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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Relatives inviting themselves at Christmas

160 replies

morrisseysmum · 07/11/2014 18:54

My mum emailed today to ask if she and my dad could come visit between Christmas and New Year. They already know we have plans at Christmas for a quiet one, with just my sister (their daughter) and her husband, who live abroad, and who we've not seen in 18 months (they saw them three weeks ago).

We're expecting their second grandchild end of November.

I emailed back saying no, but what about coming mid-December when it's more convenient for us?

Lo and behold, they replied saying mid-December wouldn't be convenient, and that they'd found an irresistible deal in a hotel 3 miles away for the week between Christmas and New Year and made an impulsive decision to go ahead and book anyway.

They told me "you'll want to settle in with the newborn first before having anyone to stay so we decided to leave it a few weeks" - I was so flummoxed that they've gone against my wishes, and for the fact they've pretty much invited themselves, and then have the cheek to say it's not convenient when we suggest!!

I replied saying that they should have consulted me first, and my sister and her husband, as this will really change things for their stay, as they won't be able to spend as much quality time with their niece and future nephew as if my parents weren't around (they'll want to take the older child out for the day a lot of the time)

Now I feel like a heartless cow, but feel like the decision has been taken out of my hands as if I'm not a grown woman entitled to her own opinion. I'm 38 weeks pregnant and at the end of my tether. Not to mention DH, who doesn't get on with them at the best of times!!

My mum is coming on her own to help out with the older child for the imminent birth, so don't want there to be any negativity, but I just can't believe it.

AIBU?

OP posts:
titchypumpkin · 08/11/2014 19:46

jennifer I agree with your point of view. I do think a lot of people use AIBU just to enjoy having a go at people. That's twice the OP has been called a bitch on this thread. Delightful. No wonder she hasn't bothered to come back.

If a massibvely pregnant woman had asked a group of women in real life about her issue would she get the responses on here, or would people tone it down a bit and make their point without being as horrid? Would she be called a bitch? I very much doubt it.

alpacasosoft · 08/11/2014 19:57

Bloody hell !
The OP will have a tiny,tiny baby and wants a quiet christmas and yet she is being called a bitch and all sorts.
Fucking hell.
Biscuit

indigo18 · 08/11/2014 20:12

She wants a 'quiet' Christmas with her sister, BIL and their family?) Sorry to repeat what others have said, but I would feel very sad if my DC got together over Christmas and told me to stay away as I wasn't welcome.
TBH, you sound a bit of a controlling pain yourself; quality time with their neice and nephew indeed ! How does the presence of the children's grandparents alter the 'quality' of time spent?

anothermakesthree · 08/11/2014 20:25

YABVU. You sound incredibly self centred. Perhaps it might put it all in perspective if you remembered those people that have no family around them at Christmas.

titchypumpkin · 08/11/2014 20:58

Where does it say they'll have no family around them at christmas? OP hasn't said, there might be other siblings, their own siblings etc

LapsedTwentysomething · 08/11/2014 21:14

Erm, I think pp are forgetting that OP is heavily pregnant and therefore has a get out of jail card to be as unreasonable as she likes!!

I realise this thread has run its course and that the OP isn't going to do us the courtesy of responding. However I feel the need to point out that comments like that ^^, however 'tongue in cheek', are hugely unfeminist and do pregnant women - all women - no favours. Everyone has stressful or hormonal periods in their lives. It is not an excuse to act without regard for the people around you.

Janethegirl · 08/11/2014 22:34

If I were the OP I wouldn't dare return as some pp have been seriously nasty.
My relationship with my dsis is very different to my relationship with DM and as such it is not always suitable for us to include DM with our meetings up.
Xmas really seems to bring out the worst in family relationships.
My Dcs go their own way at Xmas....sometimes we see them, sometimes we dont. It's up to them, but we do like our freedom too.

pilates · 09/11/2014 10:12

Well said Lapsed.

I too find it annoying when women come out with that.

FatherDickByrne · 09/11/2014 11:29

Another one who thinks YABU. I feel a bit sorry for your parents. Won't they want to spend Xmas with their DDs & GC?

MrsItsNoworNotatAll · 09/11/2014 12:58

By now I reckon the op will have realised that the vast majority of posters on this thread think she's being massively unreasonable myself included.

But I didn't call her a bitch, no need for that at all.

Not surprised she hasn't come back, don't think I would either.

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