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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to be disgusted with my parents

145 replies

CabbagesAREFluffy · 24/08/2017 09:31

There is a back story to this.

When I was growing up we lived in a absolute shit pit. The house was not just a mess but filthy. The carpets were crawling with silverfish.
My dad worked hard in a professional role but my mum was a SAHP and never worked she was lazy, housework cleaning and cooking was beneath her. She wasn't ill or anything, no MH issues just down right lazy.

Our house stank, our clothes stank as they rarely got washed. I used to get bullied at school for smelling terrible.

There home is not as bad now, it still smells and they smell but it's not as filthy. My mum still doesn't do anything around the house but dad tries his best but he works full time and finds it a struggle to do all the chores and the cooking.

Last year a member of DHs family died and me and him went abroad for 5 days. Our DC stayed with my parents.

It wasn't until I went to do DDs washing that I realized none of her clothes or extra uniform had been used. I took her to school on Monday morning as we had a afternoon flight and she was collected. My mum had put her bag somewhere "safe" but couldn't locate it. So she had no change of clothes no underwear no pjs or even a hairbrush.

My mum miraculously found the bag the day we returned.

When this came to light I had it out with both of them. Mum couldn't see what the issue was. Dad was mortified.
They had our keys so they could of gone to the house to get more clothes for her but mum couldn't be bothered as it was all too much for her having to take and collect DD from school. They live a 5 minute walk from the school.

Since then I don't have much to do with my mum but I've tried hard to make my dc have a relationship with my parents. It's difficult as my mum is even more lazy than ever and my dc is expected to just watch tv soaps and daytime tv round their house.

My dc goes round one evening after school has a meal with them then goes to a sports activity. They pick her up, get her changed into her school uniform then she comes home.

She also spends 2 hours with them on a Saturday. That seems enough as she gets bored at their house.

My parents were out to dinner last night. They dropped DD off to her club and my DH collected her. Her club uniform was filthy and looked like mud down her top. She told me it wasn't mud it was gravy. She had apparently spilt her clubs Xmas dinner down her shirt. She's said she reminds her nan to wash it every week but never does.

I'm absolutely fuming, they failed me and my sister as a child and now they are failing my DC. Do you think I should go NC after having it out with my parents?

OP posts:
danTDM · 24/08/2017 12:25

My parents sent me to an alcoholic grandma when I was young. They knew it, but were surprised at the crisps for breakfast Hmm
People don't change.

formerbabe · 24/08/2017 12:26

Whether it's childcare or not is kind of irrelevant.

Whether they have sole care for whatever amount of time is more relevant I think.

Laiste · 24/08/2017 12:26

How old is DD OP? Sorry if i've missed it.

The reason i ask is because as my DCs get to a certain age they really start to struggle with spending too long at GPs. I'm wondering if it would help to include this as part of the reasons, should you decide withdraw a bit now (and i hope you do).

CabbagesAREFluffy · 24/08/2017 12:28

My DH is very supportive yes.

He thinks I should cut mum out as he's pretty much done the same with his mum.

Yes I may have to speak my dad alone as there is no point talking to her as she gets on the defensive and blames me with my high standards. Because my home is clean and tidy and we try to be well kept.

OP posts:
CabbagesAREFluffy · 24/08/2017 12:29

DD is nearly 9

OP posts:
Garliccalamari · 24/08/2017 12:30

I think that you should stop putting your parents in any position where they have a care duty. They have proved that they cannot even wash a shirt. If your dd likes seeing them then maybe you should find a different way for them to see each other. Maybe a weekly lunch at your house? At least the tablewear will be clean...

Gottagetmoving · 24/08/2017 12:35

Amazes me how easily people are willing to go NC or suggest other people do. For really bad things then yes...but OP must love her mum so why cut her off completely?....Just stop leaving kids with her.

Basecamp21 · 24/08/2017 12:41

i'm another one who is baffled by your surprise and shock - you know exactly what your Mum is like - why would you think she had changed?

Accept her as she is and work round it or move on!!

TheFirstMrsDV · 24/08/2017 12:45

Why on earth would you need to go NC?
Stop sending your DC there (wtf did you do it for a holiday and expect them to be able to care for DD properly?)

They won't change. Your mum doesn't GAF about housework and nor does your dad. They are not going to morph from crap parents into fantasy GPs because their crappy parenting was NOT YOUR FAULT.

They were not useless because you were a terrible child. They did not send you out dirty because of something YOU did.
So they are not going to treat your DD differently from you. She is not any more deserving of proper care than you were.

Accept them for what they are, if you can, and have a relationship based on that acceptance.

Flowers
SleepingStandingUp · 24/08/2017 12:45

Not sure why you would leave DC with them for 4 night or why DUH tolerates it tbh.

Stop sending her there unsupervised abs relying in them to provide foe her care needs

Mittens1969 · 24/08/2017 12:47

It's not about whether it's actual childcare; she shouldn't be left in charge of her imo.

My DM was overly harsh with our DD1 when she had both of our DDs and was singling her out for missing out on treats, on her own admission eventually. We had been saying that she couldn't look after them together, so that was a step forward.

Now we let her have them individually for sleepovers and that seems to work well.

Copperbeech33 · 24/08/2017 12:56

no MH issues yes she does

PyongyangKipperbang · 24/08/2017 13:04

I think that you are as much to blame as your mum. You know she wont keep them clean, wash their clothes etc as you were the first child she didnt do it for, yet you still sent them there for 5 days and twice a week since.

If she was a crap mother and is now a crap grandmother, why on earth are you giving her any responsibility at all, its like setting her up to fail because you know what she is like.

You know that she cant or wont deal with these issues, so stop expecting her to and then getting pissed off when she behaves exactly the same way as she always does.

Insanity: Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results

mirialis · 24/08/2017 13:07

She does have MH issues.

You don't need to break contact with them but you do need to reassess the access your DD has with them.

Laiste · 24/08/2017 13:10

OK nearly nine is old enough to start to be bored at GPS. Especially if they don't provide entertainment. Use this.

I am lucky enough to have clean tidy parents, but they were/are very reluctant to make any changes to their home or habits to accommodate anyone much grandchildren growing older. Result was that from about 8 or 9 my DDs did gradually start to moan (to me) about going there for more than a flying visit.

ZippyCameBack · 24/08/2017 13:20

Your parents just don't have what is needed to care for your daughter. It doesn't much matter why, they just don't. Even for a short time.
Now you know what has been going on, you can change things. If you want to keep on seeing them then do so, but don't leave your child with them.
Just as a precaution, I'd speak to the leader of the after school activity. Let them know that you have only just become aware of a problem and that it will not be continuing. Just in case they were considering a report for neglect. The leader probably doesn't know it didn't happen on your watch, as it were.

Haudyerwheesht · 24/08/2017 13:24

I'm surprised too that your dd wasn't bothered enough to mention it to you - I'd be a bit concerned about that and also had she tried to clean it herself?

elevenclips · 24/08/2017 13:24

I cannot understand why you allow your dd into that environment.

Steeley113 · 24/08/2017 13:33

I think you've been very patient OP and very kind trying to ensure they all have a good
relationship however, I think it's time you take a step back and just do supervised contact. Maybe your Dad could watch her at your house for brief periods. It doesn't have to be NC but I do think they have been given enough chances at caring for you dd.

Mummyoflittledragon · 24/08/2017 17:05

How he has put up with it for all these years is beyond me.

How he let her treat you like this for your entire childhood is beyond me.

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