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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:
whitefluffydog · 29/05/2026 20:26

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It is too much for some older people....so what?

timetoban · 29/05/2026 20:26

EmmaB1309 · 29/05/2026 20:03

She would be for finding herself a very lonely mum and grandma if I were your sister.

Although…..

Was it really a ‘the twins aren’t welcome here?’

or more of a ‘ I don’t feel able to have them in my home unless you try to manage their behaviour a bit better’. That doesn’t mean I think this is the right approach, but it would put a slightly different spin on it, being more about what she might perceive as your sisters lack of parenting than being personal against the twins.

She said do not bring the twins because it is too much noise and mess.

OP posts:
timetoban · 29/05/2026 20:25

youalright · 29/05/2026 19:29

Well they don't come round anymore we go to parks and soft play instead. Not everything needs labelling. Its just like posters on here who make a big drama about announcing they're going no/ or low contact with people they barely see.

You're describing something quite different though.

Not inviting people round because your house isn't suitable for young children, and instead meeting at parks or soft play, is a compromise. Nobody is being singled out or excluded.

What DM is doing is specifically saying that the twin grandchildren are not welcome but the other two are. That's not "not labelling things", that's exactly what she's done. If someone tells you that your children can't come to their house, most people would call that a ban.

OP posts:
EmmaB1309 · 29/05/2026 20:03

She would be for finding herself a very lonely mum and grandma if I were your sister.

Although…..

Was it really a ‘the twins aren’t welcome here?’

or more of a ‘ I don’t feel able to have them in my home unless you try to manage their behaviour a bit better’. That doesn’t mean I think this is the right approach, but it would put a slightly different spin on it, being more about what she might perceive as your sisters lack of parenting than being personal against the twins.

AprilMizzel · 29/05/2026 19:56

I think DM would like me and DSis to come without our children so we can sit in peace and have conversations. We both get very little child free time to accommodate that. It is just not realistic with young children.

Well she ether see you somewhere child friendly kids can go off an play safely or she see you rarely.

She fine not to want young kids in her house but the consqence is she sees them and their mothers less.

Solaitt · 29/05/2026 19:49

Personally, I think her expectations of two-year-olds are unrealistic.

You’ve hit the nail on the head yourself OP.

Costatesco · 29/05/2026 19:46

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Costatesco · 29/05/2026 19:44

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LauraTheReader25 · 29/05/2026 19:42

Stuff like this really gets on my nerves. Accept and welcome all my children, or get the hell out of my life. That stuff is toxic and can do real damage to a child to know their grandmother and what type of person she is.

ColesCorner7814 · 29/05/2026 19:41

Wow. Your mum sounds like a dick. Choosing being house proud rather than building relationships with her grandchildren. It’s probably better for everyone, especially the kids, if they stay away.

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 29/05/2026 19:30

CardOrCash · 29/05/2026 15:51

Come on. People pursue relationships with their parents out of love and hope and wanting to build a relationship with their own kids. It’s unreasonable to hint that someone is a poor mum of young kids if she wants to pursue this relationship. Family dynamics are complicated and not always logical. It’s not like the grandmother is dangerous or has actually done anything to the toddlers yet. Why are you so desperate to critique the sister here I wonder?

Edited

Well said @CardOrCashit’s not easy to just cut your Mum off, even if she is being very unreasonable

youalright · 29/05/2026 19:29

timetoban · 29/05/2026 19:21

I have relatives and friends kids who I hate coming round my house as their parents just don't parent them and I don't want my house wrecked.

How is this a ban?

Well they don't come round anymore we go to parks and soft play instead. Not everything needs labelling. Its just like posters on here who make a big drama about announcing they're going no/ or low contact with people they barely see.

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 29/05/2026 19:29

outerspacepotato · 29/05/2026 15:31

She doesn't want little kids running around her home and messing with her stuff and making messes. Her home is also not likely toddler and kid proofed.

Your sister can't handle all her kids for a visit by herself, that's her problem, not your mom's. She's allowed to set who can come to her house and she's had it with your sister's younger two.

You sound nice Confused If you were a loving grandparent, wouldn’t you make the effort to toddler proof your home to keep them safe?

timetoban · 29/05/2026 19:21

youalright · 29/05/2026 19:15

They technically are they don't get invited round

I have relatives and friends kids who I hate coming round my house as their parents just don't parent them and I don't want my house wrecked.

How is this a ban?

OP posts:
MrsLFii · 29/05/2026 19:21

If it’s literally just two year olds being two year olds and it’s genuinely tidied up when it’s time to go, your mum is being so unreasonable imo. If she doesn’t like the noise and mess in her home, then visit sister in hers. If she doesn’t like the noise and mess full stop, then don’t see the grandkids at all but excluding two for just being normal two year olds and essentially having a two tier system for grandchildren is awful. Honestly if I was your sister I just wouldn’t be visiting again full stop.

TomatoSandwiches · 29/05/2026 19:19

Did your mum have just the two of you?

youalright · 29/05/2026 19:15

timetoban · 29/05/2026 19:11

You could ban them.

They technically are they don't get invited round

DugnuttEyeBoogies · 29/05/2026 19:13

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Hey hang on. You’re obviously super invested in this thread from your number of shouty posts but OP hasn’t said anything at all about her own kids. That’s your assumption and a rather ridiculous one at that.

timetoban · 29/05/2026 19:11

youalright · 29/05/2026 18:48

Its hard without hearing both sides on the surface dm is being awful but I have relatives and friends kids who I hate coming round my house as their parents just don't parent them and I don't want my house wrecked.

You could ban them.

OP posts:
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 29/05/2026 18:48

Your DSis needs to tell your M that they come as a four. She either sees all of them or none. Ball straight back into her court

youalright · 29/05/2026 18:48

Its hard without hearing both sides on the surface dm is being awful but I have relatives and friends kids who I hate coming round my house as their parents just don't parent them and I don't want my house wrecked.

Tabarnak · 29/05/2026 18:47

Well your Mum will lose her relationship with your sister her kids.

Which seems sad for her, but self inflicted.

And extremely sad and hurtful for your sister. I would be heartbroken and feel incredibly hurt.

She can't take the two elder and leave the twins out - by the time they are 3 they will know they have been rejected and the older two favoured,

I don't know what you can do except be clear and honest with your Mum (and possibly, if you felt like it, offer to help your mum manage when the children are there) , and support your DSis as best you can. Be a good aunty.

Hadenough32 · 29/05/2026 18:41

I've got 5 kids and I don't let them make mess in other people's homes at any age? Any way point is is that it doesn't really sound like your mum wants to see them. The older kids sit on screens so aren't being interacted with and the younger ones are being played with by nan or they wouldn't be making a mess.
Does your sister go there often? Does she expect to sit whilst your mum runs around after the kids?

I wouldn't have someone's kids in my house whatever relation they are if it irritated me.

Your sister should suggest your mum visits at her house where she is set up for toddlers.
If your mum doesn't visit then that's also problem solved.

Sounds like your mum cba with any of them.

timetoban · 29/05/2026 18:40

JustToBeMe · 29/05/2026 18:38

To be fair Ive not read all the answers to your post,
but how old is your mum Op?
Could it be possible she has the onset of dementia/Alzheimer's?

Edited

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

OP posts:
BillieWiper · 29/05/2026 18:40

It's very foolish because it'll permanently damage her relationship with her daughter bland all her kids.

Once the twins become old enough to be 'tolerable' no doubt none of them will have an interest in visiting her. What with the fact she shunned them simply for being two people who are two years old!