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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Or is my mother??

237 replies

rosesandflowers1 · 08/07/2018 19:27

Summer holidays we had a family holiday planned (DH, DD1, DS, DD2 and I, along with my parents) to go to a caravan park or Center Parcs or something. They left planning very late but that's not the point... now they want to go abroad, France or Spain my mother is saying.

DD1 is terrified of flying, she hated planes anyway and always insisted something bad was going to happen on holidays... it was just anxiety and she always loved it once we got there, but at the time she needs lots of reassurance and on the two holidays that my parents have been there they've been dickheads very misunderstanding about it on the plane.

Last year DD had a seizure abroad and got diagnosed with epilepsy; essentially, the bad thing happened. Now she's flat out refusing to go abroad and I don't blame her. I don't really think booking an overseas holiday in so little advance makes sense either.

My parents seem to think it's about cost Hmm It's not. My mother says she'll pay, we don't need her to, and then she got cross and said I was too proud. I reaffirmed this was about DD and that DH or I would have to stay home with her so it wouldn't really be a family holiday.

She said it was our fault for "giving in" to her fear. Now she went whining to my aunt about my selfishness and that DH puts me up to it, apparently Hmm

I'm pretty sure I'm not BU about the last part; but should have I just caved and booked an abroad holiday and forced DD to go? It's been a hugely chaotic couple of months - year, really - for DD especially, and she's just getting better. I don't think it would be fair to do that, but my mother as always has put doubt into my head.

Help?

OP posts:
StatisticallyChallenged · 12/07/2018 15:55

You're right to take it easy for this holiday IMO (my DH has epilepsy as does one of our team so I have some understanding) - I wouldn't want to risk anything when it's still pretty early. As others have suggested, you could do a ferry/Channel Tunnel trip next year as a gentle intro to going further afield.

Mine never stopped commenting on my looks either - make up/hair/weight, bloody endless. Her commenting on the amount of butter and sugar I was using whilst baking triple chocolate brownies -to a recipe btw! - for my husband on our anniversary was both ridiculous and hilarious. Saying I mustn't ever feed my baking to my (then 6 week old) daughter because I'd make her a fat wee lump like me was not so funny.

We're NC these days. I'm 6 months pregnant (and fat to boot!) and she has no clue, it's absolute bliss tbh!

rosesandflowers1 · 12/07/2018 18:29

Mine never stopped commenting on my looks either - make up/hair/weight, bloody endless. Her commenting on the amount of butter and sugar I was using whilst baking triple chocolate brownies -to a recipe btw! - for my husband on our anniversary was both ridiculous and hilarious. Saying I mustn't ever feed my baking to my (then 6 week old) daughter because I'd make her a fat wee lump like me was not so funny.

My mother used to go on about me baking (I do it quite a lot.)

"You really are the perfect little housewife, aren't you? Baking food for your husband waiting for him to come home." She point blank refused to believe I ate any of it because "he wouldn't allow me to get out of shape." I ate a muffin in front of her and she said I'd sick it up.

OP posts:
rosesandflowers1 · 12/07/2018 18:29

Thank you zzzzz Flowers

OP posts:
rosesandflowers1 · 12/07/2018 18:31

I came on here just to say that (if anyone is interested) my dad texted me that he'd like to go to a swimming pool with the DC, DH and I (without my mother.)

I'm not sure if she knows but it's nice to know he'll still be with us sometimes. Thank you for all your advice on this forum Flowers

OP posts:
OakElmAsh · 12/07/2018 21:39

It made me smile to see that update @roseandflowers1

WhiteWalkerWife · 12/07/2018 21:43

That's great news Roses, it sounds positive.

rosesandflowers1 · 13/07/2018 07:33
Flowers
OP posts:
PatheticNurse · 24/07/2018 22:42

How are thing's OP?

HoldMeCloserTonyDanza · 26/07/2018 15:43

She was banned for being a faker and sockpuppeteer.

PatheticNurse · 27/07/2018 15:26

The OP to this thread was a troll? FFS! Angry

SchadenfreudePersonified · 27/07/2018 15:41

I think you should tell your 'D'M that y are 'giving in' to your DDs fears, you are caring for your child, which is what a parent is meant to do. What you will not be doing is 'giving in' to your mother, against what your DD wants and need.

THIS ^

And it's not just a matter of forcing your child to overcome her (perfectly rational) fear - it's a matter of showing her that she matters enough to you for you to offer her your loving support when she needs it.

If you give in to your DM, and effectively tell your child her feelings don't matter, how will she ever feel she can trust you with her fears and anxieties and problems ever again.

What if (heaven forbid, but who knows) she becomes one of these poor little souls who gets pregnant and ends up giving birth in a public toilet because she's frightened to go to you for help and advice. Extreme example, I know, but there will be a lot of things in her life where she will need to turn to you for support, large and small. You have to let her know she can trust you to put her first.

SchadenfreudePersonified · 27/07/2018 15:42

Oh, Fuckit! That is a lesson to me to read to the end of the thread before sticking my oar in.

Egg, anyone? I have loads on my face . . .

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