Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse to lend DS £1,200 when he's still booked to go on holiday?

309 replies

Jaxonus · 12/07/2026 13:25

I don't know what to do for the best as whatever I do frrls wrong
It's been a nightmare few years (probably 4) with DS and I thought we were through the other side but now I don't know

It's too long to list but something changed and he didn't care about his behaviour or school, he wasn't ever academic and was much better at practical type lessons but he was well behaved up until then but he seemed to enjoy being the class cleon and no matter what punishment he got he didn't care and in fact found it funny. He was also fixated on girls and I spoke to him multiple times about how he was treating them but that didn't go in either

When he was 16 announced he had a gf and she was pregnant but was cagy and defensive about other details and told me to stop questioning him. In the end it turned out he was lying and on a dating app and his gf was 22, she apparently knew his real age and didn't mind which I didn't believe but it later turned our that it was true.

She already had a child and ds seemed to have taken on the father role for both children. I know people will judge me especially because of the age gap but I didn't know what to do and if I went all in with anger and disapproval it would have just pushed him away when we didn't have the best relationship as it was. He’d just turned 16 and I found out about 2 months before she gave birth and he would have been 15 when baby was conceived and I did call his school and tried to speak to safeguarding as he was under the age of consent but nothing really was done and he ended up failing his gcses

He spent a year doing nothing pretty much apart from the bare minimum at college but his attendance was atrocious, he gave up rugby and he spent most of his time with her and if not in his room

Then last year he got an apprenticeship in carpentry and he seemed to enjoy it and I thought great, I bought him decent boots, gave him lifts on the odd few occasions he needed me to if the buses were unreliable due to the weather or something, lend him money if he was short until payday etc. And it was going great but he ended up losing it a few weeks ago die to health and safety, there wasn't a huge incident it was a bunch of things and his bosses were probably more patient than some would've been but he threw it back into their faces

He’d been spoken to multiple times about not having the right gear, taking shortcuts, climbing where he shouldn't, stupid little things that he shouldve known better for. According to him everyone else did it but whether they did or not is here nor there as they kept warning him until they'd had enough. He's convinced they just wanted rid of him and are using this as an excuse

Since then, he says he's applied for a few jobs but then circles back and says there's no jobs anyway. He's back to spending most his time in his room or with his gf even during weekdays when the children are at school or nursery as his gf doesn't work dur to a health condition. I've always been polite to her for my grandchild's sake but I don't agree with the choices they make

He still lives here officially and came home yesterday and asked me to lend him money, apparently £1,200 for his gf as she needs it for bills and there's some issue with child maintenance for the older child's dad, he kept saying it was only temporary and he/she would pay me back, I said no and he's turned it on me saying I don't care and he's weaponsing contact with the grandchildren now

The thing is, I could potentially do it but i’d be stretched but the reason I said no was because in a few weeks he's booked to go to Italy with her and the children, he booked it using his government trust fund he got at 18, which I told him to be careful with but no he knows best and booked a holiday

I mentioned it yesterday and he said it's different as it's already been booked and the children are excited and I can't tell him to upset a 5 and 2 year old by csncelling and they'd lose some money anyway. They've never been abroad and want to make memories etc (which they could do here and go next year or when they have more money)

I'm not made of money but I'm careful because I have to be and I do have money put away for emergencies like car repairs or things like that. He's barely spoken to me and apparently I'm unsupportive. I've mentioned jobs again and he said he'll look properly after their holiday but repeated there's no jobs anywhere

If he'd actually been looking and cancelled id maybe I wouldn't have hesitated but he isn't helping himself or anyone But he's accused of me making the children suffer but I don't see how I am

AIBU for refusing?

OP posts:
GrandmasCat · 12/07/2026 18:01

I always thought that children do not grow up until they need to survive without the money of their parents.

If you give him the money, your son will miss a magnificent opportunity to see how things go to hell and relationships end when one doesn’t pull their weight. Though as it is, you need to let him deal with the consequences of his own actions (or lack of) before things get much worse.

ShetlandishMum · 12/07/2026 18:00

diddl · 12/07/2026 17:58

Shame.

Why would nursery fees be paid for two unemployed parents?

Don't have have ascess to funded hours?

diddl · 12/07/2026 17:58

fundamentallyauthentic · 12/07/2026 17:42

You’re naive if you think she’s paying for that herself.

Shame.

Why would nursery fees be paid for two unemployed parents?

Beachtastic · 12/07/2026 17:52

His GF can't be the most stable person in the world and is already creating unreasonable demands. It seems possible that even he might not have easy access to his child at some point, so don't let that be used as blackmail to twist the cash out of you.

Dweetfidilove · 12/07/2026 17:52

Housebashing · 12/07/2026 14:07

It’s £1200 £100 a month versus not having a relationship with your son and your grandchildren ? I spend more than that getting my nails done and you probably waste 100 quid quite happily on another stuff that you don’t need. Just give the kid the money.

The kid is now a father of 2.

As you believe in subsidising men, inbox the OP for his details a d send him your nail money.

Puzzledandpissedoff · 12/07/2026 17:52

I genuinely can't think of any possible reason why you would give him the money. Even "to keep seeing the grandchild" makes no sense, since when the inevitable split comes their mother may well not let you see them, and it sounds as if the chances of him bothering with his child is small

There's such a thing as chucking good money after bad, and this seems the very definition of it

Bonkers1966 · 12/07/2026 17:45

Do not give him the money.

Namenamchange · 12/07/2026 17:45

NeverDropYourMooncup · 12/07/2026 15:15

He's cocklodging off her.

Does this mean he's made a grand gesture of getting her to book a holiday without having the money to back it up?

Hardly, he was abused and groomed at the age of 15 by a 22 year old adult. Who he now has an entangled life with.

fundamentallyauthentic · 12/07/2026 17:42

diddl · 12/07/2026 17:21

Neither of them work but the youngest is in nursery-there's some money that she could save!

You’re naive if you think she’s paying for that herself.

RoseOliviaAu · 12/07/2026 17:26

Jaxonus · 12/07/2026 17:06

DS used to be quite close to a group of boys from rugby but after he quit (after playing for years ) he stopped hanging around with them and its literally just her who he sees, no friends. At least when he was working he was socialising with others too

ADHD has never been mentioned, he was never exactly academic but the issues didn't really start until he was 14

Sounds like she groomed and isolated him tbh. I feel sorry for him on those grounds but it doesn’t give him carte blanche to treat you like shit.

RoseOliviaAu · 12/07/2026 17:24

I’m gobsmacked that school wouldn’t act. Or that nobody called the police tbh. She’s a nonce.

As for the money, he’s a grown up. Money is got through work. So he has to work to support his peado girlfriend and their children. He will continue to take and take and take otherwise.

Jellybean23 · 12/07/2026 17:23

One way or another, there will probably be a falling out with your son. If it isn't about the holiday 'loan', it'll be something else. He has to learn the hard way, it might as well be sooner than later.

diddl · 12/07/2026 17:21

Neither of them work but the youngest is in nursery-there's some money that she could save!

Bobcurlygirl · 12/07/2026 17:16

No don't give it. Unfortunately it will be the top of an iceberg. Offer to get some food in. Do you ever see this child? Can you buy new clothes or something for it?
You need to be clear with your son that if he stops you seeing him then that is his decision but you will help where you can. In the meantime whats going on with finances at home. Does he pay board and lodgings to you? I know he's lost his job but presumably was paying while working? He needs to pay to stay at home now by working so encourage him getting a job. Has he signed on?.
If he won't pay rent he can move in with her and help her out.
Be warned... You will bailing him out for ever otherwise.

Fiendishandfiery · 12/07/2026 17:12

God you must be so ashamed of him,and there are kids in this mess too , emotionally blackmailing you, lying to you, with his hand out, so he can go on hol on uour money

you habe to say no, these two need to learn personal responsibility.it won’t be the last request,they will take everything you have. And laugh about it as they spend it on meals out and enjoying ghemselves in Italy

he’s no respect for you. Or himself.

Herewegoagainandagainandagain · 12/07/2026 17:12

I wouldn't. You do it this time on threat of not seeing your dgc he'll just do it again and again.

Hopefully in time the pair of them will mature and become more responsible, but handing over money to them when they try to blackmail you is not the way to encourage it.

ShetlandishMum · 12/07/2026 17:07

You wont see that £1200 again.
I wouldn't. They need to sort their game and more money to spend won't do any difference.

Jaxonus · 12/07/2026 17:06

DS used to be quite close to a group of boys from rugby but after he quit (after playing for years ) he stopped hanging around with them and its literally just her who he sees, no friends. At least when he was working he was socialising with others too

ADHD has never been mentioned, he was never exactly academic but the issues didn't really start until he was 14

OP posts:
menopausequeen · 12/07/2026 17:05

Pull back from this. Keep telling him you love him but he needs to take responsibility for his choices. When he tells you something say have you considered what could go wrong if you do x instead of y? If he has then it’s on him not you.

I doubt he will keep the children from you forever. He will need childcare

notatinydancer · 12/07/2026 17:00

stargirl1701 · 12/07/2026 15:50

Send food. Get ASDA to deliver so you know they are all eating.

He sounds exceptionally impulsive. Was there ever a conversation about querying ADHD at any point in his school life?

I’ve done that to my detriment , the money they should have spent on food went elsewhere.

WhyamIinahandcartandwherearewegoing · 12/07/2026 16:59

Hard no. He wants to be an adult and have a gf and family? Let him also shoulder the adult bills, and get a fucking job. As can the gf, I highly doubt the health condition is for anything else rather than benefit purposes. Pair of lazy arses.

Ponderingwindow · 12/07/2026 16:54

I wouldn’t give him any money unless it is directly paying for a dna test.

You are walking on eggshells worrying that he will go off the rails. He is there.

If you love these children like your grandchildren, then you should want the best for them. That means responsible parents. A relationship with you is a bonus, not a necessity. If it is temporarily or even permanently removed, that might be the price of improvement.

Grammarninja · 12/07/2026 16:53

Do not give him a penny. Being supportive would be paying for education. Do not buckle under the emotional manipulation. He won't cut you off for long, he simply can't afford to so you hold all the cards here and make sure he realises that.

somanychristmaslights · 12/07/2026 16:51

An all inclusive in Italy? Seems odd, didn’t think Italy did things like that?
you wouldn’t be lending it to him, you’d be giving it to him as you’ll never get it back. Im not surprised her parents aren’t in contact, considering their daughter was having sex with a child.
I don’t think you’re going to change him, he needs to stand on his own 2 feet now.

AmberSpy · 12/07/2026 16:42

momtoboys · 12/07/2026 16:36

YANBU. If he is making adult choices such as having a child, not trying in uni, not finding a job, he should have real life consequences. Let them figure it out.

By definition he could not make an adult choice about having a child, because he was 15 when the girlfriend got pregnant. I'd be so devastated if a child of mine, male or female, became a parent at that age. Some of the language used about this young man is so awful - he is a victim in this situation. He really needs some help.