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AIBU?

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AIBU to be fed up of being the only one that remembers?

32 replies

VictoriaSponge987 · 17/09/2026 18:03

I’m so fed up of being the only person who proactively plans in my house. My DH will always pick the kids up, take them to school etc but it’s all very reactive. If I’m not home (at work or out) unless I tell my teen son and DH to remember X at X time, they inevitably forget. I feel as if I am the only person who plans - meals, holidays, clubs etc. if there is a form to fill in, it only happens if I do it or remind someone else several times to do it. For context, I work more than full time in a serious job plus running my own business so I’m not a stay at home mum with lots of spare time. I end up doing it because I don’t want the kids to miss out but I’m resentful and stressed. Today I was as at a conference all day. Despite putting teen’s sports club in the diary and texting him to remind him of time, he was late because both him and DH forgot. What can I do to stop me being the only one who remembers stuff?

OP posts:
CheeseWisely · 17/09/2026 18:04

Let him miss his sports club? He’ll learn.

ChoppyWalters · 17/09/2026 18:06

Let it all go wrong so they step up.

Hatty65 · 17/09/2026 18:08

If he's a teen then he should remember himself. I do it for younger kids, but if you are in your teens and can't remember your own sports club day then that's a pity.

I wouldn't have reminded him at all.

Takersgonnatake · 17/09/2026 18:10

Have a sex change? 😉

Ablondiebutagoody · 17/09/2026 18:10

Stop doing it. If he misses sports club for example, that's his problem. If he enjoys the club, he'll remember next time.

ArseSkinForAFriend · 17/09/2026 18:10

It's annoying but I've no sympathy for the teen.

It's a good way to learn anyway, if there's no-one doing his thinking for him.

Knittedfairies2 · 17/09/2026 18:14

You need to stop being your son's P.A. for a start; if he wanted to go, he'd remember himself.

Abustedflush · 17/09/2026 18:29

You start by remembering to address this one question:

Who owns the problem?

Your teen is old enough to own his/her timekeeping and commitment to the sports team.

What2wear2work · 17/09/2026 18:32

It’s called the mental load. They don’t bother because you pick up the shortfall. How do you move on tricky. Essentially drop the things that don’t bother you and if they bother others it will eventually get picked up. Good luck

edited to add for husband ask him to own outcome not task but let him do it his way and give constructive feedback if necessary

JacknDiane · 17/09/2026 18:32

Takersgonnatake · 17/09/2026 18:10

Have a sex change? 😉

This. Otherwise you're fucked im afraid.

IButtleSir · 17/09/2026 18:34

It's time to start letting your kids miss out. It's the only way they'll learn any responsibility.

Mt563 · 17/09/2026 18:37

Suggest systems beyond you reminding (calendar, alarms, sticky note on front door) and then leave them to it. Natural consequences.

Naurrr · 17/09/2026 18:39

Stop doing it? The teenager should be organising his own stuff, if he doesn't bother that's fine, let him deal with the consequences.
Has your husband always been incapable?

Isittimeformynapyet · 17/09/2026 18:45

The simple, sensible and only advice is to stop doing it. And don't worry about the results.

Littlejellyuk · 17/09/2026 18:54

Get amnesia yourself and forget to be their secretary. 💅
Don't be a suffering saint. 🫩
Both teen and hubby are old enough to suffer consequences of being late /missing out on clubs.

Don't be a scapegoat either when they try to blame you for not reminding them to wipe their own ass. 😉
@VictoriaSponge987

whippersnapper55 · 17/09/2026 18:57

Stop doing it. They are never going to pick up the slack while you are doing it all/reminding them numerous times! Can you have a family planner in the kitchen - then everyone can see what needs to be done and there's no excuses!

You need to stop being everyone's safety net - if they miss out on things, are late for things, then that's on them.

bt1234 · 17/09/2026 18:58

If the kids are teens then let them miss it/be late

Goodadvice1980 · 17/09/2026 19:02

Stop being a martyr and let them get on with it!

Bringemout · 17/09/2026 19:18

Leave it to them, they are perfectly capable of remembering but they just don’t have to whilst you are there. Tell them you are dropping the ball then just drop it.

beaglescurleduplikebagels · 17/09/2026 19:22

Stop doing it all for them as though they're toddlers?

BansheeOfTheSouth · 17/09/2026 19:28

Go on a week's conference and block out your home calendar. Do nothing for any of them for a full week. They won't die from having to be responsible but you could head yourself into a stress induced heart attack.

LottieMary · 17/09/2026 19:28

I agree stop, but just stopping will cause a row. Tell them you’re not reminding them about x y z and suggest some things they can do instead. Say it calmly at a time when they haven’t JUST forgotten something or it’ll seem like a reactive response and they won’t believe it.

youve managed them this far, manage them into independence :-)

CombatBarbie · 17/09/2026 19:29

Get a family calendar on your phones, the principal calendar is my Gmail one and they all have access via email invite. And ensure notifications are set to 1hr/30 mins prior.... we all have a different colour.

Or stop being a martyr and tell them to.set up their own calendars with their own commitments

Aligirlbear · 17/09/2026 19:30

Stop the reminders ! As long as the info is on a family calendar then that’s your job done - leave them to it. Missing a couple of sports sessions will soon focus your DS about remembering which in turn will get your DH to remember to check if he is being nagged by your DS. Unfortunately no one else is taking responsibility as you are acting as their PA with constant reminders so they don’t need to think about it.

Pinkflamingo10 · 17/09/2026 19:34

The mental load ! Abbey Eckel talks about it a lot online.
as your children are older-put a big family planner in the kitchen so they can step up

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