2026 21:00

I’m sure she won’t expect anything.

She clearly doesn’t want a relationship with the children and that is fine. It’s a shame she can’t see her adult children but presumably she’s considered that before ‘banning’ the toddlers

In what world is a Grandparent not wanting a relationship with their Grandchildren deemed as fine?

It’s perfectly fine to want some adult time with your relatives but that doesn’t mean you cut out the children completely.

timetoban · 04/06/2026 10:02

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 08:55

It's just a bit off that you're so certain that this woman is making an informed decision with a full understanding about the consequences of alienating her children and grandchildren. The OP is obviously going to have a more accurate insight to this than a stranger.

That is why I said to her do you know my DM? She keeps acting like she knows her even down to mentioning her thoughts! Weird.

OP posts:
timetoban · 04/06/2026 10:01

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 08:47

No in fact I’m not new to fora. Are you?

It’s usually an exchange of thoughts and ideas. I know people like your mother sounds from your description. It’s not as rare as it could be.

Perhaps you could confirm what it is you are looking for on the thread?

I am not new to forums no.

I understand people can start threads for whatever reasons they want. They do not need to justify to other users why they started a thread and what they want to get out of a thread - something you seem to be struggling with.

OP posts:
76evie · 04/06/2026 09:21

if I was your sister I wouldn’t be visiting her anymore, I’d tell her she is welcome to come visit us all at my house but I won’t be leaving 2 of my children behind to come to your house. DM sounds awful!

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 09:10

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 09:03

I just always find it quite off when someone insists that they have a better insight than the OP who knows this woman and knows that she's going to expect relationships when it suits her.

I don’t claim that and it wasn’t my intention. Like I said, I’m ND so it doesn’t always come across clearly.

I can only go on what the OP has said.

If the thread was started to vent then I was unaware, I assumed it was to get different points of view.

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 09:03

I just always find it quite off when someone insists that they have a better insight than the OP who knows this woman and knows that she's going to expect relationships when it suits her.

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 08:58

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 08:55

It's just a bit off that you're so certain that this woman is making an informed decision with a full understanding about the consequences of alienating her children and grandchildren. The OP is obviously going to have a more accurate insight to this than a stranger.

Why is it so offensive to give people credit for having thought something through?

People can make decisions others find terrible but it doesn’t mean they haven’t thought about it. And in any case they will bear the natural consequences so it makes little difference.

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 08:55

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 08:53

I agree. And that’s what I’m doing.

I’m ND so I don’t always get the tone right but I’m trying to give some insight into why the mother might be behaving as she is, from my own experience, because people are using emotive terms like ‘evil’ - this situation seems more complex and nuanced than that.

If you have an issue with my tone, then fine, I will apologise. But if it’s the content then I’m not sure what I have done wrong tbh.

Of course another thing to do would be to ignore my posts.

Edited

It's just a bit off that you're so certain that this woman is making an informed decision with a full understanding about the consequences of alienating her children and grandchildren. The OP is obviously going to have a more accurate insight to this than a stranger.

Anarchy99 · 04/06/2026 08:53

WhatNoRaisins · 04/06/2026 08:49

Wanting to have some discussion with other people is very normal human behaviour. As people have said sometimes it gives you insights or ideas that you wouldn't have thought of.

I agree. And that’s what I’m doing.

I’m ND so I don’t always get the tone right but I’m trying to give some insight into why the mother might be behaving as she is, from my own experience, because people are using emotive terms like ‘evil’ - this situation seems more complex and nuanced than that.

If you have an issue with my tone, then fine, I will apologise. But if it’s the content then I’m not sure what I have done wrong tbh.

Of course another thing to do would be to ignore my posts.