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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be annoyed by the daily visits?

10 replies

quokka1 · 29/08/2013 11:22

I'll try to keep this brief!

Been with DH 12 years, for the first 10 years of our relationship, FIL wasn't at all interested in spending time with either of us, we very rarely saw him & only if we made the effort to visit him. However he would always go out of his way to spend time with my BIL & his family, which often made me upset on behalf of my DH, though I never felt close enough to FIL to say anything. There is no back story, DH has never given FIL any reason for him not to want to spend time with him or us, FIL was just more interested in BIL & the grand kids & we were basically ignored...fair enough....

After being there (when the BIL & family weren't) for FIL in a time of need 2 years ago, he has realised we're worth spending time with & has started to make much more effort to spend time with us, which pleased both myself & DH. We'd see him around 1-2 times per week, prearranged at either of our houses or going out somewhere for dinner. A nice balance, enough contact without living in each other's pockets.

I'm now pregnant with our first child after many, many years of trying & for the last 6-8 weeks or so, we have seen FIL almost every day! I am very grateful to him as he does do a lot to help us, he keeps the garden tidy (DH & I both work very long hours) and does little jobs around the house for us but I'm finding the constant, unannounced visits a little too much. He'll turn up at 9am on a Sunday morning while we 're still in bed or about 10 mins after he knows we'll have just walked in from work.

I've come to love him to bits, much more than I thought I ever would due to his distance during the first 10 years of knowing him but I worry now that when I'm on mat leave, he is going to be here every day. He never stays really long, sometimes 10 mins, sometimes an hour but it's getting to be every single day. Sometimes I just don't feel like having company & I don't know how to approach this situation without upsetting him. After having 10 years where I wished he'd take an interest, I feel terribly guilty that I now wish he wouldn't take so much of an interest! I feel sorry for him, he has been widowed a long time, he's lonely & I know having my DH & I in his life has come to be really important to him but AIBU to feel a little bit suffocated? Instead of looking forward to mat leave, I now find myself dreading the thought of having a baby to look after & a pensioner to entertain every day. I would never dream of telling him to stay away, the baby is his grandchild & I wouldn't ever want him to feel unwelcome at our house, perhaps just not to welcome to turn up at any time of any day!

So much for being brief... Sorry! Smile

OP posts:
QueenofallIsee · 29/08/2013 11:30

I worshipped the ground my Grandfather walked on, but still got a bit peeved at the 9am Sunday visits (he did bring croissants, but still!). I never ever would say anything though as I would not hurt his dear feelings for the world and now he has gone, I would give anything to have him here at 6am never mind 9am!!

Just make sure that you don't drop everything to 'entertain' him and start talking about your baby routine and things he CAN help with, hopefully that will focus him on what he can do rather than what you are not wanting

quokka1 · 29/08/2013 11:42

You're completely right, he's really getting on now age wise & we should enjoy having him while he's here - that's why I feel so bad about getting annoyed with his constant visits.

Maybe if I put him on dirty nappy duty, he'll cut back a bit!

OP posts:
QueenofallIsee · 29/08/2013 11:53

You are human and pregnant and a grown up so of course its not ideal! I think that when the baby comes and you are getting into your routine/breast feeding you can say something like 'oh baby group in the mornings so feel free to come by after xxx time if you are passing'..you might also find that he is helpful in that he will want to fuss the baby while you do something else!!

valiumredhead · 29/08/2013 12:12

He won't be around forever, just grit your teeth would be my advice. He sounds lovely and sometimes you have to ridge rough with the smooth. My fil its on his last legs in hospital atm and I can't imagine life without him tbhSad

valiumredhead · 29/08/2013 12:15

Sorry for the typos!

You could make big noises about needing a lie in on Sundays and ask him round for lunch at a specific time so he doesn't just turn up.

LeaveTheBastid · 29/08/2013 12:16

My dad does this, not as extreme as your FIL but he will pop round at least every other day with something for DD. His little mobility scooter beeping at my front door... In fact this morning me and DH are off work and DD decided to sleep in, and so we were all woken up at 9.40am by him knocking and shouting up my name as our bedroom windows were open.... To bring DD a Peppa Pig magazine Grin

I'll miss these visits dearly when he is gone, he's been bad health these past 2 years so I am trying to just suck it up and appreciate him as much as i can. Plus we are taking him and my mum on holiday in a few days for 2 weeks, so I could probably benefit from not seeing him until then Wink

Serves me right for moving 3 streets away from them!

HazelnutinCaramel · 29/08/2013 12:17

You're not unreasonable to find it a bit annoying but in this case, I would suck it up. He sounds like a nice old boy and he's family. Make use of him, he presumably likes to help so give him jobs. You'll probably be out a fair bit at baby groups and the like anyway, so you won't always be in to receive him.

mumofthemonsters808 · 29/08/2013 12:27

My parents and in laws used to pop up all the time at my house and sometimes it drove me potty. They are no longer with us and I would give my right arm to have them call on me. I miss the inconvenient dropping by so much. Enjoy your FIL's company while you can he will not be with you forever.

quokka1 · 29/08/2013 12:27

You're all right ladies - thank you! I adored my own grandad & although I've now had more of my life without him than with him, I'd give anything to see him again & I hope my little one will feel the same about her grandad.

Leave - you made me laugh with the beeping mobility scooter!

I'll make sure we give him plenty of jobs to do as he does like to feel useful & like some of you have said, I hope to make the most of mat leave by getting out & about to all of these baby groups & things so it won't just be the two of us & a baby sat on the sofa all day. I think I was just being a bit hormonal when I wrote my first post this morning but thank you for the reassurance/reality check! x

OP posts:
Lemonylemon · 29/08/2013 12:46

I wish my Dad was still around to do this.... Sad

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