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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Mothers not coming to my Wedding because she's won a comp..

200 replies

CheekyBambi · 13/07/2011 09:51

Hi I will try to keep this as straight forward as possible!
Me and DM always had up and down relationship.She walked out on me when I was young to have an affair.Made me homeless in my later teenage years.She's been very selfish.
Move forward some years I've had 2 small ds's and df and house etc.
We've built bridges and she's brilliant with my LO's(although we live 200 miles away from eachother).
When she sees them she's the perfect hands-on Nanny.Couldn't fault her in that aspect.
Anyway I'm getting married very soon.Very very small day.My mother and father can't stand to be in the same room and he said he'd rather not be involved in my wedding.Thinks marriages means nothing and he would rather die than give a speech etc!
Anyway because of complicated families and not to mention cost of Weddings we've decided to have just us and our DC.
My DM was upset and asked to be involved.I actually wanted my DM to be there as it felt it was important.I started planning hair and photographers etc.
I asked if she was certain she wanted her hair done by a stylist who will visit our hotel on the day and she said yes.She saw the hundreds of images of the hair designs that I sent her and she knew how much it cost.I've paid for it now.
I also showed her images of the photographers work.We were going to have 'mother daughter' pictures etc.
I also have a lovely War Veteran who after waiting quite a while got back to me and said he'd be delighted to be a witness and has kept this day in his diary for us.
The official documents have come through saying our time and date confirmation etc.
DM has since won a competition with a magazine.She had to nominate a special person.She chose her niece.(Not surprised as I bought her a pampering day for 2 and told her it was for us but she took said niece-couldn't really moan it was a gift for her after all)
The comp is same day as Wedding.She wanted me to change my day nearly a month later(she has a holiday booked after comp).
The comp involves her getting her hair and make up done going to an beauty awards show and being photographed for a double spread in a magazine.All expenses paid.
She rang my registry office and tried to find out what other days were free.She found out the next day was free(which she could make)but it costs 5 times the amount of our registry office.Not to mention changing the witnesses,photographers,hair stylists,df's day off etc.
Yesterday she said she knew nothing about hair stylists being paid for and pretending she knew nothing about photographers!(Selective memory)
My birthday is 2 days after my booked date and me and df thought it would be good in the future to have two good dates close together so we could go celebrate for two reasons(say long weekend etc).
He also said on principle why should we change our wedding day just because of my mother.
Me and DM had a horrible fall out y'day.She thinks I'm in the wrong and I could change my day whereas she can't change the date of her competition.
Both me and df understand she's caught between a rock and a hard place.
So sorry for the rambling!Just wanted to see what you would do??
Shall I change my day or have my DM not involved?
Thankyou so much for readingSmile

OP posts:
Glitterknickaz · 13/07/2011 11:28

I'd echo those with the narcissist advice, and that you need to see your relationship with your mum for what it is, not what it should be.

It really is her loss, it's no reflection on you x

Inertia · 13/07/2011 11:32

Cheekybambi, YABU for being far far too accommodating and understanding of this awful woman. She is totally and utterly taking the piss, and given the litany of awful things she's done to you I'm amazed you want anything to do with her at all.

Normal mothers do not abandon their children, make their children homeless, throw temper tantrums about what they at the children's weddings, back out of expensive arrangements that have cost other people, refuse to even ask about changing a prize date that clashes with their daughter's wedding, AND TRY TO CHANGE THEIR DAUGHTER'S WEDDING ARRANGEMENTS BEHIND THEIR BACK FFS!

I would just tell her it's a shame she can't come now but you are not changing anything, and then write to the registry office, any suppliers, caterers, florists etc explaining that your mother is likely to maliciously alter your plans and they must only deal directly with you.

MorticiaAddams · 13/07/2011 11:40

You say that she's stuck between a rock and a hard place and it may seem the case to you but anybody with a normal mother/daughter relationship wouldn't think that. There is no context, I know exactly what my mum would have done and I know what I would do for my children.

Your mother is just plain selfish.

OTheHugeManatee · 13/07/2011 12:14

What the others said about narcissism. She sounds like a cow. I think Inertia has summed it up nicely - normal mothers don't completely disregard their daughters' needs and wishes, and then accuse them of being selfish.

Stick to your guns - if she doesn't want to be there, then that tells you everything you need to know about where you come in her priorities.

spritzercat · 13/07/2011 12:45

Your mum didn't struggle to choose between you and a bit of showbiz for the day. That says it all really.

I suspect the day will be far more enjoyable without the selfish bint.

PedigreeChump · 13/07/2011 13:22

I feel so sad for you that your mother isn't coming becuase she won a competition and your dad isn't coming because he doesn't want to be involved and thinks marriages mean nothing. Sad

Don't change the date UNLESS you think that keeping the same day and not having her there will either 1) make you feel unhappy/anxious 2) lead to a lifetime of torment from her that you could really live without. Sometimes it is easier to take the path of least resistance but only you can figure that out.

Pootles2010 · 13/07/2011 13:27

Tell her to bog off. I think she'll still go actually if you call her bluff.

And if she doesn't, arrange to do a sob-story to magazine in question about your awful mother who would rather go to spa day than her own daughters wedding, complete with miserable -looking photo.

Moobee · 13/07/2011 13:27

I am gobsmacked that any mother would think this is an OK way to behave. I wouldn't even back out of a friend's wedding as an ordinary guest for this reason. I'm so sorry that she's putting you through this. It's not OK or normal and she's not between a rock and a hard place. You should come first - no question.

In your place, I would find this unforgivable.

diddl · 13/07/2011 13:54

Any chance that she´ll turn up & --ruin- make a drama out of it?

diddl · 13/07/2011 13:54

Oops!

CheekyBambi · 13/07/2011 14:41

Wow can't believe all of the replies-thankyou!
She sent me a message saying she's so so sorry for all of this and offered to look after our boys on the night of our Wedding.She's not considering cancelling her prize even though she knows taking the mick out of us and upset me.

She wants to visit me in a couple of weeks to make 'put things right'.

I told her to have nothing to do with me and that she's a selfish b**ch.She hasn't replied.I know she's going to turn this all around.

Seems very dramatic and mean of me to fall out with her over this but also I feel like a complete idiot to let her do whatever she wants and continue to see her and stage out this fake 'mother daughter relationship'.

I think I should have ignored her and not called her that.

She's let me down so many times and always when I've needed her(during very young teenage years).It's taken years to build bridges.I think having my babies was the making of us as she's been such a lovely nanny.(Abit fake mind you but I truly believe she loves them).

OP posts:
WhereYouLeftIt · 13/07/2011 15:04

"she's been such a lovely nanny. (A bit fake mind you but I truly believe she loves them)."
Sorry OP, but I don't think she does. And I think what she'll do to her daughter she'll do to her grandchildren. The only question is 'when'.

WhereYouLeftIt · 13/07/2011 15:07

Oh! Oh! Look at what else Richplanet can educate you on! Wink

Blu · 13/07/2011 15:09

Well, she's let you down, and let you down and let you down again - and there is a limit to how much she can 'make it up to you' having made a decision not to put your first. She quite simply can't make that up to you.

So, I think you are right to have ddeclined the offer of babysitting on your wedding night. If you continue to have polite contact so that the boys have contact, that's your decision, and fine - just aways have that degree of separation and total exclsusion so she can't upset you any more.

All very sad, she should have treated you better - just get on and enjoy your weddiing, and a happy family life with your own children and partner.

WhereYouLeftIt · 13/07/2011 15:09

Bu**er! Looking at two threads on different tabs - apologies!

razzlebathbone · 13/07/2011 15:15

No mother worth her salt would even consider going to the competition thing instead of your wedding. But her phoning the registry office and falling out with you is absolutely disgusting.

Please, please don't give into her.

lachesis · 13/07/2011 15:43

Enjoy your wedding, OP, and your new husband and your lovely children.

Put yourself and them before her and her antics.

Narcs thrive on drama and manipulation. You just need to make sure you're not a source for either of those anymore. Ever.

Moobee · 13/07/2011 15:51

It's not dramatic and mean of you to fall out with her over this - your wedding day is a big deal! I agree with Blu - this is not something she can just make up to you with a visit. Be kind to yourself - you seem to be being very keen to be fair to her but she doesn't give you the same respect.

Concentrate on your plans and having a lovely day and enjoying it with your family.

SuePurblybilt · 13/07/2011 15:58

She's a bit crap, isn't she? Think you're better off without her tbh. Stick with your plans and have a lovely day. And do what Barbie suggested, we all fully expect to see this on the cover of Chat in a fortnight Grin

I have to ask - what's the War Veteran thing? Did you have a close friend, who happens to be a WV, picked as a witness or is he for luck, like a chimney sweep? I've never heard of that before.

fastweb · 13/07/2011 15:59

She wants to visit me in a couple of weeks to make 'put things right'.

Yes, because a visit "puts right" that she places a lower value on her relationship with her daughter and being being involved in and bearing wittness to her most important life celebrations, than she does on getting her over made up phizog in a supermarket rag.

I am so sorry love, you seem to have gone well beyond the call of duty to carve out a relationship with her, forgiving her much in the process. You really do deserve so, so ,so much more than this in return.

VoluptuaGoodshag · 13/07/2011 16:00

Wow! I feel for you. Sounds like she just waltzes in and out of your life when it suits her. Stick to your day and you enjoy it. She's the one missing out. If she prefers getting pampered on a blingy photoshoot than pampered for her daughter's wedding then it shows her true colours!

diddl · 13/07/2011 16:32

Good for you for telling her-now stick to your guns.

"She´s so sorry for all of this"-there should be no "this".

She asked to come, you said yes-she´s had another offer-she should decline for the offer that she has already accepted!

She´s making drama/crisis where there is none.

Funny-you´re getting married, but it´s all about her.

Now you´ve told her that she can´t comewhat´s the betting that she´ll turn up?

tinkertitonk · 13/07/2011 18:05

Tell her "Great, now I can invite my father to the wedding." Doesn't matter whether you want him there or whether he'd accept, just tell her.

Northernlurker · 13/07/2011 18:15

Go ahead without her. She sounds deeply selfish and manipulative and tbh your wedding has nothing to do with her. She deserves no consideration.

CheshireDing · 13/07/2011 18:41

Flipping heck, sounds all about her to me!

Who would ever in their right mind ask their Daughter/Son to change the date of their wedding for a dog shit competition.

Enjoy your day, she is ridiculous and selfish.

Don't bother going round "put things right" either. Move on x