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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Do you just accept or decline invitations from family or do you ask if you can bring someone or have a conversation about occasion?

129 replies

demesneDame · 30/08/2026 12:25

I am genuinely interested in how families roll with this.

If your child/sibling invited you to their house, not necessarily for an occasion but a Bank Holiday or around Christmas or Easter do you just simply accept or decline?

Or would you say for example Granny will be with us.
Or can I bring my partner?
Or can my partner bring their child?
Or simply ring asking if they can help with something/bring something?

Remember this is your child/sibling so someone you are close to.

OP posts:
PopcornKitten · 30/08/2026 12:43

I’m assuming if they’re catering for you, they’d need to know how many is coming? I tend to clarify.
I know some people who say they assume the invite is for all of the people/family that live together.

Softcream · 30/08/2026 12:42

I think it would be normal to ask if your partner is invited but possibly a little cheeky to ask if their child can come (depending on how well they know your sibling, whether there are other kids coming etc).

Completely normal to text and ask if you can bring anything.

I haven't voted as it's not clear what the voting options mean.

Dokushozanmai · 30/08/2026 12:37

I’m not sure how the voting works but I would invite someone and expect them to say if they need to bring their dog or a new partner or something rather than just decline the invitation.

PurpleMarshmallowSky · 30/08/2026 12:28

Very close family I would feel comfortable asking for an informal event. But I wouldn’t assume the answer would be yes and wouldn’t hold it against them if they said no.

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