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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

to want dp to clear up after mil

55 replies

muddyprints · 11/09/2013 21:34

mil and fil visit weekly and when they leave im left with a mess, which is getting worse.
mil is messy,dirty and doesn't care for anything.
in our house we take off shoes and ils always have, over past 3-4 weeks mil has stopped removing her shoes, she doesn't wipe her feet and literally leaves dirt on the floor.
she went to the toilet and didn't move dd2s step stool (thankfully the trainer seat wasn't on) and left wee on the seat and step stool and floor.
she took her cardigan off and shook it and folded it on arm of chair leaving collection of dog hair and mess.
she holds her teacup loosely over one finger so it hangs and frequently spills on the carpet.
she leaves dirty fingerprints on the doors on her way in.
I dread her eating anything as she wont use a plate, sits with her legs open and pushes crumbs onto the floor.
when she puts her teacup down she spills tea over pictures on fire.

she is the same at home, thinks nothing of spilling tea and rubbing it into carpet which is dirty and covered in hair. throws the dog ball up the newly wallpapered walls.

aibu to want dp to either tell his mom to take off her shoes, clean up her wee and be careful with her tea, or to clean all this mess up afterwards. or am I being a complete cow because mil is in her 70s and is this normal mess to expect from older family?

OP posts:
BrokenSunglasses · 12/09/2013 22:35

You can't expect a 70yo woman to remove her shoes when she comes round, that's just mean.

She might not have the capacity to think about things in the same way most people would with things like wee on the seat.

She's your DPs mum, you have to put up with it, but your DP should be helping to clear up after her too.

Can you explain more about this please?

when she puts her teacup down she spills tea over pictures on fire.

WipsGlitter · 12/09/2013 22:43

She spills tea over pictures, on fire. I guess

I think YABU but you sound very anal about housekeeping. Carpets can be hoovered or deep cleaned, stand over he at the door if she MUST take her shoes off.

Sits with her legs open? So what, I presume she has pants on!

Can you not wash the towels?

You sound very inhospitable.

cjel · 12/09/2013 23:11

if you are both home then both do all chores together.
What are you saving your house for? if its a home it should be used and enjoyed by you and your visitors.
My parents are in their mid eighties and don't make a mess like this but she is your mil and she comes with the baggage she comes with.

Ask her every time she comes to take her shoes off, but as for wee and crumbs chill!! just clean when cleaning needs doing.
I think YAB a bit U but don't think you should need to ask your DH to help, if he wants your house spotless then he should be doing it anyway when hes home. but things like dirty handmarks don't need immediate cleaning unless you are a bit anal?
I feel a bit sorry for you that you are stressing so much about this, People are far more important than possessions, I hope you can learn to relax and enjoy your family and homex

muddyprints · 13/09/2013 14:07

sorry, I should have mentioned the stroke but it was minor, she was out and about again very quickly and I hadn't considered that it may have affected her thought process.
I have experience of strokes unfortunately, my nan had several in her 80s and I happily cleaned up wee/poo, washed her, pushed her wheelchair and loved her dearly. I also knew it affected her aggression and accepted that.
maybe mil stroke affected her more than I thought Sad
when mil puts drink down on shelf above fire she spills some and stains the pictures below. I know its an accident, but I wish she would wipe it up or tell me and id wipe it, but finding it days later seeped into pictures angers me.
I don't care that she sits with her legs open, I care that she wont use a plate but lets crumbs fall on her lap and then brushes then onto the carpet.
she is capable of washing her hands so im not sure why I should put up with dirty handprints on every doorframe.
I didn't say dp will you clean up your moms wee please infront of her as it may have embarrassed her so I cleaned it up but why would she straddle a stool to get on the loo when she could have moved it?
she isn't housebound, she is out every day shopping, going for lunch etc.
apparently, before I knew her she used to be cleaner washing clothes and hovering dusting but now says she is too idle.

OP posts:
cjel · 13/09/2013 14:37

sometimes our visitors do things we don't like but we have to suck it up to enjoy their company ,
Poor lady has been doing cleaning all her life and is now fed up with it.
Take your turn in looking after her and spoiling her a bit,

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