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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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To feel disappointed by my own parents?

310 replies

soulpunk · 26/12/2014 23:52

This is probably trivial compared to some posts on here and I probably just need someone to tell me to get over myself but...

My folks are retired and look after DS (their only grandchild) 2 or 3 days a week while I work (I go in alternate Saturdays so it's a 2-day week for them). They've done it since my mat leave ended when he was 10 months, he's almost 2 now. I found out today after a big post-christmas "heart to heart" that they've been finding the childcare difficult. But instead of talking to me about it they've been moaning to my sister and instead of her telling them they're talking to the wrong daughter, she's just been dropping passive aggressive hints over xmas about how she looks after mom and dad and someone's got to do it etc etc. They are both in their 60s but neither have any major medical conditions or anything - the odd "bad knee" etc.

When I managed to get it out of them they admitted "it is difficult because we can't always do what we want but we've got through the hardest part and the end is in sight" (more or less paraphrasing what they said). I was waiting for them to say "but we love having him and wouldn't want it any other way" or something but they didn't. After I got really upset at this confession, they still didn't reassure me that they were happy to have him. Instead proceeded to take this moment to tell me they won't be able to do the same with the next one (I am currently 4 months pregnant and will have to go back to work again as we can't afford for me to not work).

To add, I've taken 3 weeks off work for them to go on 3 separate holidays and they've been away at least 3 other times this year over long weekends where I've swapped my work days where necessary. He's with them approx 9am-4pm, occasionally an hour or two longer and occasionally half a day extra at the weekend if DH and I are doing DIY (moved house last yr). No evenings, no nights, but it is almost a regular job for them I suppose.

In addition, we went out for a (rare) family Sunday lunch a few weeks ago for my DH's 40th bday. DS doesn't particularly enjoy sitting in a highchair for long (what toddler does?!) but he wasn't especially badly behaved. But the meal was a bit rushed and he just wanted to play with nanny. My dad was obviously so utterly mortified by the looks we must have got (I didn't notice any) as DS was just being his fairly vocal self and wanting to run round etc, that he cancelled our NYE curry booking without even discussing it with me and said he won't ever do that again. I can't believe they weren't able to just shrug off any tuts by other diners.

So it feels to me that they want grandchildren but only on their terms. I feel really hurt by this for some reason. I assumed their only grandchild should be the apple of their eye and what else could possibly be as fulfilling than having a hand in helping him develop - am I completely naive and/or self centred? I don't really know what to do to get past this. They are still going to look after him but I feel a bit bitter about it.

OP posts:
SackAndCrack · 28/12/2014 10:38

OP, once your second baby is in child care, when you see how expensive it is, when you have to take holiday and how they too don't do evenings and weekends, I believe you may look back on your current 'childcare' and realise how very, very lucky you are.

Only1scoop · 28/12/2014 10:46

But it was her parents who were 'lucky' ....Op took three weeks off so they could take holidays.

TooHasty · 28/12/2014 11:27

I think some of the posters need to realise that energy levels in your 60s are bery different to energy levels in your 20s and 30s.
The OP says
'He's with them approx 9am-4pm, occasionally an hour or two longer

9am -6pm-6.That is a long day.

and occasionally half a day extra at the weekend if DH and I are doing DIY

So you use them for other reasons when you don't need to? Just one of you could do the DIY while the other takes him out of otherwise entertains him.

but it is almost a regular job for them I suppose

exactly so they have retired from a paid job and have had to replace it with an unpaid job for you!

neither have any major medical conditions or anything - the odd "bad knee" etc.

Don't you think a bad knee is a major consideration when looking after a toddler?

Inboxer · 28/12/2014 11:36

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/12/2014 11:40

I hint we have scared op off, or given her food for thought Xmas Grin

Mintyy · 28/12/2014 11:52

I think op quite sensibly is leaving you and your fellow frothers to make up all sorts of fiction about her and get off on shouting and spitting venom when all of your points have been better made quite rationally by more measured and sensible posters further down the thread Aeroflotgirl.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/12/2014 12:04

Well I have a nearly 3 year old, he is very tiring, I am constantly on my knees picking things up after him and cleaning up his mess(yes op has said they have bad knees). Yesterday he found dd red nail varnish and went to town with it and dd blue one on the hall carpet. I was on my hands and in knees cleaning it up, it took my well over an hour. I was shattered. I look forward to the times when they are grown and I can rest and continue my career not raise another family in 20 years time, when I am in my 60/70 and health is not that great.

Toddlers are very demanding, they have already told op they find it hard but op is not listening or taking their concerns seriously. Throw a young baby in the mix and we have a problem. She has put the blame on them, and making out they should be greatful for using their time to look after her children. Has made it sound like tgat she is doing them a favour taking time off so they can go on holiday. My friends mum collapsed due to the stress of looking after her sisters dd. Her sister sounds a lot like op, after she collapsed mum is still expected to care for her grandaughter.

GoringBit · 28/12/2014 12:05

Agree with Mintyy... it's one thing to point out that OP WBU (but clearly her DP have handled the situation poorly), but quite another to do it as spitefully as some PPs have done.

Season of goodwill, anyone?

Idiotdh · 28/12/2014 12:16

Yes, advice already given hopefully OP can thank her parents and move on.

This thread has just deteriorated into having a gratuitous go at the OP when points have already been covered.

MissBattleaxe · 28/12/2014 12:24

I think op quite sensibly is leaving you and your fellow frothers to make up all sorts of fiction about her and get off on shouting and spitting venom when all of your points have been better made quite rationally by more measured and sensible posters further down the thread Aeroflotgirl.

I think that's uncalled for. Nobody is frothing and all comments are based on information provided by the OP.

If you come on AIBU and ask for opinions, you will get them, and that is what the OP has done. I don't see any frothers.

Aeroflotgirl · 28/12/2014 12:25

Thanks minty Xmas Smile

GoringBit · 28/12/2014 12:44

Miss B, I think it was called for. The OP has been called, among other things, a 'brat' and a 'selfish bint'.

Yes, this is AIBU. Yes, people will give an opinion, and rightly so. And yes, sometimes plain speaking and helpful criticism are needed. But do you honestly think that those responses and others in much the same vein are justified? If you do, so be it, but I don't.

MrsKoala · 28/12/2014 13:08

OP i can understand both POV on this. As others have pointed out you worded things quite badly and there are some statements which do sound very selfish. But there also isn't much to go on in the OP so people are joining the dots themselves.

It isn't nice your parents and sister have been discussing this and you probably feel quite wounded by that.

I think in this type of scenario constant communication is the key. Constantly asking how they are coping? if they are tired? If it's too much? Giving little gifts and lots of appreciation. Letting them know they can change their minds at any point etc. Also understanding their 'parenting' styles are different. So what they consider embarrassing public behaviour, you do not and therefore do you want your dc brought up with those mixed messages.

In my case, my parents offered to take my dc FT for free, to mean i could go back to work if i got pregnant - they were so very desperate for GC. This didn't affect my decision to have them, but it was said often to me and DH and DH very much 'banked' it. I, on the other hand, warned DH this may fall thru, people make promises they later regret etc. DH is very much 'if you say it it is so' sort of person.

Of course now DS1 is 2 and ds2 is 4mo and over the last 2 yrs the comments have started gradually, 'well, we couldn't do full time' 'only 3 days a week' 'not mondays or fridays' 'only 2 days a week' 'only once the dc are at school' 'we'll help every now and then' 'we don't want to be tied to anything'

When you ask them outright if they will still look after the dc if i go back to work they say 'oh yes' - but they don't mean it. They just like saying it. They like telling people because it makes them feel good. It's obvious to me. Not so much to DH and he has often asked me about going back to work. I have to explain that despite what they say, they just don't mean it.

The other thing is ds1 is very 'spirited' difficult and we have 2. They only had me, and by all accounts i was a malleable blob! They also never really looked after me much in the first place - i was with cms from a baby and away on Saturdays to let 'mum do the housework and shopping without me under her feet'. So they actually had very little real idea of what looking after small dc FT would be like. Now they see they have, totally justifiably, changed their minds Grin .

Also, now i see them with the dc, i have realised i don't actually want them doing the childcare. They are very much spoiling grandparents, they give constant sweets and sit in front of the tv. They disagree with my parenting style and completely ignore my opinions. They will do what they want and i have to lump it. So i am relieved in a way as i wouldn't want that for my dc.

I am disappointed that they made promises they can't keep, but i do completely understand it. I am disappointed i can't go back to work now, but it is the reality of our situation.

If i were you OP i would try to speak to them again. Draw a line under it and find alternative arrangements. Apologise that you hadn't realised how hard this had been for them. Don't jeopardise their relationship with your dc and their aunt.

I know some people who really do take the piss with their parents and pils free childcare. One person i know slags off her mil for wanting to learn Spanish one afternoon a week (and therefore meaning inconvenience with childcare), saying to me huffily 'why the fuck does SHE want to learn Spanish anyway?' etc. It's really ugly.

MissBattleaxe · 28/12/2014 13:36

GoringBit- name calling is indeed against MN regs, but I have read the first few pages, the last few pages and any OP updates, not every post.

I still vehemently disagree with the OP's stance and would not dismiss those that also do as frothers, but yes direct name calling doesn't help.

GoringBit · 28/12/2014 13:54

It deteriorated from page 3 or so and became quite uncomfortable to read.

I hope my earlier post didn't read as being critical of you, MissB - it wasn't intended to be (my issue is with the insults that were being thrown about) and I apologise if it came across that way.

Mintyy · 28/12/2014 14:12

"Big fat clap missbattleaxe here here, op read and absorb."

You don't think that is completely uncalled for and unnecessary MissB? Especially as the thread was started yesterday, an awful lot of people replied, you have not said anything new or unique, and op came back to post her thanks and say she was taking everyone's thoughts on board.

What you and Aeroflot and others who have revived this unpleasant thread have done is put the boot in to the op for no good reason.

I'm sick to fucking death of this spurious argument that you should expect people to rip you to shreds because you've posted in Aibu. What an utter crock of shite.

TheOnlyOliviaMumsnet · 28/12/2014 14:33

Peace and love

Mintyy · 28/12/2014 14:39

Sorry Olivia Xmas Blush.

I hope I've put it to death now.

But this argument "Aibu gives you licence to be an utter arse" is getting a bit tired now isn't it?

Aeroflotgirl · 28/12/2014 14:56

Minty missbattleaxe is right, the thread is there so people give opinions on it, it is not a zombie thread but recent one. I have not been nasty or spiteful, but have been realistic and straight to the point like many on here. Yes op should read the responses and really digest them. I think people are angry about the way she went about it, and her total lack of respect for her parents and their feelings.

Sazzle41 · 28/12/2014 16:06

It depends on the toddler and the grandparents. The two toddlers i looked after as a young nanny napped to order and tantrums were unheard of, thankfully they inherited their Dad's laid back (nearly comatose, lol) disposition. My grandmother at 70 looked after me and my well behaved sister as toddlers for whole days with one hand tied behind her back, but her sister was very frail would never have managed or been asked.

Other 'feisty' toddlers i have had experience off in my 30's wore me out after an hour or two but i am not the most patient of women, so i can imagine two grandparents who were fancying a nice quite retirement find a very feisty toddler very hard work for a whole day twice a week. Also, toddlers who arent coping in public and getting rambunctious and disturbing a whole restaurant etc should be distracted and taken outside.

GoringBit · 28/12/2014 16:13

It strikes me that this thread became a textbook example of a few YABUs followed by people piling in to give the OP a proper kicking from behind the safety of their keyboard. It was, in my opinion, to a large extent, disproportionate. Yes, AIBU is about seeking opinions, and yes, those opinions might sometimes go against what the poster is hoping to receive, but why can't those opinions be given with care and consideration? Why can't MN, even within AIBU, be a place of plain speaking, but given with respect and care?

drudgetrudy · 28/12/2014 17:59

I agree that the criticism is a bit heavy-yes OP is expecting a lot but her parents haven't handled this very well and I do think they have been giving her mixed messages.

Dipankrispaneven · 28/12/2014 18:08

Yup, it does seem to me that the subject was thoroughly covered within the first 100 posts and many people weighing in thereafter are doing it predominantly for the sheer fun of kicking the OP about.

BlessedAndGr8fulNoInLaws4Xmas · 28/12/2014 18:20

I think you are being naive and self centred.
He is your child not theirs.
I don't believe in ever relying on GPs for childcare.

People get older, they get tired, they have got to an age where they have the freedom to do what they want with their leisure time.

And tbh I wouldn't want to go out with a noisy toddler on New Year's Eve either.
Mine were always taught to sit in their high chair and behave - restaurants are not playgrounds and not everybody else wants to listen and see your DC.

BlessedAndGr8fulNoInLaws4Xmas · 28/12/2014 18:26

And I think yabvu to feel bitter when they are still having your DC!

Regards DM talking to your sister - a very similar thing happened in our family.

My DM came to us 1 weekend.
She broke down late at night - sobbing. Saying how poorly she was, and how much in denial she has been in , not wanting to upset my DS and that she just couldn't carry on having my DS child anymore.
It was so upsetting to see.
My DM was exhausted and running on empty.
The next morning I got in touch with my DS and said that I thought she needed to revisit childcare arrangements with my mum- my mum just felt so dreadful about doing it that I had to pave the way.

Try being a little less judgmental and a bit more understanding and compassionate towards your DPs.

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