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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be a bit upset for DS that his cousin left his 13th birthday 'gathering' after an hour.....

31 replies

sensesworkingovertime · 28/04/2012 20:34

....to spend the evening with friends she sees every week and go to a 17th party/meal?

I get that she's 16 going on 17 and wants to be with her mates but there are two main sores points for me:-

  1. she didn't say anything along the lines of 'bye have a nice birhday' to her cousin (DS) on leaving, she said nothing to him and made a bee line to her friend at the door (should explain here that family was gathered at grandmas house).

  2. Last year myself, DH and DCs were given about 2 hours notice on an invite to said cousins 16th birthday afternoon buffet (as far as I knew she was just having a party the previous evening with her mates). I had already made arrangements to see a friend which I then was forced to cancel as did not want to upset niece, my brother and SIL.

Basically, you know as a mum how much you feel any upset for your kids and I know he would have been looking forward so much to having her there. Just a bit upset really. Thanks for listening.

OP posts:
RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/04/2012 20:36

I think yabu (a bit) tbh. He saw her; she was there. Surely he's more interested in his own friends than in her anyway?

squeakytoy · 28/04/2012 20:37

YABU to expect a 16yo girl to enjoy being at a 13yo boys birthday party for a start!!!

RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie · 28/04/2012 20:37

She should have said a proper goodbye though - that was rude.

WincNanny · 28/04/2012 20:38

YABU - She's 17 and probably didn't really want to spend a lot of time hanging out with a 13 year old boy (even if he is her cousin)

Be greatful that she came, and stayed for an hour.

chandellina · 28/04/2012 20:40

Yabu, teens are never going to have perfect manners!

LeeCoakley · 28/04/2012 20:43

Just be amazed and pleased that she came at all Grin

bigTillyMint · 28/04/2012 20:46

I am amazed that she turned up - surrounded by 13yo boys!

But she could have said goodbye to him.

hathorkicksass · 28/04/2012 20:46

You're lucky she came at all.

He's 13 she's 17. He is not even on her radar.

Choufleur · 28/04/2012 20:47

was your ds actually bothered that she left?

LeeCoakley · 28/04/2012 20:48

Regarding your 2nd point, there's no way that she would equate the two events. I'm having trouble myself. You went to her party and she came to your ds's. You were forced to go to hers and it sounds like she was forced to come to yours. Is it because you think that you should have both spent the same amount of time at each others?

scummymummy · 28/04/2012 20:49

Agree yabu, sorry. Astonishing that she came at all!

sensesworkingovertime · 28/04/2012 20:49

There were no other children there, just DD and this cousin, a family gathering, I hear what you're all saying. !ABU! Will save my upset for greater issues like world famine.

OP posts:
fivegomadindorset · 28/04/2012 20:51

I am going to go against the grain and say YANBU.

LeeCoakley · 28/04/2012 20:51

Well done for seeing sense Grin

fedupofnamechanging · 28/04/2012 20:52

I think yab(a bit)u too. You chose to cancel seeing your friend in order to attend your nieces party - your niece didn't make you. And you are an adult, she is a child. You can't expect her to do duty visits.

She ought to have said goodbye though - that was rude.

fedupofnamechanging · 28/04/2012 20:53

X post with you OP

DesperatelySeekingSedatives · 28/04/2012 20:53

YABU to be upset by this really- aleast she turned up, which is more than my sister who is a similar age would have done!

I don't honestly think your DS would be that bothered that she'd gone. Most boys that age wouldn't have noticed her presence at all.

mycatsaysach · 28/04/2012 20:55

you can't really expect more than a fleeting glance of teens this age tbh

comedycentral · 28/04/2012 20:57

Yanbu to be upset BUT it's not worth feeling resentful over.

cubbie · 28/04/2012 21:10

I dont think YWBU.
Ok, she is 17 etc etc etc, but sometimes everybody just needs to suck it up and do stuff they don't want to. It was extremely rude of her not to say goodbye properly, IMO, her parents should have ensured that she did, it's just good manners.

I'm sure your DS was probably quite pleased/proud to have a 17 year old there. She could have said something like, "I'm sorry I cannot stay till ....... whatever the anticipated duration was........, I am going to a close friend's party tonight as well."

And on leaving, I'd make blooming sure my DS would say thanks and enjoy the rest of your party.

Manners cost nothing and it wouldn't have killed her to be a bit more polite/considerate.

Yes, I can well remember being that age myself and no, it wouldn't have thrilled me either, but I would have been made to (if I hadn't been willing) and I'd have been told to be civil, friendly and polite. I was always taught, when leaving a friend's house, to find the mum and say, "Mrs.........., thank you for having me."

We were not snobby or posh by any means, just taught good manners and social conventions.
My DC are 3 and 5, but I insist on good manners, please and thank you etc etc I have marched DS's up to staff in a cafe/soft play centre several times and made them apologise for making a mess etc. Yes, I know children can be careless and clumsy, so can adults, and if I have spilled or dropped something, I'd try and clear it up and apologise.

BTW, I am not some authoritarian parent, I sometimes let my DC get away with various small dismeanours 'cos I'm too worn out to stop them but I would absolutely not compromise/back down on good manners. I've often been told when they are out somewhere with other people, how well-mannered they are.

Manners and social skills cost nothing!! And yes, I'm sure they will turn into bratty teenagers at some point, but I still won't put up with bad manners/lack of consideration/thought for others. The toughest sanctions will be imposed.

cubbie · 28/04/2012 21:18

Misdemeanours at home, that is, not elsewhere.
And ok she is 16, not 17.

Nanny0gg · 28/04/2012 21:45

she is a child. You can't expect her to do duty visits.

Um. Yes you can.

One night wouldn't have killed her.

YANBU.

squeakytoy · 28/04/2012 21:47

A nearly 17yo is not really a child....

BlueFergie · 28/04/2012 22:54

YABU. At 17 I wouldn't have bothered going to most family gatherings never mind my 13 year old cousins birthday.
Not saying goodbye is hardly the crime of the century. And if her friend was there she wasn't likely to do it. She probably doesn't want to admit to speaking to any of you!!
She's a teenager. They are a special breed. Rudeness is part of the package. Most of them come back as normal enough members of society in a coupe of years. In the meantime try not to take it personally.

ENormaSnob · 28/04/2012 23:16

Yabvu