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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU not to thank BIL and SIL for a belated birthday card

36 replies

TTC0405 · 28/07/2026 21:20

We used to be super close to BIL & SIL to the point I was the first two keep both their children for the first time when they were small (individually at young ages). I have since had my own child and we now have very little contact with them and there's been zero help offered the way I helped the. With baby sitting and pick ups etc. my husband and I tried to keep the relationship but can only be a one sided for so long. I still text to ask if the kids are having parties to make sure we are there and the answer has been no, so I ensure present or card is dropped on or before their birthday. It's now 4 months passed my childs 1st birthday and have just been told they've left a card at shared grandparents house. ABIU to not text and say thank you? They've still not went out their way to get my child their gift or seen said child. I think it's horrible that we were worth speaking to when we could aid them with their kids, but now I can't due to my own we have no relationship.

OP posts:
BennyHenny · 28/07/2026 22:03

I didn’t know you were to meant to thank people for giving a birthday card, have never done that! And definitely wouldn’t in these circumstances 😂

SueKeeper · 28/07/2026 22:00

Who is related (my money is on the two men being brothers)? That's who should sort it out, not the "who owes who what," but checking in with each other to see what's happened.

How much remembering, communication and gifts would happen if you left it up to DH? It's possible that's what's happened, SIL has just decided that BILs family is his responsibility. It's also possible that there's something going on with them.

If it was friends, I'd let it slide, but family is worth following up with, just not as a "foursome," if that makes sense.

FinallyHere · 28/07/2026 21:53

Could you thank them for ‘sending a birthday card for ‘x’ to the mutual grandparents ?

Willowskyblue · 28/07/2026 21:50

So they couldn’t even be bothered posting it? No I wouldn’t thank them and wouldn’t be reciprocating at all.

Dragonflyspeeding · 28/07/2026 21:49

I'd reply with a brief thanks and would stop buying gifts for their kids.

I remembered my nieces and nephews birthdays and bought Christmas gifts when I was childfree. When I had kids, their parents announced they would no longer be 'exchanging' gifts. I haven't seen them in years.

EmeraldShamrock000 · 28/07/2026 21:48

I would text to say thank you, although you are probably owed a heap of babysitting returns, it rarely works that way.
I would be tempted to say that going forward you won’t be doing presents in the future as you now realise children don’t need extra crap.
This way you are thanking them and saying the present is crap too.

WaltzingWaters · 28/07/2026 21:45

No that’s awful. I’d stop with presents for their children too and just send a card.

Tillow4ever · 28/07/2026 21:44

I think I’d passive aggressively text and say thank you for X’s card, I think you must have the wrong date in your diary though as their birthday was X. I know you wouldn’t miss it deliberately, so thought I should let you know for next year.

GeishaTrumpet · 28/07/2026 21:42

No I wouldn’t respond either.My brother didn’t send a card or wish my child a happy birthday when they turned 18 so why should I bother? It’s rubbish when you are expected to make all the effort to maintain relationships. I’m in my 40s now and so done with trying to keep the family “together”.

TheJoyousHiker · 28/07/2026 21:29

And to add, I’d now stop buying their children gifts.

TheJoyousHiker · 28/07/2026 21:28

Just for politeness, I’d text and say thanks for card, hope all well. Just brief and to the point.