Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to expect *something* in return?

48 replies

Luckything50 · 27/08/2015 16:12

An elderly relative lives within a few miles of central london and she invited a friend of mine, with her husband and 2 kids, to stay for a week over the holidays whilst I was there with my family. This relative provided all meals barring a few lunches, although we all helped with the cooking, and we went on several outings that I had organised. This is the second year they have stayed, and I suspect they won't be invited again... They arrived totally empty handed (although split a supermarket shop with me when we got there) should have paid for all of it? were pretty much waited on and entertained for a week, and last year they sent a small bouquet two weeks later to said relative in thanks. Nothing this year as yet, although relative is now here with me and could have been invited round/offered a dinner/bloody anything frankly ... AIBU to be infuriated at such ingratitude? My friend is usually lovely and very sensitive, am I being selfish? Tbh I can't helping thinking that if I had saved possibly thousands in accommodation/meals I'd be desperate to show gratitude. Apologies for the length of this, I'm so angry with her.

OP posts:
WhatTheJeffHasGoneOnHere · 27/08/2015 17:33

You both owe your mum, your friend doesn't owe you anything.

Junosmum · 27/08/2015 17:38

Your friend should have offered your mum something towards food, provided a drink (wine etc) and sent card/ flowers/ chocolates etc to say thank you afterwards.

You should have offered your mum something towards food, provided drink and given her a gift/ flower/ anything.

Your friend owes you nothing - you don't pay your mums bills do you? If you do then fair enough, but from what you say that isn't the case.

Tinklewinkle · 27/08/2015 17:40

YABU to expect something for yourself, but I don't think you are YABU about the way they treated your mum.

You have your mum staying with you so you are reciprocating.

I assume your friend is local to you, so yes, it wouldn't kill them to invite her round for dinner while she's at yours

SurlyCue · 27/08/2015 17:40

"Dear friend, thanks for having a mum who invites people to stay"

No that doesnt sound right.

"Dear friend, thanks for having a mum who has a house"

Ummm...

"Dear friend, thanks for.... Having a mum?" Confused

"Dear friend, thanks for knowing me?"

Nope. None of those sound right.

What is it exactly that your friend is thanking you for?

googoodolly · 27/08/2015 17:42

I think you both owe your mum a massive thank you and a nice gift for putting you both up for free so you could sightsee in London.

diddl · 27/08/2015 17:46

"it's my family home so I suppose I feel that she was staying 'with me'"

Hahahahaha!

OMG OP, thanks for the laugh.

What dos your mum, you know, the one who actually issued the invitation think?

Tiggeryoubastard · 27/08/2015 17:46

You both stayed at your relatives for free (well they bought half the food) but you expected them to pay for your share of the shopping too? Why would you expect them to pay for your shopping? Sorry if I've got this wrong but if not then you're really grasping.

SanityClause · 27/08/2015 17:46

SurlyCue

Grin
ArendelleQueen · 27/08/2015 17:52

Grin at expecting her to thank you but of course, she should have expressed more gratitude towards your mother.

featherandblack · 27/08/2015 17:58

I think the bouquet of flowers was a nice gesture. Yes, it would have been nice to have brought something with her but she was your mum's guest; there was no obligation to do so. As for paying your way...! I've heard it all now.

Waltermittythesequel · 27/08/2015 18:02

So you and your mate rocked up and ate your mother out of house and home and now you're pissed because your mate didn't get you something?

Is this a piss take?

Costacoffeeplease · 27/08/2015 18:08

the shopping only covered about two days food for all 9 of us, my mum bought the rest.

Bloody hell, you let your mum feed 9 of you for almost a week? Unbelievable - and you think your friend is the grabby one?

DownWithThisTypeOfThing · 27/08/2015 18:11

Oh OP!

Your family and your friend's family had 5 days of food paid for by your mum?

If it were me, before the break I'd have said "friend, can't wait for our week in London. Great of my mum to put us all up but I don't want to take the piss. Do you think £x amount each from us is enough contribution to the food?"

Your poor mum!

Luckything50 · 27/08/2015 18:14

My mum lives with me for 3-4 weeks at a time entirely at my expense, up to a total of about 6 months a year, so when we visit her (maybe 2 weeks a year) she pays for most stuff. It wasn't actually my relationship with her I was asking your collective opînions on but thanks anyway.
Surly - I would have said thanks to my friend even if it was her mums house - is that so weird?

OP posts:
Costacoffeeplease · 27/08/2015 18:15

1 extra person is a bit different to two whole families, I agree, your poor mum

Tiggeryoubastard · 27/08/2015 18:15

Are you an only child, OP?

googoodolly · 27/08/2015 18:17

One extra person is not nine extra people!

Your friend should have thanked your mum, absolutely, but not you!

SurlyCue · 27/08/2015 18:19

Surly - I would have said thanks to my friend even if it was her mums house - is that so weird?

Yes. What would you be thanking them for?

WyrdByrd · 27/08/2015 18:29

Oh come off it Tigger, being an only child has sweet FA to do with it!

Is the friend a long-standing one? Because I have a couple of mates that I've grown up with since primary school and if my mum invited them to stay and paid for food etc for them I wouldn't bat an eyelid, assuming they were considerate and polite during the stay. Those type of people are as near to family as possible and I'd expect them to be treated accordingly.

If they're friends of yours that your mum doesn't know that well it's slightly more odd that they didn't turn up with flowers/wine, but honestly it sounds like you feel they encroached on your time away and would rather they hadn't come. It's certainly early days to be getting your knickers in a twist about it, and had it occurred to you they make have accepted the offer because they are short of cash at the mo? I'd rather wait for payday and send a decent bouquet for instance than give a half-arsed bunch of carnations for the local supermarket.

And yes, I'm an only child Wink.

fabuLou · 27/08/2015 18:34

You lost me at the she should of made a gesture towards you. They should of made a gesture towards your relatives. Really I find it very questionable staying at someones house and not at leat offering to pay your way, doing your bit. A couple of meals out would be good manners.

Tiggeryoubastard · 27/08/2015 18:53

Wyrd - I know not all (not even a high proportion of) only children are so self absorbed. I'm just wondering where she got the idea that everyone is there for her convenience and the world revolves around her.
Ps you can have your pick of my siblings if you want. Smile

AyeAmarok · 27/08/2015 19:04
Confused

bizarre thread

fabuLou · 27/08/2015 21:31

confused

bizarre thread

^^

This

New posts on this thread. Refresh page