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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To refuse DM time with DD without me there?

11 replies

travispickles · 10/05/2011 22:42

DM and I have a complex relationship, as she (I believe) shows all the hallmarks of NPD and was not great when we were kids. I have done a lot of work on enforcing boundaries and I accept no real help/ money etc from her as there are always strings attached. Anyway, we get on OK now, but I have just had DD (now 14 weeks) who is her first DGC. She is desperate to get her hands on her (alone) and I have been very very doubtful although want her to have a role. Anyway (to cut a v long story short) we were out for lunch today and I tentatively mooted the prospect of her having the baby for half a day next year when I go back to work. She said "great - I love babies". I said that I felt she was very good with babies but she seemed to struggle with us when we started talking. She said it wasn't that, it was when we started being difficult - particularly me, who she described as defiant. Not like my sisters, who were 'subserviant'. I said I didn't want to raise my child to be subserviant, nor did I consider a child having a voice to be 'defiant'. She laughed it off and her and DSis changed the subject. Not long after, she half jokingly (but not) suggested that I put some of her carrot and coriander soup on my finger to put in the baby's mouth. This is not the first time she has made this kind of comment and I have explained carefully that things are different now and I will start with babyrice in a few weeks. Anyway I made it very clear that some cafe bought salted soup is TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE for a 14wk baby. She back-pedalled but I am sure she will do stuff like this all the time if I leave baby with her.
AIBU to do a u-turn and put DD in childcare and do I have to explain why to DM?

OP posts:
parakeet · 10/05/2011 22:45

For a start, what is NPD?

Secondly, trust your instincts and do the U-turn. You can always make up some excuse about the childcare not accepting half-days or something.

PumpkinBones · 10/05/2011 22:47

If you have this many issues with your mother, I absolutely wouldn't consider her for childcare, because the chances are it will be a very stressful experience for you.

compo · 10/05/2011 22:47

Don't start the baby rice until 26 weeks

use other childcare. How many days are you going back to work for?

phonemonkey · 10/05/2011 22:48

Absolutely go with your gut instinct and if you're not happy to leave the baby with her then don't. You could always pitch it in a way that you're doing her a favour by having childcare therefor freeing her up to do things she wants to do. Good luck! Smile

5318008 · 10/05/2011 22:49

oh gosh, don't, just don't

PS if you hang on til nearer 6 months you don't have to do all the baby rice/puree faffing, straight to family foods instead.

travispickles · 10/05/2011 22:50

A 0.5 week (2 1/2 days). I was thinking about paying for childcare 2 days and letting her look after her the half day but I can't trust her. My DSis leaves her dog with her and she is always feeding him crap (is a big fan of giving the dogs human drugs such as antibiotics/ vitamins etc) so has diarrhoea frequently. And he is a dog...

OP posts:
TheCrackFox · 10/05/2011 22:54

If you can't/don't trust her then please find alternative childcare.

5318008 · 10/05/2011 22:54

jeez run for the hills

and hem hem listen to us about not starting solids in a 'few weeks', yes?

AgentZigzag · 10/05/2011 22:55

Nope, YANBU at all.

It's up to you who you leave your DD with, and you can change your mind at any time about that decision for any reason.

Grandparents do have a special licence to do stuff parents maybe wouldn't, but I'm talking about a bit of sneaked telly or a biscuit, not what you feel is potential harm to your DD.

Next year is a long way off though and your DM may surprise you and be a very caring responsible GP, or she might do something that'll make your mind up about her never having your DD on her own ever again.

I'd wait and see how things turn out.

AgentZigzag · 10/05/2011 22:56

How bizarre giving the dog human anti bios/vitamins.

Does she think he's ill and she's helping?

MadamDeathstare · 10/05/2011 23:06

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

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