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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Party guest showed up early...

465 replies

Fizz190 · 01/12/2017 08:32

Hi all, first post here but I'm looking for some objective opinions!

I recently hosted a party for a group of 8 mum friends and their babies. We've only known each other for a few months and it's the first time I've done anything like this so I put myself under a lot of pressure. I spent a lot of time cleaning and tidying the house the day before, and baked a cake and some brownies. The morning of the party I had planned to vacuum and do a few last minute bits and pieces around the house as well as baking some scones. Everything went wrong though as I had a power cut and had no electricity and no hot water for 6 hours so I had to rush around doing everything at the last minute (whilst entertaining my 6 month old baby) . I ended up getting ready for a shower half an hour before people arrived - I was in a total panic by this stage. At this point I got a message from one of the mums saying she was outside my house - half an hour early. I don't know her well enough to be comfortable to answer the door in a towel so I sent her a message apologising that I was just getting in the shower and I'd be 10 mins max. She said she'd go for a walk.

When she arrived back I apologised again, explained I'd had a nightmare with the power cut and all seemed fine. After the party she messaged to say thanks and I immediately took the opportunity to apologise again. She replied saying how hard it had been for her to have to stay out in the cold as her little boy is ill. I'd completely forgotten he was poorly (my bad) so apologised again and said I hoped he was OK. She accepted my apology and I thought that was the end of it.

The next night my husband received a message from her husband expressing how upset he was at how I'd treated his wife and child. My husband and I were both baffled by this. He sent a quick apology and I then messaged them both with a very long apology acknowledging that I should have remembered that the baby was ill and that I really hadn't intended to upset anyone. I made no excuses at all and said I'd hope they'd both forgive me. The husband replied saying that his wife had forgiven me but that he had "no words" and that he'd "calm down in time".

I feel that this has been blown way out of proportion and I've gone from feeling bad about upsetting them to feeling quite angry that he hasn't accepted my apology.

I'd really genuinely value people's thoughts either way. Am I in the wrong here?

For context the baby has been to the doctor and it's been confirmed that it's probably just a cold but that he does have a bit if mucus on his chest which might need antibiotics.

Thanks all.

OP posts:
Jaxhog · 01/12/2017 14:31

I think I would probably have let her in to wait. But their response seems very over the top! If she was that concerned, why didn't she ask nicely if she could come in and wait?

MyrandaRoyce · 01/12/2017 14:34

If her husband has “no words” for this very very minor incident (which IMO didn’t even require an apology from you at all), how the hell is he going to cope with the next 18 years of raising a child?
He needs to cop on to himself and grow the hell up!

OlennasWimple · 01/12/2017 14:36

There must surely be some backstory to this that we don't know about? Like the other mum having PND and this outing being a big thing and it all going wrong before it began?

Otherwise they are both (but particularly the husband) rather bonkers

MayFayner · 01/12/2017 14:41

I would have waited until I was out of the shower to respond to her, whatsapp or no whatsapp. She knew she was chancing her arm, that's why she texted and didn't ring the bell! They obviously mulled over it later and got bold when you apologised.

This would put me off them completely, he in particular sounds like a fucking eejit.

OutToGetYou · 01/12/2017 14:42

If she could have miss-timed the journey by half an hour it can't be in walking distance, so why didn't she just sit in the car and not get cold?

FrancisCrawford · 01/12/2017 14:42

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

CorbynsBumFlannel · 01/12/2017 14:46

I would message back to say thanks to his wife for accepting your apology and that you hope he's ok as it seems a strong reaction considering he wasn't even the one inconvenienced! He's being so unhinged I wouldn't even bother trying to be polite to him.

Fizz190 · 01/12/2017 14:48

OlennasWimple

There may have been more to it but we all meet up as a group once a week or so and there haven't been issues before.

Unless of course I've been so deep in my baby brained fog that I've missed it... Unlikely but possible!

OP posts:
notangelinajolie · 01/12/2017 14:51

Stupid woman for bringing out a sick baby.

Loonoonow · 01/12/2017 14:52

I am totally impressed with you not letting her in. That was sensible, assertive and not at all rude. Don't let her or her husband bully you into thinking otherwise. If they can't get over themselves it's a friendship you are better off without.

Mivery · 01/12/2017 14:57

YANBU, they are. SHE showed up early. SHE chose to go for a walk in the cold (she couldn't sit in her car?). SHE told you everything was okay and then allowed her husband to stir up more trouble. Let him be angry, no skin off your nose.

YouThought · 01/12/2017 14:58

I don't think you did anything wrong at all at any point. 🤷🏻‍♀️. If i were just going into the shower then I wouldn't have let her in either. It would be quicker to jump in the shower and let her in in ten mins - which is exactly what you did.

I would have also apologized.

The DH sounds like a pompous prick. I'd avoid him for evermore.

PiffleandWiffle · 01/12/2017 15:00

They sound like a pair of absolute idiots, they'd get on well with a few people on this thread too by the sound of it!

I get to places early, I'll go for a coffee or similar though - or even just a wander round the neighbourhood for a cheeky peek.

I'd certainly never expect to impose myself on someone who was likely to be busy - especially after they'd said they were about to get in the shower!!

Loons.....

Pixilicious · 01/12/2017 15:02

I think you could have let her in and she could have sat downstairs while you got dressed but they are being twats of the highest order. You apologised many times (more than I would have done) and they are being really rude.

It's a good job they're not my 'friends' as they would have been told to fuck right off.

Iprefercoffeetotea · 01/12/2017 15:02

It's freezing, November. I'd be annoyed too

I am always too early for everything but I wouldn't' knock on someone's door more than 5 minutes early unless I'd come on the bus and couldn't' really time it any other way. I sit in the car.

About 20 years ago I was visiting my aunt with my then boyfriend (now DH) and we were far too early. Admittedly we had travelled from York to Bolton, so not just down the road and not that easy to work out how long it would take. Anyway she wasn't ready for us, so she sent us off to Rivington for a walk (Bolton's answer to the Lake District for non-locals). We weren't offended. Why would we be, we'd arrived far too early.

The OP's "friend" and husband sound a bit (a lot) oversensitive.

DrinkFeckArseGirls · 01/12/2017 15:03

Text him back that thinking about it she should be apologising for coming too warly and bringing their ill child to pass on hos germa to other children.

Strokethefurrywall · 01/12/2017 15:05

Stop apologising to these pair of dicks.

In fact, maybe you should start demanding an apology for the fact that she brought her sick baby to your house.

Idiots.

brilliotic · 01/12/2017 15:17

I can imagine a completely different 'reverse' AIBU. Along the lines of 'I can never see these friends again can I?'

Been feeling lonely and isolated with baby in new area. DH is not helping tbh, he is super anxious about DS, I think he'd rather I never ventured out at all, and he makes it known. It sometimes feels like I need to ask his permission.
Anyway a friend from NCT invited us mums&babies to a party at her house. I was so looking forward to it! It's been ages since I got to go anywhere like that. Couple of days earlier however, DS got the sniffles. DH made me take him to the GP although it didn't seem too bad. GP said probably nothing, just a cold, but to keep an eye. DH concluded I mustn't go to that party.
I waited until a quiet moment in the morning when DH was feeling calm and brought it up again. He moaned at me but eventually said 'well if you value your own friends so much more than your child's health, then go!' And I don't know what got over me but I just packed up and left.
So I got to the place 30 minutes early. DH never lets me have money for things like coffee out, he says it's a luxury/waste of money. Was unsure what to do, it was pretty cold and half an hour is a long time to wait, so on the off chance I texted the friend to see if I could perhaps come in. Didn't knock as I didn't want to put her on the spot. She was just heading into the shower but let us in 10 minutes later; I took a walk around the block.
When I got back after the party DS sneezed and DH started criticising me for taking him out into the cold. Quizzed me and when he found out about those 10 minutes I waited, made me text the friend. Friend duly apologised. DH then send her DH a mad text saying he was seething etc and couldn't forgive my friend.

I can never see them again can I?

IsItThursdayYet · 01/12/2017 15:19

Your husband sounds great, hers on the other hand....

If someone I didn't know that we'll was 30 mins early I wouldn't feel comfortable sending them to the kitchen to make tea while I showered. I'd feel awkward and feel like I'd have to sit and make small talk. In your situation of probably have done the same, if she'd knocked on the door I would let her in, but I don't think replying to a text saying you're just jumping in the shower is unreasonable.

If she was worried about her baby she should have mentioned it in the text. You know she's familiar with the area and the cafe is 30 seconds away.

It's very Jane Austen, you slighted his wife!! He's got to defend her honour and let the menfolk sort it! It would be hilarious if it wasn't real. He's ridiculous.

tumblrpigeon · 01/12/2017 15:26

She was in the wrong.
You did nothing wrong.
Her husband is being a twit

Ikabod · 01/12/2017 15:26

OMFG!!! She sounds like really hard work and totally nutso. Her husband too. Turning up 5 mins early is one thing, but a whole half an hour is way too early. If you'd let her in, she'd probably complain that you ignored her until the others turned up!!!

Fizz190 · 01/12/2017 15:28

brilliotic

If I suspected that were even close to the truth I'd feel very differently about the situation, but as I mentioned earlier she's out with the group very regularly, comes to classes and coffees etc. She one of the more active members of the group in terms of meet ups.

OP posts:
Chrys2017 · 01/12/2017 15:34

Both parties were in the wrong.

Party guest showed up early...
Bluntness100 · 01/12/2017 15:48

Well there is one consultation op, no one will ever turn up to your house early again,,,Grin

Taylor22 · 01/12/2017 16:31

I would not have allowed a near stranger into my house while I was in the shower.
She can adult herself.