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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Have you noticed this with your parents as they’ve got older?

294 replies

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:25

I don’t know if i’m being unfair. I’m in my early forties and my parents are late sixties. They have a few buy to let properties and whilst not incredibly wealthy they are comfortable. I feel this detail is relevant as it means they have lots of options open to them. Neither work now, they are in decent health generally, have a few grandchildren they see regularly. Both have wide friendship groups and socialise.

But, they just don’t seem happy. Always wanting something else. Is this what happens as you get older? The current drama is whether they need to move house, it’s like they enjoy creating a chaotic situation that simply doesn’t need to exist. Every weekend they’ve asked me to view houses with them (I have two dc so life is quite busy!) and they often comment on how life is nearly over.

On a lesser scale, there’s often dramas about getting home from a shop and the blueberries or whatever being off, calling the shop and having a rant about it, just really insane petty things. It all seems so stressful even from the outside!

I have sympathy in the sense that I can understand how life can feel empty sometimes even when it isn’t, but truthfully I’m also getting sick of the inability to see they have a pretty nice life! AIBU? Is this what happens as people
age?

OP posts:
Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:35

HumanOfTheWeek · 12/06/2026 20:32

Yes, my parents are like this and so is my MIL. I think they’ve always had little joy in life but before they were busier and it wasn’t as noticeable.

@HumanOfTheWeek i am trying to think back as to whether it was always like this

OP posts:
Holdinguphalfthesky · 12/06/2026 20:34

My dc works in a cafe and says “old people” (by which she means the age of grandparents, ie 60+) are the worst for complaining and being mean over petty things.

hourspassed · 12/06/2026 20:34

I can recognise some of this in myself and my DH. He is late 60s and I am early 50s and I feel our age difference (15 years) is much, much more noticeable now.

He doesn't want to move house or anything like that but he gets so stressed about the most minor things. I find myself treating him like a child at times and shielding him from things. For example if there is a problem with my car or a health issue I will just deal with it myself - unless he has to know. Our washing machine broke down a few week ago and honestly it was like the end of the world. We are comfortably off financially so there is no worry at all - I just bought a new one - but he just seems so fragile and unable to cope with life stuff at times - drives me mad!

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:34

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 12/06/2026 20:33

I know this was to another PP but no for us.

My mum just moved house - when she moved in they had left it in a state. She rolled her eyes and booked a deep clean. Recently her van door got significantly damaged - she mentioned it the day it happened and then not again unless I asked "have you got it back from the garage yet"

@JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff i think this is the thing… in some ways i hope I am more relaxed rather than less as i age!

OP posts:
MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 12/06/2026 20:34

No minor inconveniences wouldn't bother her other than a quick moan and move on.

Henrythegorilla · 12/06/2026 20:33

My mum is early 80’s and not like this. She has a great life and is upbeat the majority of the time. She might email a supermarket if she had bought food that was bad, but definitely not rant.

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:33

AnonymityAnonymity · 12/06/2026 20:30

You know that people are still individuals when they get older?
We don't automatically start behaving and thinking all the same just because we have a few extra miles on the clock.

@AnonymityAnonymity of course but some things can be explained by ageing

OP posts:
JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 12/06/2026 20:33

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:30

@MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo would she be upset over inconveniences?

I know this was to another PP but no for us.

My mum just moved house - when she moved in they had left it in a state. She rolled her eyes and booked a deep clean. Recently her van door got significantly damaged - she mentioned it the day it happened and then not again unless I asked "have you got it back from the garage yet"

HumanOfTheWeek · 12/06/2026 20:32

Yes, my parents are like this and so is my MIL. I think they’ve always had little joy in life but before they were busier and it wasn’t as noticeable.

limetrees32 · 12/06/2026 20:31

My diagnosis is that they don't have enough going on in their lives.

PurpleLovecats · 12/06/2026 20:31

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:27

@PurpleLovecats would mild inconveniences get to them?

Nope not really!

JohnnyMcGrathSaysFuckOff · 12/06/2026 20:30

Yeah, no. My dad is like that but always has been and has probably mellowed with age.

My mum is 77 and is calm, practical, resilient like she always has been. Does have a nap most days - that is only real difference.

AnonymityAnonymity · 12/06/2026 20:30

You know that people are still individuals when they get older?
We don't automatically start behaving and thinking all the same just because we have a few extra miles on the clock.

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:30

MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 12/06/2026 20:28

No my mum is 80 and very chirpy and content. She does get tired easier but that's all.

@MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo would she be upset over inconveniences?

OP posts:
MovedlikeHarlowinMonteCarlo · 12/06/2026 20:28

No my mum is 80 and very chirpy and content. She does get tired easier but that's all.

Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:27

PurpleLovecats · 12/06/2026 20:27

Not with my parents. Mid 80s, still very positive and upbeat.

@PurpleLovecats would mild inconveniences get to them?

OP posts:
Thesleer · 12/06/2026 20:27

@TeenToTwenties that’s definitely made me feel worse! I just don’t know what to do to make them see they should be happy with life

OP posts:
PurpleLovecats · 12/06/2026 20:27

Not with my parents. Mid 80s, still very positive and upbeat.

TeenToTwenties · 12/06/2026 20:26

No. This is your parents, not a general thing imo.