Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to think it's not on to leave granny and great-aunt out of extended family festivities?

61 replies

theancientmarinator · 16/12/2012 20:31

I genuinely don't know and would appreciate other viewpoints. I have four siblings and we all have partners and kids. My DM and DA both suffer from dementia but the early stages of it - they don't know what day of the week it is but know who everyone in the family is. They live in a home 80 miles away. My DB and SIL live nearby and give a great deal of their time to the two old ladies - DB pops into the home at least weekly and he and SIL (who is delightful!) have them to lunch every Sunday. They are having them both over on Christmas day as well as SIL's parents and all their own kids. As a family we have never all got together on the 25th (my mum refused to be a MIL who kicked up a fuss about not spending Christmas Day with her married offspring and actually probably went too far in the opposite direction) but always get together (anything up to 25 of us) a few days later for a lunch and present swapping frenzy. We have done this since the late 70's. This year a decision has been made to leave the two old ladies out of this lunch because my SIL wants a break (she and DB would top and tail the day with an hour's drive each way with the old ladies in the back seat telling the same stories over and over and over...)

On the one hand I completely understand my SIL's viewpoint. On the other hand DM and DA are going to know there has been no family gathering and, even if they don't work out that they have been left out, I think they will be really sad to not see the whole family as usual. And I am not comfortable with hosting a family get-together from which my Mum has been excluded. Or of setting my son the example of treating slightly irksome older relatives this way after a lifetime of loving us all when we were young (and equally irksome!) I don't know what is more unreasonable - to just go along with this and exclude my DM from what might (but probably won't) be her last family gathering. Or to pull rank on the basis that it's at my house this year and insist my DM and DA are brought along too. Comments please!

OP posts:
squeakytoy · 16/12/2012 20:35

Its a tricky one but I can see your DB and SIL might actually like to have a bit of time without doing the chauffeuring at each end too.

ENormaSnob · 16/12/2012 20:35

Maybe you could facilitate their transport.

Seems like your dbro and sil do more than their fair share.

BlueberryHill · 16/12/2012 20:37

Agree with ENormaSnob, I can see you point but your DB and SIL need a break as well.

DontmindifIdo · 16/12/2012 20:37

It's not off for them to want a break. Is there anyone else who can help with transport?

sleepsforwimps2010 · 16/12/2012 20:38

if you want them there maybe you should arrange to collect them/take them back...
i think yabu.

nannyl · 16/12/2012 20:38

I see both sides

is there any way that some other relatives could take their turn doing the driving? Maybe they could stay at BILs / SIL's the previouse night so they dont have to do really long journeys on the days

ENormaSnob · 16/12/2012 20:40

Actually, your pulling rank comment has really pissed me off tbh.

What exactly will you be doing for your dm and da over the festivities?

Maybe your dbro and sil think you should be pulling your finger out a bit more.

sparkle12mar08 · 16/12/2012 20:43

If you can somehow arrange transport for them that might be the best idea. I can understand your SIL's point of view but I agree with you, it's incredibly mean to exclude your mum - is your brother happy at leaving his own mother out so pointedly? Surely it's at precisely these special times of year that we should make extra effort for vulnerable and elderly relatives?

sparkle12mar08 · 16/12/2012 20:45

However the whole 'pulling rank' thing is silly and makes you look petulent.

Nospringflower · 16/12/2012 20:46

I don't see how you can insist that your DB and Dsisinlaw bring them. You can insist they are invited but then you need to make arrangements for them getting to your house and home and make sure that your DB doesn't have to end up looking after them while they are at yours. Think you sound a bit selfish about it TBH.

Jalopeno · 16/12/2012 20:58

YABU. They are doing more then their fair share on Christmas Day. If you want your Mum at yours, you will have to organise her transportation. You already asked your DB/SIL, they refused and you cannot insist. Could your M and A stay the night at yours?

sleepyhead · 16/12/2012 21:00

It's difficult to know if yabu without knowing what you and your other siblings do for your dm and da.

It's certainly not unreasonable for your db and sil to want a break. How do you facilitate this without leaving out your mum and aunt? It's certainly a problem, but not one that should necessarily be up to your db to solve if they're already doing more than their fair share - maybe they're not though, you don't say.

DialsMavis · 16/12/2012 21:00

If you want them, you go and get them... Have them to stay for a few days, they will love it

WhereYouLeftIt · 16/12/2012 21:05

" This year a decision has been made to leave the two old ladies out of this lunch because my SIL wants a break (she and DB would top and tail the day with an hour's drive each way with the old ladies in the back seat telling the same stories over and over and over...)"
'A decision has been made'. By who? You are the host, is it not down to you who is invited to your home and who is not?

"On the one hand I completely understand my SIL's viewpoint."
Well could you explain it to me then, because I really don't? Your DB & SIL will be driving for an hour to your house and back anyway. I don't really having passengers boring the arse off you with repetition for that hour as that big a deal. Or is there more to it than that?

Fakebook · 16/12/2012 21:09

Why don't you do anything? If you can't drive organise a taxi or something. Do SOMETHING.

ViperInTheManger · 16/12/2012 21:13

I think if you are the organiser and able to "pull rank" on who is coming then you should be responsible for organising transport for those who cannot transport themselves, i.e. your DM and DA instead of expecting your DB and SIL to take responsibility for them again.

MrsAmaretto · 16/12/2012 21:19

Organise transport yourself and darn well make sure YOU look after the old ladies, instead of having a jolly good time and your db & dsil looking after them during the event.

My mother has a sister like you, and a situation similar to yours. Your attitude has really annoyed me.

DontmindifIdo · 16/12/2012 21:19

WhereYouLeftIt - I think the problem is, OP wants them there but isn't prepared to do the 'work' to make it happen, she's expecting to put out two people who already do what sounds like far more than their fair share. They aren't saying the two old ladies can't go, just they won't collect and return them, and look after them at her house, which is fair enough.

OP - could you drive to get them and return them? (perhaps ask DB and SIL if you could stay over afterwards to break up the journey).

But maybe this should be a bit of a wake up call, if it's an hour drive, could you not make a point of once a month driving up and taking the two older ladies out for Sunday lunch to give your DB a break without making him feel guilty that they are on their own?

DontmindifIdo · 16/12/2012 21:25

also remember when they are with you, they will need looking after all the time, their default will be to turn to your DB and SIL who won't be able to relax unless someone else is stationed next to them at all times looking after them, listening to their stories and making sure they have everything they need. You can't just step away and be hostess unless you know someone else (who isn't just "DB and SIL again because they're so good with Mum and Aunty") is looking after them.

Narked · 16/12/2012 21:29

What do you do for them?

Narked · 16/12/2012 21:31

People don't live in homes because they repeat stories. Do you know what this would be like for your Aunt and mother? Two hours in a car, a strange place, 25+ people?

Gingerodgers · 16/12/2012 21:32

Agree with previous posters, an hour is not such a long drive that you are not able to be more involved on a regular basis.

sleepyhead · 16/12/2012 21:36

Also, do your dm & da enjoy going to unfamiliar places? Often people with dementia get disorientated and anxious in places where they haven't been before (or go infrequently).

It may be that your db and sil know from experience that your mum or aunt may start asking to go home as soon as they arrive.

Idlegirl83 · 16/12/2012 21:43

I have to say YABU - you don't mention in your OP what you actually do for your DM and DA, only what your DB and SIL do. Do you visit regularly?
Although you are hosting the get together, you really have no right to 'pull rank' and insist that your DB and SIL transport them around for the day. By all means invite them, but then it is up to you to arrange transport and let your DB and SIL have a day off.
Other than that, maybe you could drive over to the home and spend a day there with them both over the festive period?

GoldQuintessenceAndMyhrr · 16/12/2012 21:45

From your post, I assume you have very little to do with your mum and DA, now that they are irksome elder ladies. This lunch may not be the best setting to teach your son that you dont cast aside elder relatives that have loved you. Maybe use the rest of the year for that? Maybe pick up these two elderly ladies for a smaller event just with your family during Christmas rather than the grand family affair? That would not bee too much, surely?
That way your dh can pick up mum while you cook, etc?

By the way, your sister, have most likely made this decision from having intimate knowledge of your mum and DA, that you may not have. I bet you dont know what it is like to cook with a demented old mum around, who insists that she knows how it is done, and dont realize that she doesnt. And he is most put out that she cant boss you around, after all she is your mum and knows best. And who decides to set the table, and see nothing wrong in what she has done, but you do, and you will be loathe to change things, as this will hurt her.

Also, who will change her nappy?
What if she is scared during the journey? Not able to make sense of the lights she sees on the motorway, the speed of the cars? Gets car sick? Needs the toilet and is too embarrassed to say?

Looking after somebody with dementia is like looking after a wilfull toddler, but with the age and experience, and demand to authority of a grown up, and with absolutely no self insight.