Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To fucking hate sudden video calls from PILs

52 replies

RoboticSealpup · 31/12/2018 18:48

Arghhh. I've got norovirus, look like death warmed up and they videocall us in the middle of dinner, mostly to look at / speak to 4 year old DD. This happens often. I don't speak their language so usually parrot some phrases and put on an inane smile. It feels like they just landed in our living room... I feel like a right grump. This is normal behaviour these days, isn't it?

OP posts:
parrotonmyshoulder · 31/12/2018 19:41

I detest it too! Always makes the DC act more maniacal than usual, DH points the phone at me like a PP mentions, so I have to smile and think of something to say. Or the DC ‘take them round the house’ so they can see how messy it all is when we don’t have visitors. Hate it!

SundayGirls · 31/12/2018 19:42

I turn the phone to face the wall before answering Grin

drspouse · 31/12/2018 19:46

Oh and my two just press that attractive red button.

namechangeforthisobviously · 31/12/2018 19:49

Jeez, you are a load of miseries. I love video calling folk, love being able to see the smiles of folks I love.

Bound · 31/12/2018 19:49

Rude of your DH to answer while your eating tbh

Orangecake123 · 31/12/2018 19:51

I keep my phone in airplane mode when I don't want any interruptions.

notacooldad · 31/12/2018 19:55

Maybe I should ask him not to pick up
Surly he can make his own mind up about whether he wants to talk to his parents at the time they ring. I'm sure he is capable of saying, I'll call you back in half an hour'

When relative FT us we normally agree a time via messenger.

Sexnotgender · 31/12/2018 19:57

Jeez, you are a load of miseries. I love video calling folk, love being able to see the smiles of folks I love.

That’s nice. Maybe other people feel differently?

24hoursfromtulsa · 31/12/2018 20:02

My PiLs used to do it, drove me mad. I'd usually be in my PJs and would try to sneak out of the room without them seeing me. I love them to buts but hate being on camera. Luckily, a couple of years ago they had a couple of problems with their camera and now seem to have given up Smile

But an old friend of DH's randomly FaceTimes us a few times a year from abroad, never a call first to check if it's a good time or not. Sometimes we 'miss' their FaceTime call on purpose and call them back on a voice call 10 minutes later Grin

Stormwhale · 31/12/2018 20:02

I spoke to dh about how uncomfortable this makes me when pils FaceTime out of the blue. They like to do it early in the morning when I'm not dressed and haven't done the housework. It's like someone barging into your home without any warning and I hate it. He realised why it makes me uncomfortable and now ignores it if I'm not dressed/ haven't tidied round after breakfast.

I think it comes down to what sort of person you are, ie whether you mind unexpected guests or not and also what relationship you have with the caller. I absolutely do not feel comfortable seeing my pils when in pjs, unwashed, bed hair and no makeup.

I'm just glad that my dh understood my reasons for not liking it. I know they just want to see dd, but we take her round to see them plenty so they can't really complain.

Bleurgh0 · 31/12/2018 20:03

Could you prearrange a timeslot with them? We do Face time with family but we text/call first to arrange the time we'll do it at. Gives everyone chance to choose a convenient time.

GrandTheftWalrus · 31/12/2018 20:04

My parents usually do it when they are on holiday and then moan when I don't answer.

EncroachingLoaf · 31/12/2018 20:09

Jesus Christ yanbu! Who the hell does this. They may as well just come round and press their faces against your window and stare in at you... it's not much different really. I wouldn't answer unless prearranged.

MiL used to skype us when we lived far away from her. I would leave the room/dodge the ipad when it was swung at me with MIL hollering after me trying to get me to engage and DH pissing himself laughing. NO. Hmm

BarbaraofSevillle · 31/12/2018 20:12

How do you know it's a video call, I've never had one.

Shimy · 31/12/2018 20:15

Jeez, you are a load of miseries. I love video calling folk, love being able to see the smiles of folks I love.

Why do some people find it so hard to understand that not everyone has the same wonderful loving relationships that they do? When people I love who make me feel happy and good about myself video call, I love it. When mil calls and is critical about everything she can see, demands she wants to see what the weather is like, what is going on in such and such room and then questions why I’m not smiling, I hate it.

GreenTulips · 31/12/2018 20:32

Jeez, you are a load of miseries. I love video calling folk, love being able to see the smiles of folks I love

They may not feel the same as your

SoyDora · 31/12/2018 20:35

They may not feel the same as you

Yes, my IL’s love it too, that’s why they do it. Shame we don’t share the sentiment!

GreenTulips · 31/12/2018 20:54

How do you know it's a video call, I've never had one

This is a WhatsApp screen shot - see the video camera in the corner? Press that and video your friends

You can FaceTime if you both have iPhones

To fucking hate sudden video calls from PILs
BarbaraofSevillle · 31/12/2018 21:02

Thanks but I'm not on WhatsApp and don't have an iPhone so maybe that's the answer to avoiding surprise video calls.

BertrandRussell · 31/12/2018 21:06

Perish the thought that people might want to have a chat with their son..........

horsesheep · 31/12/2018 21:59

My uncle does this. If I don't answer hell right back immediately, on repeat. When I eventually answer he makes out like I haven't answered him for so long he thinks I've died. I'm not ignoring him to be a bitch, he just has this superpower for ringing at the most inconvenient times. I explain I'm busy but it goes through one ear out the other and he chats away. Wears me thin but he doesn't seem to get it

horsesheep · 31/12/2018 22:00

He'll ring back immediately **

Ragwort · 31/12/2018 22:02

Don’t answer, I have never had a video call or Skype in my life. Grin

Original poster
RoboticSealpup · 01/01/2019 02:01

Surly he can make his own mind up about whether he wants to talk to his parents at the time they ring.

He can and I guess he does, because he picks up. I guess I'll just have to leave the room.

OP posts:
Coldtoes28 · 01/01/2019 06:12

Op, are you me? I literally could have written this post word for word ( and most of the replies too!)