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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Aibu by saying no

88 replies

Seffy1528 · 05/08/2019 16:38

So my husband is taking our 2 kids away for the weekend next month. He works away so this is the only time in the whole year I get the house to myself and frankly I was really looking forward to it. I've deliberately kept my weekend clear (refused invitations etc) so I can do whatever I want for a whole 24 hours. Last week his cousin asked if she could stay that weekend with her 3 kids. Normally I would say yes (and have many times in the past) but on this occasion I want to say no. Should I? Would that be terrible? They do have other options and do have previous for just turning up without asking and expecting to be put up with 24 hours notice. Any other time this year would be fine but just not that weekend. I work hard all week and am very much the primary car giver so was looking forward to a weekend to myself.

OP posts:
costacoffeecup · 05/08/2019 21:05

Just say you've got plans that weekend, maybe another weekend.

Lipz · 06/08/2019 11:12

Omg at your sil gatecrashing your holiday, what did you say to her?? Did she come on the holiday with you?

It was a total shock as dh had dropped me out to airport, I thought she was there to wave me off lol but I seen her cabin bag, she kept saying she was coming with me, but I didn't believe her, I thought she was going somewhere else, her words just weren't sinking in. Even when we went through security to airside I was still not believing her, the whole relaxing before I got on the plane (I wanted to have an alcoholic drink in the bar sit back and people watch and browse shops with no kids) this never happened as it was like I was having an out of body experience and my head was so hazy I couldn't think straight. But no she was going to the same place as me.

A couple of weeks previous she had sussed out where i was going when we'd be chatting about me heading off. We weren't sitting beside each other on the plane, she did ask people to swap Shock but thankfully they didn't.

She even booked same hotel, I was so upset when I arrived, rang Dh who swore he knew nothing about it. But this is the kind of thing she does off her own back. She was in my face the whole time, no pampering sessions, no guilty free lie ons or naps, it was like a touring break, trying to fit in as much as possible. I ended up speaking to her on the last night when she told me to cheer up !!!

Now if I go anywhere and someone asks me where I'm going I give the wrong hotel and with her the wrong city. She still tells people to this day how she 'saved the day' and I wasn't left on my own. She just never understood when i told her I wanted to be in my own, she thought it was weird.

I never tell anyone what happened because I'm mortified that I never told her to do one at the airport. She's very loud, very forceful, very pressurising, a person who is very hard to say no to.

Funnyface1 · 06/08/2019 11:16

If you are non-commital they'll probably just turn up. Spell it out loud and clear.

NoSauce · 06/08/2019 11:18

Say no and don’t feel bad about it!

timeforawine · 06/08/2019 11:20

Big fat no, your house, you decide.

Chamomileteaplease · 06/08/2019 11:31

Why be "noncommittal" ? Be very clear in your reply and say no.

There is honestly no reason on earth why you should have to give up your free weekend to this woman and her family.

justilou1 · 06/08/2019 11:42

Lock the doors, close the curtains, turn off the lights, bolt the gate, hide welcome mat.

OhtheHillsareAlive · 06/08/2019 11:46

Please say No. you deserve a weekend just to yourself.

YANBU

Allli · 06/08/2019 12:50

Say no for sure. You have already got plans so you can’t, sorry. Plans being whatever you want, vegging on the couch, soak in a bath, book, music, relaxation.....yeah, say no and don’t feel guilty. Enjoy Flowers

cstaff · 06/08/2019 13:02

A few months ago I got a text from my brother last minute (the night before) asking me if I was free to babysit his kids. I had been out everynight that week and was just looking forward to sitting in and doing nothing. Thankfully he text cos if he had rung I am not sure i could have pulled it off. I just text back saying "sorry have plans". He didn't need to know that my plans were to sit in and do absolutely nothing.

KnittingSister · 06/08/2019 13:17

And why would her visit be more important than your plans? Cos that's what she's saying if she ignores what you tell her.

MulticolourMophead · 06/08/2019 13:33

Say No, you have plans.

Don't be specific, just "plans".

I would be so happy at having the house to myself for a weekend. I'd kill anyone who tried to muscle in on my time.

Toooldtocareanymore · 06/08/2019 13:58

I had a similar situation almost two years ago, except dh working away and kids got weekend invites, a "friend" decided as she could get a cheap ticket she would come visit that weekend- actually longer than the weekend, I thought about it and decided to just say no, I said she couldn't stay with me but if she decided to come anyway we'd meet up for a meal, she instantly said why not, I said I had plans, she basically said see if you can change them 9 she assumed someone else was staying and I was to ask them to change their plans) I felt under pressure so I said no I cant, she continued to press me, in end I had to come up with a story of the kids being away and I had hired a man to come to do all the carpets in the house and I had to be in all day to keep windows open and no one was to walk on them for 24 hours.

The next time she asked again with little notice , I just declined again, as I felt she had been so rude the previous time, and I don't feel guilty despite unlike the Op relative she doesn't have other options.

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