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I have just hosted my mum for 4 days

64 replies

whyeyeeyeeyeeye · 14/04/2025 21:01

NEVER AGAIN

I say this every time

But she is just so FREE with her advice on everything. Unsolicited of course. She was (and is) a perfect mother and I am a terrible one. She’s deeply perturbed by the fact I don’t agree with this.

Just going to eat half a Colin to relax.

OP posts:
Catlady63 · 14/04/2025 23:38

applerose01 · 14/04/2025 21:55

Genuine question. How do you all manage not to care what your mother thinks? I’m in my 40’s and realise I’m still trying to get my mother to say I’ve done / am doing well… would quite like the confidence you all seem to have to not give a hoot either way…

My mother very rarely said anything supportive or positive to me when I was younger, so I was used to not giving a shit about her opinions.

She did once say I was a good mother, when she was a bit tipsy, when DS was about 3.

Catlady63 · 14/04/2025 23:42

AmusedGoose · 14/04/2025 22:44

Hopefully you will be a better mum to your adult children. I suspect your mum can't relate to you and finds it very hard work to be with you too. See each other in small doses in future. You clearly neither respect or like her. Shame she wasted her life being your mum as you are ridiculous and acting like a petulant teen instead of a grown woman who can appreciatethe wisdom of experience. I don't understand some modern parenting methods either such as obsession with contact naps and find it very difficult to have a conversation with DIL who equally disagrees with some 90s parenting. Hard to talk about the weather for 4 days. Are you horrible about older work colleagues too?

So shocked that you find it hard to have conversations with your DIL when you're telling her what's wrong with her parenting.

Young people today, no respect for their elders.

Poonu · 14/04/2025 23:58

I remember the last time my mum complimented me. I was 13 I won an award at school. I've got kids now lol
I'm not holding on to it she's a good person generally and she's old, she just doesn't like me. Just take deep breaths.

BaileyBear · 15/04/2025 00:07

AmusedGoose · 14/04/2025 22:44

Hopefully you will be a better mum to your adult children. I suspect your mum can't relate to you and finds it very hard work to be with you too. See each other in small doses in future. You clearly neither respect or like her. Shame she wasted her life being your mum as you are ridiculous and acting like a petulant teen instead of a grown woman who can appreciatethe wisdom of experience. I don't understand some modern parenting methods either such as obsession with contact naps and find it very difficult to have a conversation with DIL who equally disagrees with some 90s parenting. Hard to talk about the weather for 4 days. Are you horrible about older work colleagues too?

She wasted her life being a mother? Give yourself a shake for goodness sake. Parenting has moved on and not all wisdom and experience is welcome. No wonder you find it difficult to have a conversation with your DIL if you voice the opinions you have on here.

Personally, I’m always amazed at new guidance and things like self sterilising bottles, mothers are actually allowed (and protected by law) to be able to breastfeed their children in public, children are no longer expected to be seen and not heard etc.

My own mother was a pain in the arse with her out of date “advice” and her mocking of up to date guidance. Thank goodness I never gave my children rose hip syrup in bottles, weaned them on baby rice at 12 weeks old, drank Guinness to “build myself up” in pregnancy nor left my children to “cry it out” because I was making “a rod for my own back”.

“Wisdom in experience” is keeping your mouth shut as a grandmother, being amazed at the lovely things available to parents that we never had, learning from new guidance and supporting the choices new parents make. They are the parents afterall!

I have 2 grandchildren and not once have I imparted my “wisdom”, because I’m so amazed at how times have changed for the better. It’s hard enough having a child and no new parent needs advice unless they ask for it.

My youngest grandchild is 3 weeks old, what I did do is provide 2 weeks meals (handing them in at the door every few days) order 2 weeks shopping to be delivered and offer to walk the dog. Why did I do this? Because I remember how hard it was in those first few weeks.

Change your attitude, sit back and stop with the offering advice unless of course you want to alienate yourself from your family.

OP I’m glad you enjoyed Colin, don’t listen to people like @AmusedGoose on here. You can love your mother but it doesn’t stop them being annoying.

MumToad · 15/04/2025 00:18

whyeyeeyeeyeeye · 14/04/2025 23:01

Oh wow. I certainly don’t hate or disrespect her. I would say I’m at a heightened emotional state after a long time spent with DM. I definitely don’t think all 70 year olds are the same either. Are you ok?

you might want to ask OP for her Mum’s contact details. You will sure have a lot to talk about. Considering all the wisdom you have picked up and your DIL doesn’t appreciate. Match made in heaven.

Cesarina · 15/04/2025 10:30

neilyoungismyhero · 14/04/2025 22:11

Colin the caterpillar cake?

Aaaaah! But how the f**k was I supposed to know?🤷🏻‍♀️😂🙄

wizzywig · 15/04/2025 10:32

bigdecisionaboutwork · 14/04/2025 21:47

Colin the Caterpillar cake. Yum!

Thats what I thought it was

EasterParadeHats · 15/04/2025 11:10

Op if you genuinely like her in other ways and she's good with the DC etc why not just be honest and tell her, when you speak like this it upsets me and I don't like spending time with you when you're critising me. It makes me feel like you dont respect my parenting.
Is this what you want.
If she doesn't know she can't change.

BernardButlersBra · 15/04/2025 21:50

LadyRoughDiamond · 14/04/2025 21:33

I’ve lucked out this Easter: mine is refusing to come to ours because we don’t do things properly (ie. her way). I should be sad because I’m not sure how many Easters she has left, but actually I’m relieved that I won’t have to look at the cat’s bum mouth!

What is her way versus your way? It's a rather rude way for her to judge the way you guys do Easter!

Kudos to anyone who can do more than 2 nights, that takes me to my absolute limit. Fun thing is we agree dates and timings, she then often goes rogue and books any random thinking which usually extends her stay.

The misremembering is totally infuriating! My mum remembers herself her parenting very differently. Also l work full time (she worked part time), l have twins (she had singletons) and my husband and earn a similar amount. She got lots of free childcare, l get none. I am neurodiverse and have a recently diagnosed debilitating chronic condition -she has neither. She's then confused about why things are so different.

My house, my rules is super satisfying. My mum trotted it out a lot in my childhood and is power crazed so it drives her mad!

VikingLady · 16/04/2025 08:34

applerose01 · 14/04/2025 21:55

Genuine question. How do you all manage not to care what your mother thinks? I’m in my 40’s and realise I’m still trying to get my mother to say I’ve done / am doing well… would quite like the confidence you all seem to have to not give a hoot either way…

Realised she’s mentally ill and is genuinely stuck in self defence by attack mode. So I can feel sorry for her and have patience/emotional distance instead of desperately trying to get the reaction I wanted. She’s just not capable.

I see and treat her more like it’s a disability she can’t help, because really it is. Her brain chemistry is wrong.

TorroFerney · 16/04/2025 14:55

applerose01 · 14/04/2025 21:55

Genuine question. How do you all manage not to care what your mother thinks? I’m in my 40’s and realise I’m still trying to get my mother to say I’ve done / am doing well… would quite like the confidence you all seem to have to not give a hoot either way…

Lot of self help books and some therapy.

LadyMacbethssweetArabianhand · 16/04/2025 15:05

I buried mum yesterday and felt a sense of relief. My brother was her golden boy and could do no wrong. He is very difficult to deal with and abdicated all responsibility for admin for her funeral. All my life she was critical of anything I achieved, so a long time ago I detached from her emotionally. When she criticised, I would play insult bingo in my head. My family would add up the insults per visit to see if there were more or less than the previous time. It helped to take the sting out of it. I recommend it.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 16/04/2025 15:19

For all my parents faults ( because everyone has them) mine never tried to give any parenting advice thankfully.
They lived a good distance away ( 9 hour drive) so visits were more than 3 days . I think after Christmas they were glad to get back to their own calm home 😆
We did holidays usually caravan or SC Lodge type so space to escape .

I did say to my DParents " only rule is they are on reins / walk on the pavement away from the kerbside" depending on age . Edit- DC on reins not my parents !

My Dad was like a little terrier always busy so easiest thing was to say " can you go and get some bread " or " take DS to the Park " and he was happy

Thanksforyourlackofthought · 16/04/2025 15:51

AmusedGoose · 14/04/2025 22:44

Hopefully you will be a better mum to your adult children. I suspect your mum can't relate to you and finds it very hard work to be with you too. See each other in small doses in future. You clearly neither respect or like her. Shame she wasted her life being your mum as you are ridiculous and acting like a petulant teen instead of a grown woman who can appreciatethe wisdom of experience. I don't understand some modern parenting methods either such as obsession with contact naps and find it very difficult to have a conversation with DIL who equally disagrees with some 90s parenting. Hard to talk about the weather for 4 days. Are you horrible about older work colleagues too?

Oh dear.
Are your kids not impressed by you?

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