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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think Im NOT expecting the world to 'revolve around me and mine'?

218 replies

WhiteTrash · 18/04/2012 10:10

My mum has never said this in so many words, but I know her inside and out and I know this is what she thinks about me when we have family gatherings. It happens nearly every time, 2 short examples once my lovely nephew was having his first birthday and it was at a time that my then 2 year old would have gone down for a nap, I called my mum to discuss it, see if we could come to an arrangement that didnt involve an over tired 2 year old creating in the middle of a party and it ended up in a huge row after she basically said suck it up, deal with it its not about me and DS its about DB, DSIL and DN. Made me feel like a right cunt for trying to prevent a toddler melt down.

The next time was at Christmas, 20 weeks pregnant, had a bleed which ended up in a HUGE row, me crying my eyes out, her walking out. DP wasnt in the area, but obviously he came up and we went to hospital together, this is what my mum wanted, but I had originally asked if she would mind taking me simply because it was easier. I asked if she could drop me there and dp could meet me there (the logistics made sense) and she just went mental. Still to this day cant figure out how the eff that happened.

I love my mum I do, but the way she speaks to me in front of family is humiliating, its a condescending, frowning, reprimanding way that she used to use when I was 15. Again this has started in the last 2-3 years and I dont know why.

Fast forward to todays issue, I have an 11 month old baby who is anaphylactic to milk and eggs, and has various other milder food allergies. Its his birthday next month so we've arranged to have lots of family come over for a BBQ, this is set and happening provided the weather is nice. My older brother and his wife, both of which I adore are having a baby any day now, so there will be a very young baby there. I suddenly thought last night, shit, what if the baby is bottle fed? We have a very strict 'no allergens in the house' rule as this needs to be the only place in the world that is safe for the baby.

I cant expect her to stay outside with the baby all day, what if it gets chilly. What if it hurls everywhere? What if it doesnt all get cleared up and the baby bum suffles through some? What if they heat a bottle up, test in on their arm and drops get on the floor (my friends bottle did this recently, but it was soya milk so didnt matter). I cant expect everyone to be watching out for a hurling baby, I want everyone to relax, I dont want to be paranoid about there being sick/milk somewhere in the house for days after they go. The sick will dry but a drooly wet baby hand would wet and start it up again.

I really dont know wtf to do. If he gets any on him, we have adrenalin shots for him but that means an ambulance and over night stay in hospital, pretty shitty birthday.

She may well breastfeed, but she combine fed her first baby from the off so we cant guarantee that. And right now I need to assume its bottle fed so I can decide how to go about this.

I text my mum and she said 'She'll breastfeed' I text back saying 'But XXX was combine fed from the start' and Ive got nothing back. I know for a fact shes thinking 'Oh heeere we go!' and I just cant be fucked to have her make me feel like a cunt again for protecting my baby.

Sorry this is really long, AIBU here?

I really, really want to see my brother and his family, I dont get to see them enough we live a few hours away from all our family. But I dont want to risk my babys health either.

OP posts:
ABatInBunkFive · 18/04/2012 18:49

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OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 18/04/2012 18:49

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thatisall · 18/04/2012 18:50

knowwhen so what should the OP do???

Put her child at risk by keeping her mouth shut, just to avoid upsetting her sil. FUCK THAT

youarekidding · 18/04/2012 18:50

apologies are usually gracefully accepted when their not followed with - but I'm right and entitled to my POV. Wink

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 18:51

So for not knowing the ins and outs of a complex medical issue, and for daring to have a different view of the situation i am
Now cast as DIM? Wow.

youarekidding · 18/04/2012 18:51

yep knowwhen came fired and left!

ABatInBunkFive · 18/04/2012 18:53

Knowing ssomeone can die from a reaction isn't that complex, i thought that was pretty common knowledge tbh

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 18:53

Take it as you wish.. I wasn't stating i was right i was trying to explain my thought processes but they are clearly those of a dimwit!

Quick someone call me a Troll and give me a Biscuit and my MN flaming will be complete Wink

thatisall · 18/04/2012 18:53

youarekiddin meh!

youarekidding · 18/04/2012 18:53

No not at all allthat but when you have no idea about a life threatening medical condition it not usually a good idea to tell someone quite bluntly and farely rudely IMO to stop being the damsel in distress.

No-one is disagreeing that the OP has high anxieties, most people though have bothered to at least empathise a little.

r3dh3d · 18/04/2012 18:53

Whatever. At least i have the good grace to apologise for offence i have caused! This is symptomatic of the devolution of debate... Where did the debate go, then? The Welsh Assembly?

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 18:54

abat yes i was aware of that having had to inject a friend with adrenaline as a result of a severe reaction however if handled well death was unlikely, as i understood it!

youarekidding · 18/04/2012 18:56

no your thoughts are not those of a dimwit. Your heavy handedness to the OP when you yourself admit you have no idea of the serious implications of anaphylaxis was not your smartest move. Wink

OhDoAdmitMrsDeVere · 18/04/2012 19:00

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AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 19:00

Sarcasm? Wholly unnecessary rwhatsitdehatsit.

I have been jumped on for a lack of empathy but did the people who have made sneering and sarcastic remarks empathise in that i may have just read something in a different tone? THAT is what i meant.

OP im sorry if my lack of empathy came across, i an naturally a matter of fact person and this wasn't the right approach on an emotive subject, i hope your Dc has a nice birthday regardless

trixymalixy · 18/04/2012 19:01

Another epipen carrying Mum here. DS used to react just sitting beside someone drinking milk or in a coffee shop if they were steaming milk so I have a good understanding of how anxious you are feeling.

However, I do think you are being overly anxious about keeping all traces of allergens away from your baby. You are not going to manage this with milk as it is such a large part of the British diet. Your baby is going to go to nursery/school/parties etc where there will be milk.

You need to develop more rational strategies for dealing with situations where your baby may come into contact with milk e.g. Your SIL feeding her baby in another room.

I think you could also do with some kind of counselling for your anxiety as what you are describing doesn't sound like a normal level of anxiety. Perhaps anaphylaxis uk could help?

YWNBU about your Mum not taking you to hospital.

CremeEggThief · 18/04/2012 19:03

Allthatshewants, you ought to apologise to the OP for your unsympathetic comments graciously and sincerely. What you said was very unhelpful and IMO, hurtful.

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 19:04

Trixys comment is what i was ineloquently attempting to put across.

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 19:06

Now im being criticised on my apology???? Jesus christ what are you cream egg my mother? Im happy with how i have apologised thankyou, it was sincere, so please keep your intonations to yourself.

Literally cannot do anything correctly it would seem!

ImperialBlether · 18/04/2012 19:07

I agree with everyone that the OP shouldn't involve her mum in anything, really, given the way she is.

I've absolutely understood the sense of panic that the OP's had - her beautiful child is at risk and she is terrified. Can't we all understand that feeling?

When you have a child that's so highly allergic, it's such a massive learning curve. You haven't just got to get over the birth and the breastfeeding and the painful stitches and crying every five minutes, you have to cope with life and death emergencies - if you do something wrong the fallout could be absolutely disastrous.

We all know that immense surge of love that so many of us have immediately after the birth. To be told then that something normal and everyday could cause that baby harm at best, to die at worst, must be incredibly frightening.

OP, I think you need to be in contact with other mums who are in the same position, but maybe a couple of years ahead. You're not born knowing what to do in these situations. It'll take time for you lose that constant state of panic and you need help on the way.

youarekidding · 18/04/2012 19:07

Allthat now that apology means something. Grin

and fair play to you for sticking around unlike others. and hate to admit it but your right we did jump on you - think your comment about it being an emotive subject pretty much sums it all up. So sorry from me for jumping on you.

McHappyPants2012 · 18/04/2012 19:10

OP you said you had an older child, i take it he has milk or milk based products how do you cope with that

trixymalixy · 18/04/2012 19:11

Whitetrash, DS is now 5 so we have been dealing with this for a few years now and it does get easier, honestly. It does just became your normal life dealing with allergies.

Feel free to PM me if you want a chat from someone with a bit more empathy than some of the posters here.

AllthatshewantsisanotherBBaby · 18/04/2012 19:12

Thanks youare, i am appreciative of the fact i was wrong, i literally live and learn!

Mother2many · 18/04/2012 19:48

OrmIrianWed 18-Apr-12 14:32:02

whitetrash - may I just say how graciously you have reacted to criticism on this thread?

I second this!!!

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