Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think DM and Dsis Xmas behaviour is U?

34 replies

Grunkle · 23/12/2017 19:02

Long backstory but DM lives overseas (v far away) and is visiting my dsis who lives near me as she's just had her first baby.

I'm a single mum whose DC are with their dad every Xmas to new year as he's self employed and that's his only days off each year. V hard for me and always has been but DC love it. We do long summer holiday together instead, and I get Xmas Eve, but the Xmas break can be agony.

DM and dsis are peas in a pod and were v put out when my marriage broke down. Avoided me, would change subject if I talked about it. On my first Xmas alone (last year), didn't get so much as a Xmas card from either. Was very hard.

My lovely DP took me away for the break and wiped my tears away and in the end it was a positive experience. So, this year, despite DM being in country, I'm going away with DP again while DC are with ex.

But DM and Dsis are v mopey and sad about this because they feel I should be spending Xmas with family in light of the new baby. DM in particular.

These are two women who forgot my fucking birthday this year. Eventually got a text off both of them at suppertime, clearly sheepish.

Aibu to not want to spend Xmas with them even though there's a new baby and DM isn't always here for xmas? I'm feeling guilty and pissed off by the occasional pass agg texts from them both, they are ramping up the emotional blackmail and clearly hoping I will cancel plans with my DP and go to spend a dutiful Xmas with them...
I can appreciate dsis wishes she could have an idyllic Instagram worthy family Xmas and is sad and pissed off that I won't play ball.

But it's not my problem is it?
Am I being unreasonable... Would anyone do different in my circs?

OP posts:
Oldraver · 23/12/2017 19:04

I think I would be texting...Lets face it, you dont normally give two shits about me, so why bother now

UnderTheDesk · 23/12/2017 19:09

YANBU Fuck them, they've been really mean. I can't imagine leaving my own sister on her own at Christmas, never mind my daughter. Do what makes you happy, Op.

LouHotel · 23/12/2017 19:16

Op if your exh is self employed surely he can block off a week in the summer so you can alternate xmas day. Are you honestly never going to see your kids again christmas day morning?

LouHotel · 23/12/2017 19:18

Oh amd screw your dm and dsis. I wouldnt cause drama just before christmas but send a letter in the new year explaining yiur reasonings.

sherridan · 23/12/2017 19:19

Definitely not unreasonable, they didn’t think of you when you needed them. You had no reason to think they would consider you this Christmas either and you were absolutely right to plan accordingly. Resist the emotional blackmail!

Sheena99 · 23/12/2017 19:19

Go. They're concerned about how this is affecting them, and their "perfect" Christmas. Have they considered how you're doing, what you might need or like for Christmas? If they haven't considered your feelings, why should you feel bound to consider theirs?

hidinginthenightgarden · 23/12/2017 19:21

They didn't care about you last year. A baby changes nothing.

Grunkle · 23/12/2017 19:22

I do see then Xmas morning...? I just don't have them 26 to 31st

I guarantee you if I could budge my ex I would. I'm biding my time till they're slightly older and will have an opinion, and will want to come away with DP and me.

It's really not about my Xmas schedule, honest

OP posts:
Grunkle · 23/12/2017 19:22

Sorry that was to LouHotel

OP posts:
JennyWoodentop · 23/12/2017 19:35

Wow, you weren't on their radar last year, when they neither noticed nor cared that if it wasn't for your lovely partner you might have had a lonely miserable time - so good for you planning to do stuff with DP again as you had no reason to expect things would be different this year............oh no, suddenly they decide to play happy families and expect you to drop everything to accomodate them - no way - there are polite ways to say that........and there is what I would be saying to them!

JaneyEJones · 23/12/2017 19:39

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Sweetpea55 · 23/12/2017 19:44

What's the baby got to do with it all?

hereitis · 23/12/2017 19:44

You don’t have t agree to your ex’s frankly ridiculous demands though. He’s self-employed not a slave.
You’ve already made plans for Christmas. The new baby might be an opportunity for your sister to mend some bridges with you so maybe see her without your mother around.

MakeMisogynyAHateCrime · 23/12/2017 19:48

“I appreciate what you want and need is important to you but what you want does not trump my plans.
I wanted and needed your support last year and didn’t not get it it. I would have like my birthday to have been acknowledged but I did not get it.

My changing my Christmas plans would not benefit anyone other than the two of you and I feel your behaviour has been incredibly selfish not only now but for quite some time. I am happy with my plans as they are and I wish you all a lovely Christmas, especially baby x on this first festive period.”

These are the kind of people who need telling.

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 23/12/2017 19:49

Sorry but there is no fucking way in he'll I'd agree to every christmas-why is the fact he's self employed your problem exactly? Personally I'd be giving it a serious rethink-you can't take this time back.
As for your mum & sister I'd tell them to fuck off to the other side of fuck tbh.

NoFuckingRoomOnMyBroom · 23/12/2017 19:49

Hell no he'll ffs, autocorrect Hmm

Foodylicious · 23/12/2017 19:54

Have they actually invited you in a nice, normal, plenty of notice sort of way?

If so then it might be nice for all of you to spend some time together (if you can put all the other stuff to one side)

However, if they are suddenly "Oh I thought you'd be spending it with us" then sod them.

Do your own thing and leave them to their own little bubble where no one else exists most of the time.

Foodylicious · 23/12/2017 19:58

Oh, and btw your post read to me as if your children are with ex all Christmas, not from boxing day to new year. Think that's caused a bit of confusion.
Get that having them with him for that time must still be very hard though Xmas Biscuit

Chocolate254 · 23/12/2017 20:02

I would still go away, I would also say to them about them not caring usually so why does christmas matter.

AlonsosLeftPinky · 23/12/2017 20:03

It's not your baby so there's absolutely no reason it should mean you changing your plans.

Lashalicious · 23/12/2017 20:04

You should do what you want for Christmas that makes you happy. Don’t feel guilty. Sounds like you don’t have a good relationship with them anyway which is the bigger issue that has caused this Christmas problem. If you think it’s worth salvaging you could meet up with them for a pre Christmas get together and ask if you could talk through the issue and maybe become closer. Bring up their passive aggressive behavior and see if they will allow themselves to do a turnaround. It’s a shame to think what could be, for the three of you, a supportive loving relationship between mother and you and your sister. But it would take all involved, not just you willing. Enjoy your break, and hopefully eventually your children will spend Christmas break with you on alternate years.

Batteriesallgone · 23/12/2017 20:10

Ignore them. It is so disrespectful of them to be fussing about this now.

If, earlier in the year (July or something), once the pregnancy had sunk in, your sister and Mum were asking you to please spend Christmas with them I could understand them wanting to. You’d have the time to thrash it out and perhaps adjust your plans or not book time away at all, to accommodate a day or two with them.

Fussing now, so close to Christmas, is basically them trying to steam roller you with no care for your plans. Presumably youve paid to go away and they don’t care? They’ve also probably left it this late so they don’t have to go into why you are going away - no difficult conversations about leaving you on your own etc. Just ‘oh but it’s christmas let’s all be together’

Ignore it all OP. Have a lovely time with your DP.

BMW6 · 23/12/2017 20:17

They didn't even send you a Christmas card last year and then both "forgot" your birthday?

Tell them both to fuck off, frankly. Unbelievable.

HolyMountain · 23/12/2017 20:17

I’m 49, been here a very long time and can guarantee no one has ever reported back regretting being away from a fucking awful family Christmas.

Bambamber · 23/12/2017 20:22

Don't let them guilt trip you onto fitting in with their plans when it suits them! Go away with your DP and have a lovely time.

How long is your DM in the country? Are you able to spend a day with them before or after you go away?