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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be hurt that dp wants to change ds's birthday plans because his parents don't like our plans?

63 replies

bluecheeseforbreakfast · 11/12/2013 20:18

Ds turns 1 next week, the last few months have been really hard as dp has been working nights and I have been studying so we have been juggling childcare between the 2 of us and consequently having very little family time.

Dp booked the day off work a couple of months ago, we made the plan to go into the city (a 20 min train ride) look at the christmas lights, get some lunch at a baby friendly cafe and then take ds to a kids museum, then come home ds will go to bed (around 5ish as it will be such a busy day) and then we will sit and look through the photos from ds's first year and have a glass of champagne.

We are having a family party for ds this weekend, pil live a long way away and have decided that rather than come down for the party they will come down to spend ds's actual birthday with us (there is no reason they can't come for the party they just don't fancy it which is fair enough) The trip is also to see their other 10 grandchildren and give them their christmas gifts so not just on ds's behalf. Dp said to his parents that we would love for them to celebrate ds's birthday with us, we will be eating luch at x cafe and then going to the kids museum, they are very welcome to join us for all the day or part of the day, it would be really nice for them to come along.

Pil have said they will not go into the city but they expect to hang out with us on ds's birthday at sil's house (where they stay when they visit) sil's house is not child proofed and ds is walking and seems to be a distruction whirlwind. I find myself following ds around catching the breakable things he pulls over and telling him no the entire time.

Dp has now decided that it is too much hassel to go into the city, ds won't remember anything anyway (I know he won't but I think he will enjoy the day even if he forgets it by the day after). Dp thinks we should change our plans because pil don't like our plans, previously dp was keen on the plans and that is why he booked the day off work.

I feel like I am expected to forgo my plans and preferences because pil will not just go along with the day that we already had planned.

I am not overly sentimental about ds's birth, I didn't expect a push present or anything like that but I am sure the day will bring back memories of ds's birth and first hours and I would like to mark the day in a special way rather than doing our normal routine, I really want to do something that feels like a treat.

Pil could come and have breakfast with us and see ds open his pressies but mil doesn't like socialising too early in the morning. They could also come and have dinner (pasta and pesto as it is ds's favorite meal) but ds is likely to be tired and not in the best humour.

Pil are not elderly, they are very active more so than me and dp so mobility isn't an issue. They will also be staying near us for a week so we will see them, they can see ds as much as they like so it's not like his birthday is the only chance for them to have time with ds.

AIBU to think that dp should not try to change our plans because his dp want to do things their way?

I'm not feeling well so i am possibly being very unreasonable, I was really looking forward to a special day of treats that ds will love and I feel hurt that my opinion is being disregarded.

OP posts:
SilverApples · 12/12/2013 07:29

'we will sit and look through the photos from ds's first year and have a glass of champagne.

Sorry but I laughed. Loudly.'

That was nasty, BohemianGirl.
OP, my two children are adults now, and sometimes this parenting lark has been very tough, with some very tricky stuff to cope with. You go ahead and build your happy memories and take a time out with your DP and photos and champagne to remind yourself of the family you have created together.
Store up the good time and the happy thoughts and they will help in the tough times.
And yes, YANBU and this should be a day for the three of you together. PIL come second, you have planned a lovely day.

Twattyzombiebollocks · 12/12/2013 08:07

Tell your dh that your sons birthday is his special day and not your pils. So everyone else can either like it or lump it.
I had a similar situation recently, ds turned 9 last month, his birthday fell on Wednesday so he was at school all day and had football training In the evening. We were planning a family party tea for him but he decided he wanted to go to football to see his football friends too so we arranged the party for the day after (my sisters couldn't make it on his actual birthday anyway) My parents were less than pleased, however I just kept repeating "it is ds birthday, he is 9yo and old enough to decide what he wants to do and this is what he has decided" he enjoyed his birthday, his football friends all sang happy birthday to him, then the following day he had a lovely party here with all his family and his best friend from school.

JRmumma · 12/12/2013 08:24

Your PIL sound like twats. Why should they get to dictate how you spend your LO's first birthday? They have been invited to a party and they 'dont fancy it'!, to join you out for the day but they don't want to go into the city, breakfast but MIL doesn't socialise in the morning (what tosh!) and for tea. They have declined all offers to join YOU and instead expect you to give up all plans to spend the day doing something unremarkable and everyday. Tell them to do one and enjoy your little boys birthday the way you planned to.

ipswichwitch · 12/12/2013 08:37

Glad to see you're sticking to your plans. You've given PIL every opportunity to join in - wont go to the city (why not?), wont socialise in the morning (how precious!), therefore it's their problem if they don't like it. Does seem like they've been so used to controlling things with their other GC that they expect the same with you. Once this sort of thing starts its very difficult to put a stop to. Stick to your guns and enjoy your day.

Osmiornica · 12/12/2013 10:08

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

bluecheeseforbreakfast · 12/12/2013 19:46

Thank you to those of you who think the looking at photos and drinking champagne isn't laughable. babies grow so fast, I don't really realise how much ds has changed/grown/learnt until I look at photos from when he was tiny. Me dp look after ds 50% of the time each so we have lots of photos that the other one hasn't seen, it will be fun :)

OP posts:
RenterNomad · 12/12/2013 21:24

The day they propose sounds very stressful: lots of waiting about for no reason discernable to a child, being indoors the whole time (as far as I can tell) so no energy expended, non-childproofed space in which the only interaction with him is going to be AARGH!, adults calling all the shots blathering on all day.

Why the hell would you want to subject yourselves and your poor DS to that, instead of a day with plenty of variation, plenty of space, plenty if exercise, not to mention built-in "exits" to your schedule compared to the desperately long process of trying to get out of a relative's house with a tantrumming child.

PenelopeLane · 12/12/2013 22:18

You go ahead and build your happy memories

^^ this! YANBU, plans are plans, and you shouldn't have to change them. It would be different if you hadn't made plans, but you have so you should be able to enjoy them.

CaterpillarCara · 14/12/2013 10:07

I think looking at the year's photos and having champagne sounds marvellous. Wish we'd thought of it! Am now contemplating building it in to a New Year's Eve tradition for the four of us - a kind of round up of the year with bubbles. Thanks, OP.

clam · 14/12/2013 10:18

I don't think YABU either. But telling the ILs you're sticking with your plans (which sound lovely, I think) isn't the issue - it's getting your dh back on board with Plan A.
Whoever suggested going early and coming back to SIL's in the afternoon - they want to see the Christmas lights. Surely it needs to be dark for that?

RandomMess · 14/12/2013 10:39

OP I glad you have resolved this, your planned day sounded great.

I wish we had enough photos to look at like that and had thought of celebrating surviving the first year of parenthood like that Grin

Balistapus · 14/12/2013 12:20

YANBU
Your pil don't want to join you in celebrating your son's birthday, they want to decide what he does for his birthday, which is very different. You've tried to compromise, but they aren't interested and only want you to do what they want. Sounds controlling to me.

I also love the idea of the photos and champagne and will commit it to memory for dd's first birthday in a couple of months. Thanks OP!

clam · 14/12/2013 12:30

Oops, just seen that your dh is back on board with the plan! Xmas Blush

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