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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Childcare woes

157 replies

Oldandtirednow · 11/09/2026 08:22

This is not so much of a AIBU; rather WWYD?
My son has two children. One was 2 in July and the other was born in August. So very much a new born.
Partner comes from wealthy background. Has had to fight for nothing. Privately educated but who still cannot get a job that she can support herself.

they are currently living in my sons house. She used to live in a flat that her parents owned.
He has a very well paid job. £250+. So money not tight.
they live about 3 hours away.
I am spending way too much time there and am exhausted, as well as having no life of my own because she “cannot cope” with two of them on her own.
he does nearly all the childcare and all of the housework and cooking.

he Wfh and she regularly interrupts him to do childcare if I am not there.
Part of me wants to tell them just to get on with it. But I know if I am not there he will be taking time off for childcare plus housework, which may mean he loses his job.
they have a nanny starting soon but I know they will also want me.
I know it is none of my business how they run their lives. But it feels like my business as he could lose his job because of the amount of time he has to take off. I am also exhausted with it all. I seem to have no life of my own.
despite all of this, I really like her. She is friendly, personable and good company. Just USELESS.
just ranting really and looking for advice.

OP posts:
Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 18:49

I do realise I am not speaking kindly of DIL. However, I regard her as part of my family and will not speak ill of her in real life as I do not want anyone either I know, or she knows, to think badly of her. Although I I know they probably do, I am not going to fan the flames.

This is the reason I came here anonymously.
I also realise I am enabling this behaviour, and this is why I am so conflicted. Do I go when they ask? Do I say no? It is very difficult.
I am pleased they have a nanny now and the situation will hopefully improve.

OP posts:
FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 18:46

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 18:43

Because the nanny isn’t there after 6.
Because the nanny isn’t there at the weekend. (Both of those are under review and they might need someone at night or in the evening in case he has to work past 5pm. She cannot cope with 2 on her own)
Because my son has to go away for a night next week.
And just in case you need it clarifying. …
Because she asked me.

So it isnt her you are helping. You are doing your sons part. For goodness sake. Why isnt he there in the evenings and on the weekend?
You're cross with the wrong person...

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 18:43

FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 18:19

Why do you still need to be there now that the nanny has started?

Because the nanny isn’t there after 6.
Because the nanny isn’t there at the weekend. (Both of those are under review and they might need someone at night or in the evening in case he has to work past 5pm. She cannot cope with 2 on her own)
Because my son has to go away for a night next week.
And just in case you need it clarifying. …
Because she asked me.

OP posts:
FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 18:19

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:39

I think I have answered it properly. But if you need it spelling out. Then of course I was asked.
I am hoping to have too much time on my hands in two weeks.

but for now I am still there.

Why do you still need to be there now that the nanny has started?

Ohnobackagain · 18/09/2026 18:10

@Oldandtirednow they are both adults and I think you would benefit from stepping back. Your son needs to work things out with his wife. They will muddle through, it is early days with the second being so young.

WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:51

I mean on the one hand you are saying you can't cope but then on the other hand you are choosing to keep doing this.

Don't you worry that you are keeping your DIL like this by not giving them a chance to create their own routine with the nanny?

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:46

WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:44

I'm trying to understand why you feel that you can't say no to them despite being so exhausted.

Perhaps it is because DIL is struggling, and I don’t want that?
I thought that might be obvious.

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:44

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:43

?????
Why would they do that?

I'm trying to understand why you feel that you can't say no to them despite being so exhausted.

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:43

WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:41

Have they threatened no contact if you don't comply with them?

?????
Why would they do that?

OP posts:
WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:41

Have they threatened no contact if you don't comply with them?

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:39

FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:37

What a roundabout way to avoid answering properly.
Too much free time now the nanny has started?

I think I have answered it properly. But if you need it spelling out. Then of course I was asked.
I am hoping to have too much time on my hands in two weeks.

but for now I am still there.

OP posts:
FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:37

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:34

Well who do you think? Do you think I just turned up an asked for? Or do you think they asked me?

What a roundabout way to avoid answering properly.
Too much free time now the nanny has started?

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:35

FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:20

And most people vote without reading the thread. My impression of OP certainly changed with time...

well that would make them a bit silly really. Don’t you think?

So I am presuming you don’t agree with the majority who are a bit silly?

OP posts:
Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:34

FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:12

So OP, who asked you to show the nanny the ropes?

Well who do you think? Do you think I just turned up an asked for? Or do you think they asked me?

OP posts:
Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:33

BirthdayTrash · 18/09/2026 17:14

Voting isn’t obligatory.

I don’t think I said it was!

OP posts:
FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:20

BirthdayTrash · 18/09/2026 17:14

Voting isn’t obligatory.

And most people vote without reading the thread. My impression of OP certainly changed with time...

WhatNoRaisins · 18/09/2026 17:16

Most voters get why you are exhausted so have voted YANBU. I think what you consider to be unpleasant comments are from people looking at the whole situation.

Many of us have been criticised by our own MILs and I think there is a bit of projection with that. On the one hand the way you describe this woman sounds very harsh, on the other hand none of us here know her and you could well be being accurate.

For me it's that you come off with a bit of a saviour complex. These people have the money to hire a nanny. It doesn't sound like your son is in immediate danger of losing his job and it doesn't sound like social services has them on their radar either. Many of us simply don't see the need for you to burn yourself out in order to rescue them, they don't need rescuing.

Let them utilise the nanny and whatever other support they need and enjoy being a grandma.

BirthdayTrash · 18/09/2026 17:14

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:04

Result of the poll is in. Less than a third of people seem to think I am unreasonable.
Yet most of the comments suggest I am unreasonable. Most of the unpleasant posts are from the “you are being unreasonable”.
Says quite a lot really. Perhaps the people who chose to write unpleasant posts feel they are not heard in real life? I wonder why?

Voting isn’t obligatory.

FirmSnake · 18/09/2026 17:12

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:04

Result of the poll is in. Less than a third of people seem to think I am unreasonable.
Yet most of the comments suggest I am unreasonable. Most of the unpleasant posts are from the “you are being unreasonable”.
Says quite a lot really. Perhaps the people who chose to write unpleasant posts feel they are not heard in real life? I wonder why?

So OP, who asked you to show the nanny the ropes?

Oldandtirednow · 18/09/2026 17:04

Result of the poll is in. Less than a third of people seem to think I am unreasonable.
Yet most of the comments suggest I am unreasonable. Most of the unpleasant posts are from the “you are being unreasonable”.
Says quite a lot really. Perhaps the people who chose to write unpleasant posts feel they are not heard in real life? I wonder why?

OP posts:
Ponderingwindow · 13/09/2026 17:20

This is a baby that can’t be more than 6 weeks old. Many mothers don’t manage anything more than breastfeeding and healing from childbirth during that time.

I had hyperemesis so could barely do anything while pregnant.

Some babies are practically little demons who just scream and scream unless their mother’s are holding them.

It’s hard to tell if you are being unreasonable and expecting a woman who just had a baby to be superhuman or not. There are so many times that this time of life is just impossibly difficult and the father really does have to step up and do almost everything except the breastfeeding.

There are also rare cases where the woman is just a diva. Maybe you do have one of those. If that really is the case, just step back and let your son make his choices.

Wingingit73 · 13/09/2026 17:16

You sound very harsh towards your daughter in law, who is quite possibly in the depths of pnd. It doesnt sound like her family can be physically, which must be present, ,which must be hard.
As you are exhausted i would simply back off and encourage them to use a nanny sooner. Your son should go with his wife to gp.

MomOfTwoGirls2 · 13/09/2026 17:11

OP, do you suffer from anxiety? Are you Catastrophizing?

Stop stressing about your son losing his job.

Jobs are much more family friendly these days. Also much more flexibility to complete work at home.

Calling his wife useless is horrible. She has 2 very young children. It is not unusual to struggle.

Your assumptions about it being a marriage of convenience! Just wow!!

If this post got back to your DIL and DS, they would probably end up no contact with you.

Seriously, take a chill pill and back way off. And stop being so judgmental and horrible.

somanychristmaslights · 13/09/2026 15:38

Why are YOU showing the nanny the ropes? Sounds like you need to drop the rope. Stop treating your son like a child and let him get on with it. Unless you’re loving feeling like you’re needed, as that’s how it’s coming across.

pinkyredrose · 13/09/2026 15:29

Oldandtirednow · 13/09/2026 12:58

I am going back tomorrow to help the nanny settle in. Show her the ropes. She has seen both doctor and midwife on numerous occasions. So pnd is unlikely.
I cannot just turn my back on them. What decent woman would do that.
But as it happens I am having an op on my hand when I get back. So maybe it will shake itself out as I won’t be able to manage as much

Sorry but why the hell do you need to show the nanny what to do?Confused

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