I live at home with my aging mother. I find over the past few years she can be very awkward and stubborn.
She was ignoring a leak in her kitchen sink for the past few months. She asked me not to get a plumber and I respected her wishes. But then in September, I realised that this is a problem and it will only get worse.
So I booked a plumber. I got a quote and I was happy to pay to fix the issue.
Only when I told my mother she panicked. It's not a financial issue with her so I don't know what she panicked. Maybe something about taking a man into the house. But she's so strange. It's a home and sometimes there's going to be work needed on a home and sometimes you need to get a trademan in to do work.
Last week I was looking for the stopcock to turn off the cold water feed into the house. It took me a few days because it's an external stopcock.
I have a plumber booked since last week and he is due to come to me tomorrow, all going well. I still didn't tell my mother because I think she will only panic and tell me to cancel him. Even though I have a job for him to do and it's an important job. I will like him to fix the leak and fit and stop valve under the sink. This is money that will be well worth it in my opinion and I am ready to pay for this. I am anxious to tell her because I know her. She will only panic and lose it and get me to cancel him. I think it's so important to get an indoor stop valve incase there's any issues going forward.
However last week my mother bumberld into her ex locally and he's my father. He worked in the trades business but not as a plumber and she asked him would he do it for her but she's only asking him in order to get the job done for free (while she curses him in her next breath). He said he will do it and he will be up on Sunday or some day next week.
He was a no show yesterday and I knew that would happen and to be honest I don't have faith that he will call this week. He was unreliable before and he also has a drink problem and he's usually always drink and his health is bad and it really wasn't sane of my mother to ask him.
I was working behind the scenes at planning to get this done and then I was going to tell her the night before the plumber will come or on the morning he is due to come.
I can see this turning into a big fat mess.
My mother has hope in her ex who was unreliable before and I would prefer to get a real proper plumber to look at it and get an isolation valve under the sink too. If my father dies carry out the work, he won't do that bit.
My mother is stressed and anxious and to be honest she doesn't even want my father anywhere near the house and I am trying to tell her that I will get this done without telling her more. A plumber is due to come to me tomorrow but she doesn't know it yet. I told her that I can get a plumber but then she's anxious about how my father will be for going behind his back but then I told her that I can get that covered by saying my boyfriend helped with the job in the end and thank him and visit him with a bottle and invite him over for the Christmas and then that should be it. Over and done with.
I know this sounds so long and complicated.
TL:DR
I have a plumber booked who should be with me tomorrow and I am yet to tell my mother because she will panic at the idea of man coming into the house but she tracked down her ex last week and asked him would he do it for her and he agreed but he's always known to be unreliable.
I am in a position now not knowing if I should cancel the plumber or go ahead with him and if he calls, she will likely go into a frenzy.