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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU or are my aunts?

11 replies

DesperatelySeekingPomBears · 07/07/2012 11:48

I apologise in advance as this will be long.

My grandad died less than 36 hours ago, I loved him dearly and helped with his day to day care a lot in the months before he died. My mam was his carer and also went way over and above normal daughterly duties for him because she, too, adored him.

My nana, his wife, has six children of which my mam is the youngest. Aunties 1, 2 and 3 are to her first husband who left before Aunty 3 was born. Aunty 4's father died before she was born. Uncle and mam are grandad's although Uncle very sadly died less than three months ago in a motorbike accident.

Aunties 1 and 2 moved away when my mam was very young, one to france and one to Bristol. They visit once a year, if that. Aunties 3 and 4 stayed local.

Last year, mam and Aunty 3 had a massive falling out over the way Aunty 3 treats my mam's son and my grandad. Her behaviour towards my grandad (infirm, suffering from heart, lung and kidney failure as well as drastically reduced mobility and blindness) was appalling. She would frequently bully him including bringing a Do Not Resuscitate form from work for him to sign (she was a ward sister) and, on one occassion, waving her fist in his face threatening to punch him. When my mam confronted her about this, she told my mam that she was a bastard like her dad, Aunty 2, who was present, said that she would have 'pulled my grandad out of his wheelchair' if she was Aunty 3. As you can imagine, this led to my mam no longer speaking to Aunties 2 and 3.

When my Uncle died, my mam and I both agreed to be civil and polite to Aunties 2 and 3 for the sake of my nana, who believes Aunty 3 can do no wrong. This is despite Aunty 3 trying to engineer it so that a paid carer would NOT attend my Uncle's funeral to deal with my grandad as my mam could deal with it instead. On the day of her brother's funeral. But anyway, peace was held.

Two weeks ago my grandad ended up in hospital with a perforated bowel, chest infection and blood clots on his lungs. My nana and Aunties 2 and 3 decided to go on holiday to Spain anyway, despite knowing he was dying. My nana did return a day early from the holiday when she was told he was getting worse however Aunties 2 and 3 allowed her to travel back alone so they could finish their holiday. Sadly, he didn't recover and died in the early hours of yesterday morning.

So, yesterday we went to my nana's to start making funeral arrangements. We agreed no church service but a minister at the crem as he was religious, he just couldn't stand the church as an organisation. Then Aunties 2 and 3 began to involve themselves. They decided the date that was most convenient date for them was the 16th. My mam said can we have it any other day as that is her son's (my youngest brother's) 9th birthday. They continued to push the issue saying it was the only day Aunty 2's daughter could come over from France for the funeral. They said a nine year old could celebrate his birthday the day before, then on his actual birthday, be quite happy for his own mother to put on her mourning clothes and go and bury his grandad. This suggestion made to make allowances for a woman in her 30s who had met my grandad a handful of times during her life.

My mam got, understandably, very upset. My nana screamed in my mam's face that my mam is killing her, everything got a bit hazy at that point, as I went completely hysterical and had to be removed from the situation. My aunties then arrived at my nana's and instructed my stepdad to 'get that witch out of here'.

AIBU to just want to grieve for my grandad and to genuinely believe that what they are suggesting would RUIN a little boy's birthday? Would any mother on here think it was okay to bury their parent on their child's birthday?

OP posts:
Trioofprinces · 07/07/2012 11:53

Sorry to hear of the situation, YANBU.

Take care

NarkedRaspberry · 07/07/2012 11:55

It's a horrible situation with people who don't seem like they will be open to any discussion about it. I'm sorry for your loss.

I would accept that this is the way things are going to be, regardless of what may or may not be right, and make the best of that.

MissPants · 07/07/2012 11:55

YANBU, he wasn't their father and they appear to have actively disliked him rather than having had any step fatherly relationship with him so I would tell the poisonous witches to feel free not to attend at all so so that the family members who loved and cared for him and were not aggressive and bullying towards him can grieve in peace.

Nagoo · 07/07/2012 11:56

I think this is very sad but your nana will have the final say, and she's not on your mums side. I think your mum won't have a choice. :(

This isn't fair, but I don't think that there is any point in arguing as your mum will be made out to be difficult and unreasonable, whatever the facts.

I think that you and your mum will have to stick together, but keep quiet and grieve together.

I'm sorry you have had to deal with them on top of losing your grandad Thanks

Nervousfirsttimer · 07/07/2012 11:57

YANBU families can be total bastards sometimes.

redwhiteandblueeyedsusan · 07/07/2012 12:06

would talking to the minister help?

unfortunately, your nana gets to decide. it is not right but there may not be much you can do.

Johnnydeppsnewmrs · 07/07/2012 12:16

Could you calmly suggest they bury him on the 17th?
It is a horrible situation for you and your mum to be in, and I agree burying him on your brothers birthday is not a good idea. I suggest the 17th as a peacemaking date - the woman can be over from france for the 16th, so will be in the country on the 17th?
Not ideal I know, and it won't be nice for any of you to wait so long for the funeral, but one day extra won't be that different.
Stay strong honey, your mum needs you by her side xxx

Johnnydeppsnewmrs · 07/07/2012 12:17

Forgot to add - sorry for your loss xx

Bestb411pm · 07/07/2012 12:26

Please accept my condolences for your grandads passing.

Yanbu, but I agree with everyone else that it will be your nana who has the final say.

Grief can turn you into someone you never thought you could be, please try very hard to remember that although your grandads funeral is important, it isn't the most important part of his life. You were there and very involved for the overall most important thing which was making sure he knew he was loved by you and your mum.

The funeral coinciding with your sons birthday certainly isn't ideal, but it could be cathartic for you to see it as a beautiful extension of your grandads legacy. Obviously this is hard, but I really hope you and your mum can find some way to make some peace with this situation as I truly think that you're the only ones who can prevent this tarnishing all your memories and becoming bitter.

I 'm not saying it's right that you have to do this, it's bloody hard, but it saves so many years of your pain if you can turn around your perception now.

Take care.

Bestb411pm · 07/07/2012 12:27

Sorry just realised it was your brother not son. Apologies.

HaveALittleFaith · 07/07/2012 17:29

Yanbu. I'm really sorry for your loss :(

Sadly in situations like this family situations tend to blow up. The Aunts are definitely bu to expect to arrange the funeral on a child's birthday just because it's most convenient! I suspect your Nana lashed out at you and your Mam because she is closer to you? And the conflict is only hurting her more while she's grieving. The fact that it's them causing the problem doesn't necessarily penetrate when you're grieving. I would stand your ground if you're the ones who have been caring for him and are local. Book it for a date that's the most convenient to everyone. I hope you get sorted soon.

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