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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to feel trapped by my Nan?

10 replies

chubbly · 05/05/2011 20:56

Ok settle in this is a long one... 3 years ago we decided we would like to be closer to my family for the children so we uprooted from London and started looking for a house. The Market was rubbish and whilst we were looking my Nan offered to let us have her house and she would move in with my mum. My nan is widowed and was getting so lonely (she would cry every time we left) she also couldn't look after the house or herself so my mum was looking after everything for her. They had already discussed selling her house but this seemed to be a solution. So we spent a lot of our savings doing it up- even during this period she started having difficulty letting things go. A lot of her stuff is here in the attic. I expected her to struggle with the change but it's now turned into a really ugly situation. Within a few months of us moving in she started staying over more and more, then she moved back into her old room. I don't mind at all as she loved the children and i felt she could still live as she had. But she goes through real spouts of depression and lashes out at my family, she also flips out at anything I change. I'm walking on eggshells all the time, dd2 was born this year. She had IU growth restriction and was prem so extra tiny. I spent 6 weeks going to the hospital to see her. Her IUGR was caused by a virus reactivating in me early in pregnancy, I was tested and virus reactivation is linked to stress, it may have been work but home life had been strained due to her meltdowns. Recently she went mad because I painted a cupboard- this led to her asking us to move out. Fair enough it's her house but I feel guilty that my mum will have to look after everything again.
Aibu to feel that I'm damned if I do and damned if I don't move out?

OP posts:
takethisonehereforastart · 05/05/2011 21:03

Can you get her some kind of home help so your mum doesn't have to do everything again?

I don't know a lot about it but your council probably offer some sort of service relating to age or ability.

DH's sister works in an assessment centre that is mostly called by relatives of elderly, disabled or mentally vulnerable people and she puts them in touch with the right people and gets them temporary, respite or permanent help, either in their home or elsewhere if necessary.

It sounds like an awful situation for you all and I don't think you are being unreasonable. Caring for an elderly or demanding relative and small children is stressful and a lot of hard work.

FabbyChic · 05/05/2011 21:05

The deal was always that you would have the house, please don't feel guilty you have a family of your own, your nan whilst family is not your responsibility.

Is she being treated for her depression? Does she go out of the house and have other things to keep her occupied.

If you are in a position to move you should do.

dickiedavisthunderthighs · 05/05/2011 21:06

Well you haven't really got a choice have you? She's asked you to move out.

You said she had difficulty letting things go, and it wasn't long before she moved back in. Do you think these periods of depression might be linked to the situation you're in? She could have been finding it very difficult living with a young family but didn't feel able to tell you that she didn't want the situation to continue.

Do you pay rent or have a stake in the house?

chubbly · 05/05/2011 21:08

I should mention she's Indian,so poor English. She can understand everything said but can't speak back. She flat out refuses to go to the over 50s Indian ladies group that a family friend runs. I will look into what else the council offers... I can understand she can't let go of her old way of life, it's just she can't physically do it anymore. I just feel bad that my family are being subjected to her moods... God knows how my mum put up with it for years!

OP posts:
chubbly · 05/05/2011 21:13

We pay all bills, food, her transport, anything she wants. She was depressed before we moved in; she'd lash out at my mum and the way she does things. Now we're the focus, she has found having my dd1 around a real joy. But perhaps it is too much for her, I just don't want her to feel alone again.

OP posts:
dickiedavisthunderthighs · 05/05/2011 21:23

Sounds like a pretty rubbish situation for all of you :(
How old is she?

FabbyChic · 05/05/2011 21:24

It sounds like she wants to be alone though. If that is what she wants give it to her.

Theoretically she is living in your home as you pay for everything that seems a bit unfair to me.

chubbly · 05/05/2011 21:38

She's 75.
I know we pay for stuff but it's let us have a really comfortable situation for a couple of years. When she's happy it's great, we can put the house back to what it was and she has everything she wants plus great grandkids on tap. If we leave my mum goes back to paying for everything. She should be able to retire soon, not worry about supporting 2 households.
I don't see a solution - my dh thinks it's a battle that she has to lose so she either accepts going to live with my mum and eventually selling her house. Or living in her house with us and changes we need to make (like stair gates!). She's just a bit strong willed and my mum has never stood up to her.

OP posts:
dickiedavisthunderthighs · 05/05/2011 21:40

"Theoretically she is living in your home as you pay for everything that seems a bit unfair to me."

I don't agree with that, it's her Nan's house. It's more like a lodger arrangement whereby bills get paid instead of rent.

TheVeryAngryMumapillar · 05/05/2011 21:41

Could she be showing early signs of dementia? That can make people ureasonable.

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