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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:
Costatesco · 30/05/2026 14:55

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CruCru · 30/05/2026 14:51

KrazyKatty · 29/05/2026 16:07

As a 60yr old granny, I have sympathy for the DM.

I’m not remotely house proud but it’s the noise and energy from v young children, that I struggle with. One or two young ones are manageable but I can easily imagine feeling very overwhelmed with 4 running around, especially two lively 2yr olds!

I was going to say something a bit like this. It sounds as though the mum has reached the point where she really can’t cope with such young children.

I am much younger (nearly 50) but am well past the point where I am up for young children. I was at a country park this week and afterwards texted a friend to say that there’s nothing like listening to a woman in the toilet cubicle next to you shout at multiple toddlers to make me glad I now have teenagers.

Costatesco · 30/05/2026 14:44

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timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:41

thepariscrimefiles · 30/05/2026 14:37

Has she got any good points? She doesn't sound as though she was a great mother when you and your sister were children and she is a really shitty grandparent. When no children are present, is she good company or are your visits just duty visits?

She is always better when no children are present but that is few and far between with young children.

OP posts:
timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:39

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My mum has been going on about this for months and my sister has been struggling with DM's attitude to her DC for years so a lot longer than the time I have spent on MN talking about it!

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 30/05/2026 14:38

timetoban · 30/05/2026 13:52

She does not want to go to anyone's house. All visits have to be made to her. She does not want to go to the park either.

She doesn’t want much does she 🙄

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:38

HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 30/05/2026 14:35

I completely understand you OP, just normal toddler mess... they are just playing. Your mum is being completely unreasonable but not too sure what you guys can do other then visit less.

I am not sure why people are obsessed with the noise and mess toddlers are making. My sister cleans and tidies while she is there and before she leaves so there is no extra work for DM.

My sister won't take the twins there anymore due to the ban. Maybe when they are older.

OP posts:
thepariscrimefiles · 30/05/2026 14:37

timetoban · 30/05/2026 13:52

She does not want to go to anyone's house. All visits have to be made to her. She does not want to go to the park either.

Has she got any good points? She doesn't sound as though she was a great mother when you and your sister were children and she is a really shitty grandparent. When no children are present, is she good company or are your visits just duty visits?

Costatesco · 30/05/2026 14:36

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HAPPILYMARRIEDSINCE2012 · 30/05/2026 14:35

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:31

I am not the sister, neither am I angry about it.

Of course I understand the spectrum of mess. People seem to be struggling that 2 year old twins can be noisy at times and also make a mess and the parents cannot always stop this.

I completely understand you OP, just normal toddler mess... they are just playing. Your mum is being completely unreasonable but not too sure what you guys can do other then visit less.

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:31

Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 14:20

Thank you for clarifying - there was no need to be so snarky about it though. Do you not see there is quite a spectrum of ‘mess’ between reasonable and unreasonable?

Nobody is expecting anything of the kids. Are you the ‘sister’ as you appear to be really angry about it

I am not the sister, neither am I angry about it.

Of course I understand the spectrum of mess. People seem to be struggling that 2 year old twins can be noisy at times and also make a mess and the parents cannot always stop this.

OP posts:
Sharptonguedwoman · 30/05/2026 14:21

timetoban · 29/05/2026 18:40

Early 70s - seems to be fine cognitively. Does dementia/Alzheimers make you ban some of your grandchildren from visiting?

Edited

Not to my knowledge but it might impair logic and reason.

Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 14:20

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:11

Here you go for those who are unfamiliar with 2 year olds:

Noise: twins talking in normal tone, sometimes the odd shriek if they get excited.

Mess: building blocks that go beyond more than 1 metre square radius. If the twins drop a soft toy here and there. If they drop toys as they are walking around.

Thank you for clarifying - there was no need to be so snarky about it though. Do you not see there is quite a spectrum of ‘mess’ between reasonable and unreasonable?

Nobody is expecting anything of the kids. Are you the ‘sister’ as you appear to be really angry about it

Dumakey · 30/05/2026 14:16

Is there any Neuro divergence in your family OP?

Costatesco · 30/05/2026 14:14

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timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:11

Here you go for those who are unfamiliar with 2 year olds:

Noise: twins talking in normal tone, sometimes the odd shriek if they get excited.

Mess: building blocks that go beyond more than 1 metre square radius. If the twins drop a soft toy here and there. If they drop toys as they are walking around.

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 14:07

CardOrCash · 30/05/2026 14:06

There is a real lack of emotional intelligence in some on this thread. Some posters can only see family dynamics in a black and white way; it’s quite fascinating.

It doesn’t help that the OP is just saying that everyone is expecting too much without actually clarifying what they are doing.

CardOrCash · 30/05/2026 14:06

timetoban · 30/05/2026 13:39

Try reading my posts. It really does help.

There is a real lack of emotional intelligence in some on this thread. Some posters can only see family dynamics in a black and white way; it’s quite fascinating.

Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 14:05

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:04

No defensiveness just amazed at your expectations of 2 year old twins.

I explained I’m not expecting anything. Why won’t you clarify what sort of mess and noise? Perhaps if you can answer then people have a better idea of how unreasonable your mother is being

timetoban · 30/05/2026 14:04

Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 13:53

I’m not expecting anything. I asked what kind of mess as there’s a difference between toys lying around and breaking something.

Why are you being so defensive when people are just asking questions?

No defensiveness just amazed at your expectations of 2 year old twins.

OP posts:
Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 13:57

People just want to know if your DM is overreacting to normal noise and mess.

Why don’t you want to reply to this?

Costatesco · 30/05/2026 13:53

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Anarchy99 · 30/05/2026 13:53

timetoban · 30/05/2026 13:51

Do you have no experience of 2 year olds? My sister is constantly trying to keep the twins quiet and occupied whenever she visits DM. She cannot bandage their mouths and force them too play without a mess 100% of the time.

No defensiveness just amazed at your expectations of 2 year old twins.

I’m not expecting anything. I asked what kind of mess as there’s a difference between toys lying around and breaking something.

Why are you being so defensive when people are just asking questions?

timetoban · 30/05/2026 13:52

Blondeshavemorefun · 30/05/2026 13:51

Obviously, she’s rude and in the wrong so she could even have all four grandchildren at hers or she can go to sister’s house and see them there

Or third option, not see her grandchildren at all she can’t split them

She does not want to go to anyone's house. All visits have to be made to her. She does not want to go to the park either.

OP posts:
Blondeshavemorefun · 30/05/2026 13:51

Obviously, she’s rude and in the wrong so she could even have all four grandchildren at hers or she can go to sister’s house and see them there

Or third option, not see her grandchildren at all she can’t split them