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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

In regard to DD and MIL

47 replies

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:22

Okay - so name changed for this. My DD (13) has been asked to represent my husbands country in her chosen sport (she has dual nationality). We are so immensely proud. However such representation means she needs to be in husbands country on two long occasions this year. Here is problem - MIL and partner are prolific smokers and live in a one bed roomed apartment. There is no way DD should stay with them (where would she sleep for one and the smoking room environment for the other). However they are currently staying with us (smoking in my conservatory) and MIL very upset that DD staying with husbands friend when she goes over to compete and not with them. We have explained re one bedroom thing and she has said she will share bed with DD and partner will go to his grown up daughters house. Feel dreadful as she only her grandchildren approx 3/4 times a year. BUT she always does this re guilt trip - we usually go over every summer and stay with the. (in their one bedroom very smokey apartment). AIBU to put foot down over this - should say she works soooo hard at chosen sport to spoil it by being in a smoky environment and sharing a bed with her grandmother (which at 13 I am not sure she would want to anyway). There is a 'history' between us in which she always stamps her foot and gets her own way (hence smoking in my house).

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formerbabe · 24/05/2015 22:25

I think yab a bit u...but I grew up with two chain smoking parents!!

Hassled · 24/05/2015 22:26

No, you're not being unreasonable - stick to your guns. Is your DH on your side?

WorraLiberty · 24/05/2015 22:27

I grew up in a smoky house but your DD hasn't, so it's not fair for her to have to cope with it now.

YANBU but you should be honest about the reason why.

Does your DH back you on this?

Corygal · 24/05/2015 22:29

Get MIL involved in some other 'speshul' way - can she escort DD to the competition heats, for instance?

Don't make it about the fags. Or about egos. The last thing DD now is a blinding row exploding over her head when she's trying to concentrate.

MagicMojito · 24/05/2015 22:29

Yanbu. Yabu letting her smoke in your home though! Eugh.

manchestermummy · 24/05/2015 22:29

Actual I think YANBU. I too grew up with two chain smokers and hated being told I stank on more than one occasion. Besides that, the bed sharing thing would have bothered me at 13, and thinking about my own dds, I wouldn't be happy with that.

You have an arrangement that works; MIL needs to lump it.

I also want to say how terrific it is your dd is representing a country at a sport: what a tremendous achievement.

Fluffcake · 24/05/2015 22:29

YANBU and I can't believe you let mil smoke in your house. I've got friends that don't even smoke in their own home.
Will your mil still be able to see your DD regularly? Maybe that could be a comprise.

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:30

I think so hassled - but he is stuck in the middle not wanting to upset mum obviously. he is an only child so these are on,y grandchildren - we have arranged for friends to pick up and take to airport and they very offended by that - BUT - they smoke in the car (although they said tonight they don't -'Yeah right you smoke in your house but not in car - don't believe it) - I understand former babe BUT my DD has give up so much to get to this point along with us - so to potentially spoil it to please MIL is a bit GAH !

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MagicMojito · 24/05/2015 22:31

Yes, congrats to your DD. I bet your beaming with pride Smile

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:34

Ahh thanks everyone - Feel like crap tonight as MIL has actually cried - wouldn't mind but when she competed 10 minutes down the road from her recently she didn't come to watch her in the final because she was too busy ... FFS (always has been and always will be on 'her' terms). They have actually smoked in bedroom before now in our house so I don't trust that they won't smoke in the car or around her.

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GasLIghtShining · 24/05/2015 22:34

YANBU.

Certainly not going to help your sporty DD if she is in a smoky environment.

My dad smokes outside when he comes to visit

AlfAlf · 24/05/2015 22:35

Yanbu.
I would rather she not compete in that country than stay in those conditions if it were me.
Perhaps you can compromise a bit by dd staying there the occasional night when she has time off training?
What does your DH think?

GasLIghtShining · 24/05/2015 22:36

Stay form. DO NOT LET HER GUILT YOU INTO BACKING DOWN.

How disrespectful to smoke in someone's house when it is not allowed.

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:36

WorralLiberty have tried to be honest about it tonight but MIL has a way of turning it around to her. Her partner said tonight that MIL upset as only sees DD 3x a year (true). However due to her sport she boards at schoo, so we b
Never see her too. feel sorry for DH as he well and truly stuck in the middle

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MagicMojito · 24/05/2015 22:37

Bollocks to mils tantrums. If it was that important to her, she'd be happy to give up the fags in favor of having her pfbgc there instead.

Its unhealthy, unpleasant and unnecessary. Think of your poor DD lying next to your mil having to breathe in her smokey breath Envy

Pico2 · 24/05/2015 22:37

Perhaps you might be able to "get advice from" the team doctor or your daughter's trainer saying that she shouldn't be in a smoky environment as it would affect her performance. It makes sense that it would be bad for her performance to be inhaling secondhand smoke. Whether you actually bother checking with the coach or doctor is up to you.

It would be a shame to put your daughter off her sport and elite competition by making her stay in such an uncomfortable setting.

AlfAlf · 24/05/2015 22:40

Sorry, just spotted updates re dh. Not nice for him either, but he needs to back you up or you end up always having to be the bad guy.

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:41

Pico2 have said exactly that tonight - so they have kind of backed down re sleeping with them - however they still want to pick her up from airport and drop her off with team - BUT I know their car will be full of smoke - For example today we went to an indoor shopping centre for 1.5 hours and they had to have a 'fag' break in that time. I should point out that I used to smoke so def not anti smoking BUT I didn't even smoke in my own house !

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AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:43

AlfAlf he is /has BUT very hard for him - they always do this and I feel very sorry for him ! he spoke to MIL in regard to smoking in our kitchen this week and she went off on one at him !

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AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:44

MagicMojito - totally agree

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VanitasVanitatum · 24/05/2015 22:44

You don't need to be anti smoking to know kids shouldn't be inhaling it. YA absolutely NBU, stick to your guns.

viva100 · 24/05/2015 22:46

Actually, I think having to share a bed with MIL is even worse than the smoking bit. How would she get any rest??? Presumably she needs a good night's sleep, to go to bed when she needs to, sleep without being woken up by another person snoring/turning etc. Your MIL is being very unreaasonable. DD needs her rest. End of.

Backtobedlam · 24/05/2015 22:48

YANBU overall but I think I would compromise on the driving bit and let them pick her up and drop her off so they feel involved. Could she open the window if it's only in the car? I definitely agree that being in a smokey environment won't help her compete. I'm a non-smoker and it really makes me cough just chatting to people who are smoking. Anything that reduces her lung capacity, even minimally, could affect her performance.

AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:49

Ahhh thank you so much - I have felt like crap all evening - MIL partner had a go at me in regard to this - tried to explain re she only going over there for sport but AGAIN he only sees things from MIL perspective - In fairness to MIL she said she so keen to see DD that she would give up bed and sleep,on sofa - BUT it is a one bedroom apartment and rooms obv next to each other Plus smokey atmosphere - just not good

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AmIveryunreasonable · 24/05/2015 22:53

backtonedlam - totally agree - she is in a spot where a hundredth of a second counts (could be outing her/me here) I am possible BU in regard to picking up situation - but they will smoke around her and when she trains 16+ hours a week training and we watch her diet etc (plus she boards at school) it pees me off to think we could 'spoil' all that by allowing them to pick her up

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