"Help yourself"

[SheNumpty]

I'm pretty sure I'm not being unreasonable here. My MIL looks after DD one day a week, sometimes more depending on circumstances. She's not particularly well off, and when she comes round I tell her to help herself to anything she wants, snacks, drinks etc. as she was coming round with her own bread for toast and things like that in a bag each time.

She finally stopped bringing her own bread after I'd insisted for weeks on end that she's welcome to use as much of our bread as she likes and cab help herself to what she likes.

Anyway, I came home from work yesterday to find she's eaten half the chocolates I had for valentines day. Yes I know I'm unreasonable to still have some left in March. Thing is, they weren't even open. She opened them. AIBU, or do you just not do that? I wouldn't even take chocolate from an open box, it was obvious they were mine, and for Valentines.

I'm so puzzled by the transition from bringing your own bread, to save using slices of ours, to tucking into an unopened box of someone's chocolates.

So AIBU? I told her to help herself but would you guys take that as literally ANYTHING you find? DH thought it was hilarious, I think he should buy me a new box of chocs.

I think it's obvious what happened. Your DD overheard you telling your mother who provides free childcare to help herself, so DD took the chocolates out of the fridge and shared them out.

Wallah!

I'd rather special chocolates got eaten than someone feel that they need to bring their own bread.
Pil just once bought their own sandwiches with them so we wouldn't have extra work to do! We were expecting them to join us for lunch

You don't pick your nose either??

Oh no, does this mean we can't be friends?

OP StealthPolarBear might reconsider your friendship if you at least paid for your childcare!

@IamAporcupine I paid in chocolate goddammit!!! Didn't you read the thread???? Gah!!!!!

Yes that's very true. Can't stand these freeloading types who get free childcare from grandparents.
like we do

On a side note, I must admit that I find the concept of paying grandparents for childcare really strange. I am not saying it is bad that you do pay your MIL, OP, but where I come from it would be totally unheard of. Almost like paying my DH for free lifts, or getting paid for doing the laundry!

Ah op you have been a good sport.But really all the people on here saying the chocs where ok to eat.Would go in to someones house,open the giftbag and take the chocolates.I dont believe that for a minute,

And op hope your chemo goes well.Since MN has no chocolate thing

Porcupine I suppose that's fine if grandparents are comfortable as my Dcs are. And of course they almost all love seeing grandchildren. But if they commit to childcare it can reduce their earning abilities. If that's likely to be an issue I can see why the parents might want to pay them. Presumably they're getting brilliant childcare for less than they would have to otherwise pay.

I find it odd that anyone would open an unopened box of someone else's chocolates and help themselves.