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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think that my mother letting herself into my house and then cleaning is intrusive?

63 replies

LiliAnjelika · 14/06/2007 20:03

My parents have always had keys to my house - in case of emergencies. Once in a while, they turn up uninvited, or earlier than expected, and let themselves into my house. My mother then proceeds to clean what she obviously thinks of as a sty. Today I came home to my mother opening the door and launching into a long list of all the tasks she'd performed for me. She obviously wanted praise but the truth is I can't bear it, probably because she also has a long history of going through my stuff and I don't trust her. (Last year, she and dad found a credit card bill and presented it to me as evidence of my incompetence etc....there are loads of other examples)Anyway today I explained very civilly that whilst I recognised all her hard work it made me feel very uncomfortable when she cleaned my house as it felt like a criticism of my housekeeping standards. At this point she blew a gasket, called me ungrateful, cried melodramatically, and left. Whenever we argue she always storms out and I always have to apologise. (she's never once said the word sorry!!) On this occasion my dd was looking on and was really upset because her grandma left without saying a proper goodbye.

Should I apologise again or what?

OP posts:
southeastastra · 14/06/2007 20:04

oh that's hard! my dad lets himself in my house all the time but usually just to leave messages

TheBlonde · 14/06/2007 20:05

Find someone else you can trust to hold your keys maybe?

LiliAnjelika · 14/06/2007 20:08

The problem is how do I tactfully get my keys back without causing another hissy fit?

OP posts:
Boredveryverybored · 14/06/2007 20:10

Oh that is hard. She obviously thinks she's doing a good thing. It would drive me nuts though, my mother just wouldn't dare come into my house if I wasn't in.
I think maybe trying to explain it to her when its all calmed down a bit.
Maybe apologise that it upset her, but not for what you've said iykwim? And jus explain to her that you're not comfortable with anybody letting themself into your house not just her. and in future could she only use the spare key when you've asked her to.
Would she listen or just go off on one again?

WigWamBam · 14/06/2007 20:12

It wouldn't be the cleaning and the implicit criticism of your housekeeping that I would have spoken to her about, it would be the fact that she is breaching your trust when she lets herself in without you knowing. It's your home, not hers, and she shouldn't be letting herself in whenever she feels like it.

Change the locks and find someone else to keep your spare keys.

Chirpygirl · 14/06/2007 20:12

Change the locks and tell them you lost your keys and had to change them. This also avoids the issue of giving them new keys as 'you haven't had them cut yet'

May be extreme, but be grateful it's not your MIL.......and that she doesn't wash your laundry and explain she has put it in the tumble dryer but wasn't sure how I dried my knickers?!

KaySamuels · 14/06/2007 20:13

Have the locks changed, say one wasn't working, or you upgraded them for security/insurance reasons, and 'put off' giving them a new set. Oh I do keep meaning to, just never get round to it etc etc!!

I wouldn't want anyone letting themselves into my house, good intentions or not - from now on make them knock! Can't believe they showed you they had read your credit card bill!!

KaySamuels · 14/06/2007 20:14

x posts chirpy girl!! great minds eh?!

KaySamuels · 14/06/2007 20:16

If your and your dp/dh both have a set that's enough surely? Or am I just an optimist?

Chirpygirl · 14/06/2007 20:16

not sure if it is great minds or sneaky minds
I think anyone who has your keys should have the decency to realise it is for emergencies only. Don't apologise for what you said as she will think she can keep doing it and it is not on.

maisemor · 14/06/2007 20:17

Oh, the disrespect of it. YANBU. Please do NOT apologise to her, you have done nothing wrong here. If it has always been like this you really do need to stand up to them, easier said than done I know. I would advise that you arrange to meet up with her in a quiet place and maybe tell her not to show unless she is willing to listen to what you have to say and respect you. Then explain very calmly how it makes you feel when she does things like cleaning the house when you are not there. Maybe write everything you want to say down on a piece of paper so you get to say everything YOU need to say.

I just think you are still at a stage where you can sort this without it having to end up with either you being their "doormat" forever or it ending up with you losing them. Show them that you are an adult and you deserve their respect.

ComeOVeneer · 14/06/2007 20:19

Count yourself, lucky my MIL believes that because it is her son's house "what's his is mine", so she can help herself to whatever she wants. So we moved to the neighbouring county

mummylin2495 · 14/06/2007 20:20

my mum has a key to my house and i dont mind one bit.she very often leaves me a lovely home made cake or some grapes,But she dosent do my cleaning !

imamummy · 14/06/2007 20:20

Changing your locks seems rather a pain (and expense) if it can be avoided.
Do you have keys to her house too? Why don't you start making changes there like adding unattractive ornaments?!!
More seriously, at first I just thought how nice she cleans for you until I read further and this does seem a tricky issue. Sorry am not more help!

maisemor · 14/06/2007 20:20

Ohhh, but I think I would probably go with what KaySamuel and ChirpyGirl are saying. Much more fun

binkleandflip · 14/06/2007 20:21

Well, how about this!

When we were on holiday last year my MIL brought three polish cleaners to my house to give it a going over without my knowledge or permission I wouldn't have known but one of them broke my slow cooker (put it, plug and all) in the dishwasher GGGGRRRRR!!!!

colditz · 14/06/2007 20:21

YANBU

Just ask her for the keys back. Let her throw anopther hissy fit - her behavior is bad.

LiliAnjelika · 14/06/2007 20:23

She would definitely work out what I was up to if I changed the locks and yes she would go off on one! Note to Kay Samuels: she also found a pay slip a couple of years back which proved I only worked part-time (hadn't got round to telling them this at the time, as again, I knew it would cause ructions!!)

I'm half thinking of telling them not to let themselves into my house in future on account of my dp's sensibilities. He is furious about it, especially as today, she answered his phone when he rang in to check his messages!

God, I feel like such a bitch though. She did do quite a lot of stuff etc....

OP posts:
toomuchtodo · 14/06/2007 20:23

my MIL used to let herself into my house unnanounced and she never even came to clean [grrr]

don't think the op is being unreasonable, parent should respect your space

toomuchtodo · 14/06/2007 20:24

on second thoughts lilli send her round to mine

LaDiDaDi · 14/06/2007 20:24

YANBU.

My mother is very like yours, she's great in many ways and dp and I couldn't be without her and the help that she gives us in looking after dd but sometimes she does take it a little too far.

Things have improved now that I have a cleaner, so that she knows that once a week the place gets a proper clean and also now that I just say "that's nice" to any other domestic chores that she does around the house. No "Oh great, you really shouldn't have.." etc as I think it just used to encourage her. If she does something that irritates, like taking away dd's washing to do at her house I just say "You really shouldn't have done that as it's messed up my plan to wash those things with dp's and my whites, now I will have to do a half load and it's not very economical." I try to give her a reason for not doing it that isn't just because I don't want her too iyswim, I think she finds the criticism easier that way and doesn't get huffed too much.

MadamePlatypus · 14/06/2007 20:25

You are absolutely right. Your mother is in the wrong. Don't apologise. She needs to realise that she is the mother of a grown up daughter who can run her own life, not the mother of a little girl, or indeed a little girl herself.

LaDiDaDi · 14/06/2007 20:26

Oh and keep all of your financial stuff in a locked box to which only you have the key!

Chirpygirl · 14/06/2007 20:27

ComeOVeneer
'So we moved to the neighbouring county'
Yeah, tried that, we moved to a neighbouring country...it still didn't work.

Changing the locks is quite an obvious way of saying what you are thinking without actually saying it IYSWIM so if you think that will amke things worse you are probably right.
Can you not talk to your dad and ask him to have a word?

LiliAnjelika · 14/06/2007 20:28

God, I am lucky it's not my MIL I suppose! Like the idea of moving cities - seriously! We're already 50 miles away but it's only 45 mins by car...

OP posts: