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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

NOt to offer to sit in the back?

224 replies

hidinginthenightgarden · 28/08/2017 08:46

We are going to a theme park today. 49 minute drive. Mil has been undecided on whether to come and this morning has announced she will squash between the two car seats in the back as she has never driven there before.
She will not fit. I am about 3 sizes smaller and would be very squashed and uncomfortable. I know I should offer to sit in the back but I really don't want to! There is not reason she cannot come in her own car other than she isn't a great driver. She is only 60 and in good health so not like I am crushing the bones of an old woman but still, I know it would be the kinder thing. Aibu not to sit in the back?
I will add that we do get on fine but She isn't my kind of person.

OP posts:
AllTheWittyNamesAreGone · 28/08/2017 08:48

Seems rather petty, really doesn't it?

Namechangetempissue · 28/08/2017 08:48

I would sit in the back personally. She hasn't demanded the front seat and it is under an hour.

WhatEaglesWear · 28/08/2017 08:50

Who is driving?

Fruitcorner123 · 28/08/2017 08:51

Silly and wasteful to take two cars. I would sit in the back as she is older and bigger than you. That journey really isnt far.

NerrSnerr · 28/08/2017 08:51

Personally I'd say that I was driving and let my husband and his mum decide who sat in the back.

AldiAisleOfCrap · 28/08/2017 08:51

Yes yabu.

RonSwansonsMoustache · 28/08/2017 08:51

It would be polite to offer - however as I get horrific travel sickness in the back I wouldn't be doing so!

Sirzy · 28/08/2017 08:51

Seems daft to take two cars when you can all fit in one.

Ameliablue · 28/08/2017 08:52

I'd sit in the back. If you can all fit in one car, it is better in many ways to take only one car.

Dawnedlightly · 28/08/2017 08:52

Sit in the back seat. There are loads of sensible reasons for not taking 2 cars. Hmm

MirandaWest · 28/08/2017 08:52

If she won't fit in the back of the car and you will, then you need to go in the back.
Or she drives.
Or she doesn't go with you

ThisMorningWentBadly · 28/08/2017 08:52

Why don't you drive and your husband sit in the back?

OhWhatFuckeryIsThisNow · 28/08/2017 08:52

Very petty. The roads will be packed, parking a mare and one less car on the road is good. So taking one car is a no brainer. You put your comfort over hers in other words.

PandorasXbox · 28/08/2017 08:53

Of course YABU. How could you think you're not? If she won't fit because of her size it would be mean to not offer her seat.

Brokenbiscuit · 28/08/2017 08:54

It would be really mean not to offer imo.

chronicleink · 28/08/2017 08:55

Just get in the back. One day you'll be 60 and someone will respect your age in the same way.

shaggedthruahedgebackwards · 28/08/2017 08:56

If you invited her to join you at the theme park then offering to sit in the back would be the decent thing to do

Or if your DH is skinny then you could drive and he could go in back?

Ameliablue · 28/08/2017 08:56

At the very least you could swap over for the journey home.

DonkeysDontRideBicycles · 28/08/2017 08:56

Can you drive? If not then for peace and goodwill just sit in the back.

DartmoorDoughnut · 28/08/2017 08:58

I think you should insist she takes her car. You cannot fit between the car seats in our car - big estate but car seats are rear facing and bulky!

AllTheWittyNamesAreGone · 28/08/2017 08:58

I'm imagining Op smirking away in the front at 3 sizes fatty mil squeezing in to try and spend a nice day with the grandkids..
But its ok because while shes ok she's not your kind of people

missmollyhadadolly · 28/08/2017 08:58

Yeah why doesn't DH squash in the back?

My mum is 65 and I drive her everywhere. It would never annoy me.

Chottie · 28/08/2017 08:59

I would sit in the back and I am a 62 year old MiL........

Is there a proper seat belt for the middle back seat?

CosmicPineapple · 28/08/2017 08:59

Yes YABU.

I could not be this petty.

GreenTulips · 28/08/2017 09:00

I'd let her sit in the back if that's what she's wanting, otjjerwise it would be DH in the back and Id drive.

I've often sate between two car seats, it's not great and I wouldn't volunteer to do it again