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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect adult children to contribute?

89 replies

maparole · 24/11/2013 14:39

This is completely academic now, because I have left my ex, but there was an issue which always caused rows and I still ponder on whether I was justified.

Ex had three grown sons - the youngest already 18 when I met him. We lived abroad, so we got into the routine of all three coming to stay for a week or so in the summer, sometimes with girlfriends as well. This was always good fun but obviously entailed a lot of extra work for me and a massive extra cost.

We ran a business together and for the first few years we were doing well, the DSSs were still studying, etc, and the expense of these visits were never an issue to me. However, latterly we were VERY short of money, DSSs were all grown men with excellent jobs and I began to feel that they should be expected to chip in for groceries, petrol, etc, and not simply expect us to fund an all-in holiday for them all every year.

It didn't help that our own DS's birthday is at the same time and I was always struggling to afford his presents (always modest anyway) and party. The cost of the three to six extra people meant we would spend in a week what would normally do for a month.

Whenever I tried to broach this with ex (who never shopped or took any responsibility for finances), he would just fly into a rage and accuse me of "hating" his sons or trying to stop him seeing them. To me, it is simply common good manners to offer a contribution if you stay in someone else's home ... even a small token gift or the offer to take us out for a meal would have shown some appreciation.

Odd that this one small problem in a relationship fraught with huge problems should continue to niggle me, but I'd love to have some independent views on it.

OP posts:
AbiRoad · 24/11/2013 17:10

I live a flight away from my parents so when we see them it tends to be for up to a week. When we visit them, they tend to foot most of the cost, although we will offer to help around the house, pay for meals out, day trips etc. when they visit us it is the same in reverse. No problems. Did you ever visit ex's sons? If so, what would happen then?
Presumably they will have paid their own travel costs?

WhoNickedMyName · 24/11/2013 17:15

YABU, but it's done now and can't be changed, you've split with your ex and you need to stop ruminating on this, it's not healthy.

Shockingundercrackers · 24/11/2013 17:22

Interesting question... I'm 41 and effectively left home 23 years ago. I visited regularly, sometimes for up to a week, and never once contributed. Now the shoe is on the other foot and my mum visits me more often. I'd be horrified to think she'd feel like she should offer me any money - she's my guest and I love to treat her. Meals out, days out, food and drink. My turn, my hospitality. When my boys are grown I'd expect the same arrangement.

We're not short of cash though and that would probably change things.

morethanpotatoprints · 24/11/2013 17:36

I would expect mine to contribute if they had well paid jobs, especially if they gfs to stay too. YWNBU at the time.

ImperialBlether · 24/11/2013 18:36

It's easy enough to be horrified if you have the money to pay for people to stay. Sounds like the OP was the only one who was worrying about money - her ex had his head up his arse and the rest of them were merrily ignoring the fact that all of their food and drink was being provided by a step mother who had literally no money.

mercibucket · 24/11/2013 18:56

how much did flights cost? if more than say fifty quid then they are not really saving money by living at yours for a week and maybe saw the flights as their contribution to the cost of meeting up
for a week with my parents I wouldnt pay for food either and nor would they if they came to mine. we all have enough money to do that though
sounds like exh didn't want to lose face

intitgrand · 24/11/2013 19:14

He is their dad and he is only seeing his DC once a year, they are having to fly abroad to do that.I am not surprised he wouldn't ask them to pay for groceries!!

BigFatGoalie · 24/11/2013 19:38

Everyone on here saying "I would never ask my children for ANY money!!!" that's all good and well and I absolutely agree, but let's reverse the question:

If you went to your elderly parent's house for a holiday (after them raising you, paying your way most if your life, feeding and clothing you as parents should) are you seriously saying you'd give them nothing???

The entitlement of some of you beggars belief!! Shock

My parents tell us not to contribute, but we arrive with groceries, gifts, choccies, meat and alcohol (after paying about £2000 for flights for those of you who mentioned the cost of airfare). My mum moans and tells me off, but why should she be paying for my family thirty years on?!

mercibucket · 24/11/2013 20:08

tbh bigfatgoalie it's just how a lot of families are
for me it's the difference between close family and everyone else
close family don't do that in my family
I don't see it as 'entitled' it's just a sign of being so close. like dh and I share everything.

not sure if that applies in the ops case

catsmother · 24/11/2013 20:13

I'm really surprised by some of the very strong YABUs here and can only assume that most, if not all, of those responding in that vein have never actually been in a situation where you literally have no money.

The OP has said now more than once that they were totally strapped. Unfortunately, that means, no matter what your relationship to guests, and no matter how much you love them, that it can be extremely worrying and stressful to bear all the additional expense that comes with up to six extra guests at a time. You can't, just can't eke out your normal food shop for 2 adults and 1 child to cover off an extra 6 adults - and that means something has to give .... it often means going into debt for example. Which might be okay if it's short term and agreed beforehand, but not if you have no way of paying off that debt any time soon.

Furthermore, alcohol, for example is a nice to have .... it's not essential, and if you're literally broke, it must be even more worrying to see money being wasted on that (though in OP's position I simply wouldn't have bought alcohol at all).

It's all very well everyone saying "they're family", "he's their dad, he wants to treat them" and so on ..... but these are adults we're talking about and dad's desire to treat his grown up kids (who weren't short of money in the same way OP and her DH were) must surely have meant that his youngest child - who really was a child - would probably have missed out in some knock on effect way. Flip it round, surely a solvent adult child - who is aware of their dad's financial difficulties (OP said they were) would be very ungracious indeed and uncaring to take advantage of their dad without making any effort to minimise the effects of their visit. Many of us have probably experienced the "I'll pay", "no, I'll pay" dance that can go on between family members and yes, it can get awkward when that happens but good god, you don't have to use too much imagination to work your way round that if your dad refuses a direct financial contribution ...... gifts of wine, boxes of chocolates, definitely replace petrol you use (FFS), leave an envelope behind, take hosts out for meal, do a shop, make a meal one night ...... some, or indeed all of those things should be second nature in a loving family where there's a very clear financial imbalance and quite clearly, your stay would add extra strain. In fact, even if your hosts were rich, it's basic good manners to offer, even if it's declined. It sounds like none of these kidults ever offered a thing.

And yes .... it may well have been pride. I understand the dad feeling ashamed of his financial situation, and, I understand it's natural to want to spoil your nearest and dearest. But he had no business inflicting the resultant effects (which presumably would be OP and her son going without in some fashion and/or debt) on his partner. When you're with someone you can't make unilateral calls like that.

I'd have felt the same as the OP in her shoes. I think that regardless of the dad's desire to play mine host I'd have also felt very angry at the adult kids who were happy to take full advantage of that without so much as a murmur of appreciation and/or concern for the impact their visit would have. I repeat ..... this does not, or should not, have any bearing on how the parties concerned feel about each other. The fact remains, you can't get blood out of a stone - and that's a reality for many families, who, if they were better off, would otherwise love to throw their doors open wide and put on a fabulous stay for guests, rejecting all offers of help. FWIW, however well off I believe a host to be, I'd always bring some sort of gift, at a minimum simply to say thanks for being invited at all - and would certainly offer to pay my way for longer stays. Where I was well aware that a host was struggling financially I'd do everything I could to ensure me being there wouldn't add to their problems - surely all you YABUs must see that's the decent thing to do ?

Grennie · 24/11/2013 20:14

bigfat - When I went to visit back home the first time after I got a job, I did what you suggest. My mum got really upset and said I wasn't a guest, I was her daughter. So I never did that again. I don't think there is a right or wrong here, different families operate in different ways.

maparole · 24/11/2013 20:16

He is their dad and he is only seeing his DC once a year, they are having to fly abroad to do that.

No: like I said earlier, he saw them several times a year. Airfares less than a night at the pub.

I'm genuinely interested to hear the different opinions and attitudes on this. Intriguing!

OP posts:
Southeastdweller · 24/11/2013 20:21

cats brilliantly eloquent post there.

hallowisitmeyourelookingfor · 24/11/2013 20:23

I can see both sides here. My DF lives abroad and whenever I've gone there with DP and the DC or just taken the DC myself, I/we have always always contributed. It's not about the money as such, it's about the 'inconvenience' of having extra house guests. By that, I mean the extra washing, food, trips, electricity/water etc. All the little bits. I never give him money, but would always load up on treats and goodies from the supermarket en route to his house. Wine, beers, bin box of sweets or biscuits, and then some basics which I know we will use lots of, breakfast stuff and fruit mainly.
I would never expect anyone, even my own Dad to provide everything for us for a week or 2. We also attempt to take them out for a meal and play the game of trying to pay the bill before he does.
It's just thoughtful and polite.

MrsMoon76 · 24/11/2013 20:27

My parents live a flight away. We are very close. When they visit us they will insist on taking us out for dinner or something and we do the same when we go to them. Neither of us is strapped for cash - we just think its a nice thing to do for each other as thanks.

In this case I am surprised at all the YABUs. The OP has stated that they were strapped for cash (quite seriously so), the SC were aware of this and still didn't make an offer towards costs (not even petrol after using the car???) and invited extra people along. That would not sit easy with me - I wouldn't do it to my own parents and they do not struggle for money. TBH though it was your XP's fault that he allowed this to go on - you didn't raise his kids with no manners. Let it go. You can see all the different opinions here. Some think you are right and some like your XP think you are wrong.

HaroldTheGoat · 24/11/2013 20:31

I would think it a bit strong to feel angry at the DSSs. They paid to get over there and made the effort to see their dad.

If anything it's the dad's fault for not explaining the financial situation and saying they would have to chip in.

No one in my family would expect or make a financial contribution, but we certainly would if we knew of financial difficulties.

So under these particular circumstances I'd blame the ex as he should have explained they were in dire straits and would need them all to chip in.

Bowlersarm · 24/11/2013 20:35

I think YABU.

I wouldn't expect my DSes to pay towards their keep if they were just visiting. A couple of bottles of wine might be thoughtful but I wouldn't want to accept any more than that.

BigFatGoalie · 24/11/2013 21:07

mercibucket we are an exceptionally too much?! close family which is why we always make certain we pay our way. I agree all families are different and operate how best suits them.

Grennie I can relate to that, which is why I have been known to dash off to the tills in supermarkets while my mum is still browsing to pay for half the groceries! Grin I get a telling off for being a cheeky wotsit too... But we also stay for at least two weeks which can be expensive for them (even though they don't need the money). We have been doing this for over 5 years, and I still get told off.
It's more about dh's family (incredibly generous people!) who can't actually afford to have us stay. I would be absolutely mortified if I left knowing we had added to their financial worries. I'd rather not go then. We love them dearly I wouldn't want to put them in debt.
There's a difference between when you're a young, newly qualified (maybe?) single, and then a wife, husband and kids, we cost more!

BigFatGoalie · 24/11/2013 21:14

I meant maybe single not maybe newly qualified! Sorry, didn't mean to be so rude! Wink

FirstOnRecallDay · 24/11/2013 21:16

YANBU!! It's common courtesy for a guest to offer a token, when I visit my DF house for the weekend with my DP (just us two) we bring breakfast or Sunday dinner along to feed all 6 of us. I also treat my DB (3) & DSis(10) because my DF hates accepting tokens such as wine etc so buy the children little bits, and im not exactly rolling in cash. To not even offer takes the piss IMO, even more so now they're old and employed. Greedy, selfish and thoughtless! Be greatful he's your ex.

gobbynorthernbird · 24/11/2013 21:21

Thing is, if you don't want to pay for visits a week at a time, you don't move to a different country. Or you move to where your kids live (guessing the first is the case).
To put myself right out there, my dad doesn't love me (or DGC/DSG) enough to be within a normal drive. Neither does my DFIL. Or, at least, that is what it sometimes feels like. So, yeah, if you want to live your life with no consideration for the rest of your family, you can bloody well pay what it costs to have us over.
And we all know that these easyairmonarch flights costs. Less than a train fare if you book on the day they're released, as they're released. Not counting luggage, taxis to airport/parking, transfers, whatever.

whatever5 · 24/11/2013 21:22

YABU.. I don't think many parents would expect their children to contribute towards groceries or petrol if they only stayed at their house for a week once a year.

I agree that it would have been nice if they had given you a token gift or meal out but perhaps they felt they had had spent enough on flights to visit you. They may not have seen it as a holiday at all. Perhaps visiting their father was more of an expensive duty. Did you ever fly to the UK and stay with them so they could return the hospitality?

SantanaLopez · 24/11/2013 21:22

Sorry, YABU from me too.

intitgrand · 24/11/2013 21:44

You have money to pay for a birthday party for your own DS, but jib at providing your DPs children with food when they visit once a year?

catsmother · 24/11/2013 22:25

OP said that the dad saw his adult kids several times a year - with them coming out on cheap airfares.

I think anyone objecting to her providing some sort of birthday party for her own son is being pretty heartless. Maybe this was an unnecessary bit of detail but for example, providing birthday parties in this house (and no doubt in many others who don't have money to spare) means going without (the adults) and being very imaginative. A birthday party - for an actual child remember - could well consist of a couple of hours at home, a few goody bags and traditional games.

There's a world of difference between doing that and hosting up to six extra adults for at least a week. And it's not just food ! It's also alcohol, and petrol. People can accuse the OP of being "mean", "unwelcoming" and all the rest of it - but those critics haven't actually come up with any solution for her or people in similar positions who have very little money ...... where the heck is she supposed to get the extra money from ?

I very much doubt that the cost of a small child's party and (modest, according to OP) presents would equate to food, beer, wine and petrol for 6 adults anyway.

Do people really believe that if the OP can scrape together a child's party she has no right to worry about hosting 6 adults ? Should she have cancelled said party so 6 well paid and working adults could have a totally free stay instead ? 6 adults who offered NO appreciation for their stay at all. Wow, just wow. As I said before, I can't help but conclude there are people here who have - luckily for them - never been in the position of having very little money indeed - and who therefore can't truly appreciate how it feels, how worrying it is and how anxious it makes you feel, to have to shoulder any "extra" expense at all. Doesn't matter if it's the person you love most in the whole world creating that expense - it's still incredibly stressful. And also very hurtful, if someone who's close to you appears not to give a damn about the effect their visit has.

Anyway, OP is well out of it all. There's been a lot said along the lines of "whoa, but they're fam-er-lee aren't they" in relation to hosting but that should work both ways ..... so better off members don't impose on those who are struggling. I keep saying, the dad might well have refused contributions but it sounds as if he never even got the opportunity to do that as nothing was ever forthcoming. How very selfish and rude they sound.