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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Have I been unreasonable to my mother

8 replies

Doggydinner · 26/04/2019 22:38

Slightly outing so NC. I am so sorry this is long

My Dsis has a dog. She also has small DC and she’s been struggling with Ddog’s behaviour. Ddog likes to wee all over things. Dog is lovely tempered but a bit anxious and dsis has tried many behaviour specialists nothing seems to work for long.

My DM has helped Dsis with the dog during holidays or house renovations, savings her ££ with kennels.

Back story of DM is that she does not help with the DC or anything else at all in our lives. DM does not drive, is not in good health and cannot take the dog to the vet, long walks or for grooming so this falls to me. I ferry DM everywhere she needs to go. DM makes a big fuss over how Dsis ‘does not look after the dog properly’ but won’t consider taking dog herself because she doesn’t want the associated costs or responsibilities of dog owning. DM also complains a lot about having to buy dog food and Dsis always pays her back.

I do not have small children and this time offered to have Ddog while Dsis went on holiday. Dog needed to be groomed and i sorted this out. DM was put out that dog came to my house not hers and made a bit of fuss about how much she loved the dog too so I handed the dog over after a week to keep the peace shut her up. DM did this fuss by talking directly to the dog about how she was sorry the dog couldn’t come to her house this time round and faux crying faces, how much they would miss each other etc.

DM had been texting me constantly making assumptions that I would be struggling with the dog and I could bring dog to her earlier.

Then DM wanted to go on a holiday herself so I had to go back to get the dog after another week. The poor dog has been back and forth

I got locked out of DM house when I went to collect dog - completely my fault as I have lost the keys unexpectedly and hadn’t realised until I went to grab them then turned my whole house upside down. I have moved house and jobs in the past 2 months and they got lost. I arranged and paid for a locksmith so I could rescue the dog it was sorted in 2 hours. I phoned DM to tell her what was going on but I had it in hand and to apologise for having to change the lock and her instant reaction was ‘how on Earth did you manage to lose the keys?’ Etc etc (no solutions only problems) and making me feel completely shit when I am already stressed and overwhelmed.

DM has had no expense to pay as I paid it and Dsis has offered to pay it. There is no damage to any doors and DM will get a new key at no knock on effect to her (she is the only one with a key). I got really angry at her because the only reason I had to go all the way back for the dog was because she wanted to enjoy the dog for a week before her holiday instead of leaving with me all along. She cannot see how much extra stress this has caused me and is upset with me for being horrible to her by pointing this out

Dsis is obviously feeling guilty too but I don’t know how we resolve this. Dog has to live with one of the 3 of us but I feel like it can’t be me but only because of DM’s behaviour as she wants all the glory of the dog loving and adoring her but not any of the responsibility!

Sorry so long

FYI the only house the dog doesn’t piss in is mine!

OP posts:
Babooshkar · 26/04/2019 23:02

Sorry OP, but I think you have more of a DM problem than a dog problem.

Cryalot2 · 26/04/2019 23:05

Flowers you seem to have been more than kind.
Little dogs can be wonderful and rascals at times. We all love ours .
Dm sound like many dms .No real advice except try take yourself away from situation and let be. Just tell her how well behaved the dog is with you ..

Nofilter101 · 26/04/2019 23:07

Your dm sounds crazy and your ds is irresponsible.

Squigglesworth · 26/04/2019 23:11

If your mother's not able to care for the dog on her own and your sister can't have the dog at her house (not sure if this is meant to be a temporary solution or an on-going situation), the logical answer is for you to keep the dog.

Not sure how to reconcile your mother to this other than discussing/explaining things calmly and rationally, but it doesn't sound like that will be effective (since she's immature enough to make a huge show of being so heartbroken about missing the dog).

Someone will probably have to stand up to your mother, for the dog's benefit (unless you're willing and able to fill in the gaps in its care, while the dog stays with her). If the dog's already anxious, moving him from house to house more often than is strictly necessary probably isn't helping.

ivykaty44 · 26/04/2019 23:12

The only home the dog doesn’t feel anxious is yours..?

Doggydinner · 26/04/2019 23:15

I really love the dog.
I also really feel bad for my Dsis who has a lot on her plate, really loves and cares for her dog but I think knows dog isn’t happy living with small DC and struggles to make it work.
DM is very upset about me pointing out that i only handed over dog to make her happy it was of no benefit to the dog at all.
DM does not see it this way

OP posts:
AllTheFours44 · 26/04/2019 23:17

Your sister is unreasonable

Doggydinner · 26/04/2019 23:28

I am probably biased towards my sister as I am very close to her and my sister is a lovely generous caring person and I feel bad for her that the dog is not working out well in their family. They had the dog for 2 years before they had D.C. and the problems only started when they had kids. They don’t neglect the dog but they had a lot of house renovations last year and she felt it was less stressful for the dog to be out of the house at the time I agree it was a building site for months and anxious dog would not be fair.

DM just makes a fuss over everything though and criticises Dsis all the time which bothers me. Also that she wants all the love from the dog but won’t ‘pay’ for actually being a dog owner and criticising me for an unforeseen accident of losing keys but putting it all right anyway!

I think this is a deeper DM issue because I frankly can’t stand her a lot of the time and talking to the dog to guilt trip me massively pissed me off.

OP posts:
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