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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to feel put out by my daughter's changed school run request?

382 replies

Helcarlol · 03/09/2026 19:31

Hi all, so my DD has 2 DDs who are 2 and 4. Her eldest started primary 1 this year and last year my DD went back to work super part time as a peripatetic music instructor in schools. She works exclusively within school hours.
Last year she did 2 full days a week and I provided childcare on one and her MIL the other. This year she has opted to put her youngest in nursery for most of her hours and eldest is obviously in school.
She asked if on the two days where she starts earlier could I come over and walk the girls to school/nursery, I only live 10 minutes walk away and she is less than 10 to the school so I agreed, I don’t work those days anyway.

So far I’ve been going round for about 8, leaving with the girls around 8:30, DD leaves at the same time.

I also collect them one day a week but she is home for around 3:20 so I don’t have them for long.

This evening she has messaged me asking if tomorrow I can aim to arrive closer to 8:25/30, so she can just leave for work as soon as I arrive and I can leave to take the children to school. This has annoyed me, so far all I’ve been doing is helping with the girls getting ready, making myself a cup of tea etc, and I’ve enjoyed that little bit of extra time with them as otherwise I only see them once a week for 2 hours.

AIBU to think this is rude and unnecessary?

OP posts:
Hoardasurass · 04/09/2026 21:55

lovemelovemydogs · 04/09/2026 21:08

Seems like she wants her cake and eat it! If she wants your help she should be more accommodating. What a diva!

She doesn't want her help and has told her not to bother anymore because not only was she getting in the way she was making passive aggressive comments to the dgc, belittling mum and trying to alienate them from their mum all whilst prattaling on about golden child son and his kids.

The only diva is the op who wants to belittle and tair down her daughter and has had her nose put out of place by being told enough is enough

Freshrain · 04/09/2026 21:53

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 04/09/2026 17:12

I can see both sides. However, I'd tell her that I come at 8 or she can make alternative arrangements ... perhaps other grandparents want to do one drop off?

Have you not read the OP's posts?

The dd has already made alternative arrangements.
The OP is trying to make out she is 'helping' her dd, but is actually causing an issue. She's not really in a position to demand anything, and by doing so, has found she is no longer going to be taking the little ones to school and Nursery.

BudgetBuster · 04/09/2026 21:47

lovemelovemydogs · 04/09/2026 21:08

Seems like she wants her cake and eat it! If she wants your help she should be more accommodating. What a diva!

Have you actually read the thread?

Movingonup313 · 04/09/2026 21:27

What time are you dropping the dgc off at? If you have them for circa 30 mins each day, I dont find her request unreasonable. If you only have them for say 10 mins each day I would be like, nah, id rather not go to all that effort in the morning just to see them for 10 mins.

She have accommodated all of her requests - time for her to be a bit more flexible with you. If you do only habe the kids for 10 mins in the morning id meet her half way-ish and agree to coming at 8.10/8.15 and explain why

lovemelovemydogs · 04/09/2026 21:08

Seems like she wants her cake and eat it! If she wants your help she should be more accommodating. What a diva!

Runnermumof2 · 04/09/2026 20:19

Helcarlol · 03/09/2026 19:46

I’ve asked for more time, DD hosts me for dinner on Wednesdays. She says Monday and Friday afternoon aren’t good as she has plans with the children or wants to do things with them, have time as a family. I work Tuesday and Thursday and at the weekend they are always busy but might pop in for a cuppa if they are around.

That already sounds like a lot of time spent with them to be honest. Does the MIL have equal time as well. I think I'm on DD side .

Differentforgirls · 04/09/2026 20:17

Timeforachange26 · 04/09/2026 19:40

Do you reckon she's still going to accept the free holiday?

Hopefully not.

SerenaCat93 · 04/09/2026 19:47

Arbourimage · 04/09/2026 19:44

You’re obsessed with criticising the DD.

Yes, there's clearly some bitterness there.

Maybe her daughter told her she didn't want her help with something anymore or maybe she didn't get any help when she was a young mum and now thinks everyone should be snivelling in gratitude and accept any old shit treatment because how dare they not.

There's obviously something happened here. She's way too triggered by it.

Arbourimage · 04/09/2026 19:44

Timeforachange26 · 04/09/2026 19:40

Do you reckon she's still going to accept the free holiday?

You’re obsessed with criticising the DD.

Timeforachange26 · 04/09/2026 19:40

Differentforgirls · 04/09/2026 19:26

OP's daughter didn't need to be told. She made HER decision not to pander to her mum anymore and has cancelled the 'favour'.

BTW, no one who loves children belittles their mother to them.

Do you reckon she's still going to accept the free holiday?

Timeforachange26 · 04/09/2026 19:39

beAsensible1 · 04/09/2026 19:25

Just offer to do some ad hoc babysitting when they want to go out. Rather than something scheduled 8am on a weekday isn’t the best time for a catch up. Or ask for a job so you aren’t in the way

Or just back out and tell her to look after her own bloody kids and pay for her own holidays. Simple everyone happy then

Differentforgirls · 04/09/2026 19:26

Brucebogtrotter257 · 04/09/2026 19:18

I think she is taking the biscuit! She sounds bloody ungrateful and is playing on the fact you love the kids to dictate the terms. Tell her to find a child minder or breakfast club. God begrudging you a cup of tea is a joke. She sound like an ungrateful woman.

OP's daughter didn't need to be told. She made HER decision not to pander to her mum anymore and has cancelled the 'favour'.

BTW, no one who loves children belittles their mother to them.

beAsensible1 · 04/09/2026 19:25

Just offer to do some ad hoc babysitting when they want to go out. Rather than something scheduled 8am on a weekday isn’t the best time for a catch up. Or ask for a job so you aren’t in the way

Brucebogtrotter257 · 04/09/2026 19:18

I think she is taking the biscuit! She sounds bloody ungrateful and is playing on the fact you love the kids to dictate the terms. Tell her to find a child minder or breakfast club. God begrudging you a cup of tea is a joke. She sound like an ungrateful woman.

TigerJoy · 04/09/2026 18:55

Oh god the talking about your other grandkids.

We thought my mum's brother's kids were the favoured grandchildren as they were all granny talked about.

However we discovered later that all she talked about with them was us.

And it was just an extension of the playing favourites she did with her son and daughter. Son was definitely the golden child, but heartless mind games were payed for decades. She just loved being in the middle and stirring the pot. Upsetting everyone and making her favour seem worth fighting for.

Still love her, still spent time with her, but saw her for what she was.

Keep your trap shut about the other grandkids. And as you take them both on holidays, make them the same length. 4 or 5 days each if that is all you can afford.

MiddleParking · 04/09/2026 18:34

It sounds like the dynamic is that OP prefers to relate to her children by being made to feel needed and important. Her feckless son is happy to oblige by accepting childcare and indirect financial support eg holidays. Her daughter, the less favoured child, had made a bid for connection with her mother by asking for a ‘favour’ that she didn’t strictly need, given that she has a limited work schedule, a presumably high-earning husband and very supportive in laws. OP has been keen to bring DD down a peg or two due to feeling inferior to DD and said ILs and husband, and when tackled on it, is now annoyed to find that DD didn’t actually need her at all.

Differentforgirls · 04/09/2026 18:31

ArtieChoke · 04/09/2026 17:33

seems there is a lot of jealousy here and instead of keeping a lid on what their siblings been doing you talk about them to each other - ffs, if two siblings don't get on don't talk about the other when your at the others

Think OP is playing a game of divide and conquer with her children.

HairyAries · 04/09/2026 18:08

Oh OP, it sounds like your DD has been having to grit her teeth while you’ve been there making negative comments, and now she’s had enough.
It’s good though that she’s told you what the issues were.
Maybe to you it was just a joke about school being boring, but try to remember that her daughter is only 4 and DD really wants her to see school in a positive way, which makes her a good and considerate mother.

CruelsummerTS · 04/09/2026 18:07

ginasevern · 04/09/2026 15:46

Let's just hope the MIL lives up to standards then and continues to like the idea of her school runs being doubled. But we'll see. Grandmothers are expected to do exactly as they're told and keep their mouths shut at all times it seems. Almost as if they're sub-human. The worst thing is, this attitude mostly prevails amongst younger women so I suppose it's one less thing to blame the patriarchy for.

Who brought up those “younger women” though and taught them boundaries and self respect?! The grandmothers did a great job and made their daughters into confident women!
But now they don’t like it when their adult children express their opinions or correct them (usually on an outdated parenting issue or attitude) and loudly disapprove when their children live their lives differently to how they did or how they expect!!

CruelsummerTS · 04/09/2026 17:59

JayJayj · 04/09/2026 13:17

Love your accountability. 🙄

And blatant favouritism of DS!

lola006 · 04/09/2026 17:58

This whole post is so fascinating to me. OP describes her DD are wanting to take her DC to their activities and wanting to have family time at weekends while ensuring OP gets to see the DGC at least once per week…and that makes the DD controlling and selfish?! Women cannot win.

I’ve been waiting for a drip feed before commenting and I guess now knowing that OP makes snide comments in the morning and that she possibly favours her DS explains a bit more. OP stepping back and enjoying her weekly dinner, ensuring no snarky comments are made toward her DD (and the DGC about their mum!!) will hopefully help mend things.

ArtieChoke · 04/09/2026 17:33

Helcarlol · 04/09/2026 08:05

They don’t like each other, it’s not just DD who dislikes him.

DD thinks I prefer her brother, give him more support and let him away with things even though he is an adult.
He thinks DD has gotten too big for her boots and judges his parenting.
DD thinks his children are bad influences, DS thinks her children are being raised to be little princesses etc.

There is no getting them to agree, I think the last time they had a nice conversation they must have been 10 and 13!

seems there is a lot of jealousy here and instead of keeping a lid on what their siblings been doing you talk about them to each other - ffs, if two siblings don't get on don't talk about the other when your at the others

Ethelspagetti · 04/09/2026 17:29

I’ve read your updates and I think your daughter seems to have a chip on her shoulder. She seems to think you prefer her brother and their children over hers. I would ignore it and give her some space. Tell her they are always welcome to see you and leave it with them.

Mangoandbroccoli · 04/09/2026 17:13

Wow, I thought there might another side and was trying to be diplomatic when I replied before, but now I’m completely with your daughter! I think she was incredible measured and articulate in her reply - I would be really hurt by your constant comments and actions and yet she’s still happy to continue having you over for a meal every week for the sake of your relationship with both her and her children. My mother can make judgy remarks and favours my sibling and it has really ground me down over the years and affected the amount of time we spend together. The fact you don’t seem to take any accountability for this is really sad.

ByQuaintAzureWasp · 04/09/2026 17:12

I can see both sides. However, I'd tell her that I come at 8 or she can make alternative arrangements ... perhaps other grandparents want to do one drop off?