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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:
DavidStopActingLikeADisgruntledPelican · 29/05/2026 15:20

This really wouldn’t be a dilemma for me. Your mum has her (oddly high) standards for behaviour and has banned 2 of her grandchildren from her home for being normal toddlers- as is her right. This means the other children can’t visit her. So that won’t happen as much. Could call it being fucked by the dildo of consequence. Certainly nothing to feel bad about, especially if granny can visit all of the family at their home but she chooses not to.

Stoicandhappy · 29/05/2026 15:19

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:13

If she doesn't visit, it means she will never see her as DM will not visit my sister (or me).

Why doesn’t DM visit her DC/DGC? Is she disabled?

LuckyNumberFive · 29/05/2026 15:18

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:13

If she doesn't visit, it means she will never see her as DM will not visit my sister (or me).

So let's just address that for a second. Your DM won't visit your sisters house, and is refusing to allow the twins to visit, so your DM is actively saying she doesn't want to see the twins.

Let that sink in and ask yourself why anyone would want to be around your mother if that's her attitude.

huuskymam · 29/05/2026 15:17

If she only wants to see two, then she doesn't get to see any. I dont know why your sister would even consider visiting with just two, very unfair.

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:16

FourSevenThree · 29/05/2026 15:13

...sis keep an eye on the twins as much as she can but it is not easy with four children.

Sounds she is vaguely "doing her best", but not doing well enough. Can she just visit with her DH for the time being so the 4 children are managed by two adults? Could you help?

It's not your DM'S fault that your Dsis has more children than she can reasonably manage.

Dsis does not work so will often go in the daytime. I work so I can't be around and I have DC of my own.

Her DH works long hours and doesn't get back till 9pm. That is too late to take the DC to visit. Her DH's DM is in hospital so he is using any spare time to visit her.

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 29/05/2026 15:14

Grandma doesn’t want the grandchildren to visit? Your sister should just accept that. If grandma wants to see any of the grandkids, it will have to be outside of that house.

FourSevenThree · 29/05/2026 15:13

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:04

DSis tidies everything before she leaves. She can't stop them running around all the time inside but does her best.

...sis keep an eye on the twins as much as she can but it is not easy with four children.

Sounds she is vaguely "doing her best", but not doing well enough. Can she just visit with her DH for the time being so the 4 children are managed by two adults? Could you help?

It's not your DM'S fault that your Dsis has more children than she can reasonably manage.

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:13

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If she doesn't visit, it means she will never see her as DM will not visit my sister (or me).

OP posts:
Endofyear · 29/05/2026 15:13

Well if I were your sister, I wouldn't bother visiting her at all!

phoenixrosehere · 29/05/2026 15:12

YANBU

She is being unfair and your sister should go along with her rules and just not bring the kids at all.

It is your mother’s home and she can reap what she sows.

She complains then it could be easily pointed out that her son-in-law isn’t available and toddlers cannot be left alone.

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:12

Netcurtainnelly · 29/05/2026 15:11

Her she finds it too much obviously.

Who is her? Do you mean DM? What help does DM need? My sister looks after the children herself when she visits.

OP posts:
Costatesco · 29/05/2026 15:11

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Netcurtainnelly · 29/05/2026 15:11

timetoban · 29/05/2026 14:41

It is 4 young children.

Help who?

Her she finds it too much obviously.

converseandjeans · 29/05/2026 15:10

Maybe DSIS drops elder two at your Mums - however it sounds like she expects them to sit quietly on a device which isn’t my idea of a visit. Can she not meet up at the park, soft play etc - I can see how having all 4 would be manic but they don’t need to always meet at her house surely?

Zimunya · 29/05/2026 15:10

DM is not unfair to ban the twins. It's her house, and she gets to say who is welcome and who is not.

She is very unfair to expect your sister to continue visiting, but with only 2 of her 4 children.

Fortysevenpl · 29/05/2026 15:05

I can’t figure out what she wants- she says she doesn’t want the two-year-olds in her house, but she doesn’t want to visit them either because it’s too noisy. What is OP’s sister supposed to do with them? Chuck them in the bin?

timetoban · 29/05/2026 15:04

Shatteredallthetimelately · 29/05/2026 14:47

Does your Dsis call time on their running around, out doors is fine, indoors not so.

Does she help tidy up before she goes home or just gathered her DC and leave?

I have my 2 year old GC visit weekly with their parents and also look after them while their parents work, but the only time they run around in doors is if I'm chasing them.
They're given things to do and toys to play with.

If your DM is that tidy surely any mess is what I term "surface mess" and doesn't take more than a few minutes to tidy away.

DSis tidies everything before she leaves. She can't stop them running around all the time inside but does her best.

OP posts:
Costatesco · 29/05/2026 14:59

This reply has been deleted

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

GinWizard · 29/05/2026 14:58

Yeah your mum sounds selfish and extremely unpleasant. Toddlers are hard work. If they were really damaging her house I'd understand it a bit more but if they're just being regular toddlers then she's crackers.

Didimum · 29/05/2026 14:57

Netcurtainnelly · 29/05/2026 14:39

She is telling you she can't cope with 5 young children in the house. Help her rather than take advice about cutting her off.

First of all it's 4 children and no that's not what she's telling her – she's just telling her the 2yr olds aren't welcome.

Didimum · 29/05/2026 14:55

Your DM is entitled to have the visitors she wants at her house, but it's a surefire way to wreck the relationship you have with your child and grandchildren and wouldn't blame your sister at all for breaking ties with her.

RIDICULOUS expectations for 2yr old twins and a cruel way to treat her daughter and grandchildren.

FourSevenThree · 29/05/2026 14:54

Your DM is getting older and doesn't cope well with 4 children including a pair of 2 years olds supervised/entertained by a single adult.
That isn't a character flaw, that's the reality.

If she progressed to banning them, I suppose there was some time when she was expressing it doesn't work for her.

Is your Dsis actively managing them (not by telling them off, but by keeping them occupied) or is she letting them lose to create havoc?

Stoicandhappy · 29/05/2026 14:50

If I were DSIS I wouldn’t be visiting at all…

DaisyChain505 · 29/05/2026 14:48

If I was given the ultimatum I just wouldn’t be perusing a relationship with this person.

Your mum doesn’t sound very maternal or loving and the relationship sounds more hassle than it’s worth.

Most Grandparents have toys in their home for when the kids visit. Children of that age aren’t meant to sit still like they’re visiting the Queen at Buckingham Palace and a 5/6 YO shouldn’t just be sat on screens to keep quiet like that.

Shatteredallthetimelately · 29/05/2026 14:47

Does your Dsis call time on their running around, out doors is fine, indoors not so.

Does she help tidy up before she goes home or just gathered her DC and leave?

I have my 2 year old GC visit weekly with their parents and also look after them while their parents work, but the only time they run around in doors is if I'm chasing them.
They're given things to do and toys to play with.

If your DM is that tidy surely any mess is what I term "surface mess" and doesn't take more than a few minutes to tidy away.

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