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Family birthday lunch this Sunday - unsure what to do

30 replies

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 13:38

Hello, I’ve got into a bit of an anxious state and I just need some advice.

I don’t know what to do about a family birthday party/ get-together on Sunday. The family get-together will be a surprise birthday party for grandma and it will be a Sunday lunch/afternoon in a pub.

I don’t live near and I will need to travel to get there (like 3 hours with 2 trains). I don’t drive so will have to take the train. I will then need to to have somebody pick me up from the train station which is about a 30-minute drive from the pub.

I would have ideally liked to go back home on the same day after the party and get the train back from the same station, but that means I will also have to get a family member to drop me back off at the station after the party. I don't know, a part of me feels like this would be too much to ask or expect. I'm not sure what the plans are for after the party or if there are even any as it will be a sunday. What if people want to let loose and relax and not think about having to drive me to a train station? Then again, everybody will have to drive to and from the pub in the first place as its in the middle of nowhere and not walkable from the village where my grandma lives.

Would it look bad of me if i just go for the birthday party in the pub and travel back home on the same day rather than staying on for some days in the week and spending some more time with my family? My parents and sister will also be there... Will it look bad if I'm expecting to be picked up and dropped off at the train station all in the same day? Is it too much to ask? I feel guilty about just going for the day and having to be picked up and dropped off at the train station in the same day. I don’t want to offend anyone or my parents or sister by not spending more time with them. I don’t really have any excuse to go back home because I’m unemployed and have every day free.

To be completely honest, I would like to keep the visit short and sweet as my mental health hasn’t been very good this month and I’m having major relationship struggles. I’m also unemployed and trying to keep motivated. I’ve just about got to a good stable place and I don’t really feel like having a change of scene.

My parents and sister will be at the birthday get-together too and they live on the opposite side of the country to me. They will be driving for 1 hour 30 minutes to get there from where they live on the day of the party.

Since it’s a surprise birthday party, my grandma won’t know about it so I don’t think it’s fair to stay on with her in her house afterwards as she won’t have had any notice, and she might have other plans for the week. I could travel back with my parents to their house after the party and stay with them, but I don’t know what’s wrong with me I’m feeling very sensitive and honestly can’t bear the thought of and don’t feel like being away from my own home and routine, even if just for a few days. I know this sounds silly and it is fair for my boyfriend not to want to come as he has been working all week, but I feel embarrassed that my boyfriend won’t be attending with me, it’s silly but I feel like a bit of a failure. I also attended Christmas at my grandmas alone because my boyfriend was visiting his family. If I did this I wouldn’t know how long to stay at my parents’ house for, a week feels too long, I’m sure that they would want me to stay as long as possible and I don’t want to offend them. I don’t have any excuse to go back home as I’m unemployed.

I could maybe travel to my parents beforehand say on Friday or Saturday and then I can go with them in their car to the party, but what about after the party? Should I travel back to my home on the same day and get the train back home?...

What should I do? I’m sorry if I’m being too honest in this thread. Yes, I know I’m a selfish person but I’ve been through a terrible loss and its made me into one. Please can anybody suggest what they think would be best or what they would do in my situation?

OP posts:
BroughttoyoubyBerocca · 17/04/2024 13:45

In your shoes I would probably speak to my parents about staying with them the night before then getting a lift to station after the party. Double check trains as it’s a Sunday.

Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 13:49

Stay with your parents over night and then get the train home they can drop you at the train station , it would be a shame to miss out because of train logistics.

Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 13:50

You are not selfish your anxiety is making you over think everything.

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:00

Yes, you are probably right - I've got into such a state about this and I just can't seem to make any decision. It's not like me.

OP posts:
ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:00

Yes, I think this works best logistically - thank you!

OP posts:
ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:01

Thank you so much for your reply.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 14:02

I hope writing it all out helped you, you must have been spiralling and not able to think, just ask your parents if you can stay over night.

VWT5 · 17/04/2024 14:07

Yes, stay with your parents before and maybe for a night after. If they want to pressurise you to stay longer you can say you have “interviews” arranged for Tues or Wed etc.
Can you confide in your sister for support if you are feeling vulnerable?

TakeOnFlea · 17/04/2024 14:08

Travel to your parents the day before as a previous poster said then you can all arrive together.

mondaytosunday · 17/04/2024 14:08

Can you book a taxi to get you back to the station? Staying with your parents the night of and/or night before makes a lot of sense.

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:19

VWT5 · 17/04/2024 14:07

Yes, stay with your parents before and maybe for a night after. If they want to pressurise you to stay longer you can say you have “interviews” arranged for Tues or Wed etc.
Can you confide in your sister for support if you are feeling vulnerable?

I know, but I'm completely terrible at lying. I think I will stay with them a night before. I might travel to theirs on Friday or Saturday. I don't know about staying with them for a night after as it will mean having to drive back to their house after the party which will be about a 1 hour 30 minute drive.

My parents don't pressure me, but for some reason I feel my own internal pressure. I don't know. It's a really funny time for me- I'm unemployed and wasting my savings, I feel guilty and vulnerable I suppose. I'm also deeply sad, bitter, devastated and regretful about a loss I suffered five years ago and my. boyfriend has been threatening me with breaking up this month - me moving out and moving back in with my parents, him moving out, him handing in the notice on our rental property. Its terrible and devastating. Some days i'm ovewhelmed.

OP posts:
ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:20

TakeOnFlea · 17/04/2024 14:08

Travel to your parents the day before as a previous poster said then you can all arrive together.

Yes, I like this idea. It sounds less stressful than travelling on the day of the party. Thank you.

OP posts:
HanaJane · 17/04/2024 14:20

Aaw you don't sound selfish, you just sound like you're being anxious and over thinking things. Do you have a good relationship with your parents? I would say talk to them and see if they will take you to the party if you go to theirs Saturday then drop you at the station near the party on their way home. Then it's only one night away and might not be too overwhelming.

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:25

HanaJane · 17/04/2024 14:20

Aaw you don't sound selfish, you just sound like you're being anxious and over thinking things. Do you have a good relationship with your parents? I would say talk to them and see if they will take you to the party if you go to theirs Saturday then drop you at the station near the party on their way home. Then it's only one night away and might not be too overwhelming.

Yes, it is good. They are very helpful and they don't pressure me. It's my own situation in life that makes everything bad, I'm unemployed and living off my savings, wasting them. I'm desperate for me and my boyfriend to be in a good place and to have some hope and to feel like we have a strong future together.

OP posts:
ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:28

I'm honestly not doing well enough to feel up to going to this birthday party, but I don't want to let my parents down and I told my mum months ago that I would be going so my uncle confirmed the reservation for me at the pub. At the time, my boyfriend was with me and my mum and he sounded keen about the idea of us going and he said we could use his new car too drive there, maybe I completely misunderstood him or something.

OP posts:
ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:31

mondaytosunday · 17/04/2024 14:08

Can you book a taxi to get you back to the station? Staying with your parents the night of and/or night before makes a lot of sense.

My parents live like a 1 hour 30 minutes drive from there so I'm not sure about staying with them after, I don't know. I don't know why I'm so overwhelmed about this whole thing, I've been procrastinating all week and its on Sunday. I'm not usually anything like this. I've even told myself that I'm not going.

OP posts:
MILTOBE · 17/04/2024 14:38

You're unemployed so money must be tight. I don't think I'd go, in your situation. The trains are often bad on a Sunday anyway - you'll be travelling all day.

MILTOBE · 17/04/2024 14:39

It really doesn't matter if you cancel the meal - you just need to tell them in advance (or get the person who arranged it to tell them).

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:44

MILTOBE · 17/04/2024 14:38

You're unemployed so money must be tight. I don't think I'd go, in your situation. The trains are often bad on a Sunday anyway - you'll be travelling all day.

I know I was I didn't say I was going, my parents even said that they didn't think it was fair to put any pressure on me and my boyfriend to go.

OP posts:
Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 14:45

ThisRoseCrow · 17/04/2024 14:19

I know, but I'm completely terrible at lying. I think I will stay with them a night before. I might travel to theirs on Friday or Saturday. I don't know about staying with them for a night after as it will mean having to drive back to their house after the party which will be about a 1 hour 30 minute drive.

My parents don't pressure me, but for some reason I feel my own internal pressure. I don't know. It's a really funny time for me- I'm unemployed and wasting my savings, I feel guilty and vulnerable I suppose. I'm also deeply sad, bitter, devastated and regretful about a loss I suffered five years ago and my. boyfriend has been threatening me with breaking up this month - me moving out and moving back in with my parents, him moving out, him handing in the notice on our rental property. Its terrible and devastating. Some days i'm ovewhelmed.

Edited

That sounds nice make the weekend of it, I don't know why a poster is telling you not to go because you are unemployed, it's entirely reasonable to visit your parents and celebrate your grandmas birthday.

MILTOBE · 17/04/2024 14:53

Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 14:45

That sounds nice make the weekend of it, I don't know why a poster is telling you not to go because you are unemployed, it's entirely reasonable to visit your parents and celebrate your grandmas birthday.

If you mean me there, I was saying if money is very tight then she shouldn't feel she has to go.

mitogoshi · 17/04/2024 15:17

I would travel the day before and be dropped at the station after the party. It sounds like a little break might do you good

Mrsjayy · 17/04/2024 15:27

MILTOBE · 17/04/2024 14:53

If you mean me there, I was saying if money is very tight then she shouldn't feel she has to go.

Fair enough I misunderstood your intention, sorry

ThisRoseCrow · 18/04/2024 11:44

I've just spoken to mum and told her what my plans would be, I feel terrible that I've left everything so last minute. I asked her if my sister is going to the meal and she told me that she isn't going. I'm dissapointed that my sister won't be going. I've just told my boyfriend all of this and now he's saying that I should just not bother going if my sister isn't going and I should do the same as her. I don't know, I'd feel too mean backing out now after just speaking to my mum and telling her my plans... geesh

OP posts:
OriginalUsername2 · 18/04/2024 12:00

Options

  • pay for your own taxis
  • tell them you’re feeling too anxious to travel
  • get an unfortunate bout of covid the day before

You sound highly anxious. See your GP. sertraline works well for me. Meditation and journaling are brilliant too.