Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be really upset with my moms behaviour

150 replies

uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 14:06

I'm a young mom, I already feel as though people doubt my decisions and choices when it comes to my dd because of my age and I've been in situations where it's seemed as though older women feel as though they know better than me because of this.

I had my dd almost 4 months ago and from day dot my dm has constantly put me down about my decisions regarding dd. I know no one knows my dd better than I do, but dm acts as though she knows better.

A few examples - dd is a cold baby if that makes sense lol, it could be super hot but if I undressed her to a nappy (like my mom would) she would be freezing! So when we had the heatwave recently, my mom undressed dd down to her nappy, I felt her chest and she was freezing! So I started to redress her, dm walked in the room, gave me a dirty look and shouted "why are you doing that?! She's going to be boiling".

-My dm insists on giving dd "tastes" of everything, I have nothing against people who give their dc tastes of foods but personally it's not something I want to do with dd. Multiple occasions dm has tried to give dd a taste of foods, I've told her no numerous times and dm has done it anyway, even snatching food out of my hand to give dd it.

-dm insists on giving dd baby food as soon as she hits 4 months. I've explained I don't feel she's ready yet and want to wait until I think she is, whether that's when she's 4 months or afterwards. Dm has gone out and bought her baby food anyway and says when I'm not around she'll give dd it anyway.

I've explained to dm the general advice is bm until 6 months old, so if I don't feel she's ready until then I won't be giving it her, like said, she's claimed she'll do it when I'm not around anyway. She's also said health care professionals who advise this are spreading "bullshit" and she's had lots of kids her selves so she knows better 🙄 I told her she may have had lots of kids, but she's not my dds mother, so she doesn't know what's best for her like I do.

There's plenty of other situations where I've dealt with dm making me feel like she knows better, for example when she little text me saying she knows how to look after dd better than I do.

It's really bothering me, I know I'm a really good mom to dd. Dm has no reason to treat me/act like this. Dd is healthy, safe and putting on weight amazingly.

She makes me feel like an awful mom, she makes me doubt myself, and as though she knows better and could do a better job. It's really affecting my mental health.

After putting up with it for almost 4 months, I finally told her today how it made me feel. She told me there was no need for my attitude and that she hasn't actually given dd any food so there was no need for me to be so upset. I told her she hadn't YET but she tells me she will while I'm not around and also has gone against my wishes on other things so I don't trust her.

She's then text DP and told him I'm out of order and he needs to have a word with me.

AIBU to feel the way I am? And was I unreasonable to finally tell her how I felt?

OP posts:
greenwaterbottle · 30/08/2019 14:46

And I'm dd's mum and don't disrespect that.

uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 14:47

I'm in a difficult situation, although I don't live with her she bought us a flat with her inheritance so I'm not sure where to go from here Sad

OP posts:
letsjog · 30/08/2019 14:48

@uptheapplesandpearss is the flat in your name?

Blondebakingmumma · 30/08/2019 14:49

Is the flat in your name or hers?

lau888 · 30/08/2019 14:49

Idk if this helps but some of what she's texted you is true; everyone has an opinion on how you should parent as soon as you've had your first baby. It just sounds "louder" when it comes from a near relative. Also, if you have a second child... many of the things that bothered you when you had your first child no longer seem as important.

I suspect she hasn't quite resigned herself to being a grandparent yet. But, I think she might be trying - albeit in a reluctant manner. There's an awful lot of "do what your mom says" in her tone despite referring to herself as a nan. I'm guessing this is her first grandchild and/or she wasn't expecting you to have a baby quite so soon. I'm also going to guess that she's a "younger" grandparent. By continuing to act more like a mom than as a grandparent, she may be pushing back on feeling old. x

OMGshefoundmeout · 30/08/2019 14:49

I think you need to pull back for a while. Not NC but low contact. See her in company and at family events but no 1:1 visits with you or you and the DC. Show her you are a responsible adult who doesn’t need her mummy’s help. Hopefully she’ll get the point that you can manage doing things your way. Once you’ve established solid food you can relax things a bit.

uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 14:50

The flat is in her name, she wouldn't put it in my name as she was taking precautions in cause dp left me, so she's says

OP posts:
Mummyoflittledragon · 30/08/2019 14:50

Cross post. Omg.

just be assured I know my place as a nan. Oh the irony.

Wow. She’s really not nice to you. I’m laughing at her audacity. It’s so ridiculous she could even think this text is appropriate.

Imo it is not worth arguing with her. She will right fight. She’s telling you that now. She sounds pretty narcissistic.

You need to respond with boundaries. Not words or arguments to try and convince her. Not necessarily a text back. Radio silence is very effective.

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/08/2019 14:52

Don’t let her use the flat against you. She’s unlikely to kick you out on the street. I agree with low contact. She will use the flat against you. Paint you as an ungrateful child. It will be painful. But you do need to put your baby first. Not your mother.

EagleAndTheHawk · 30/08/2019 14:53

I had a similar situation with my mum. In the end I cut contact for a few weeks until she realised I was serious and if she couldn't respect me and my decisions regarding my child then she's not going to be part of our lives.

mbosnz · 30/08/2019 14:54

Show her how a mature sensible adult behaves. Ignore the texts. All of them. She's ramping it up, being a melodramatic drama llama, and she's making a fool of herself. Don't engage.

I would agree with OMG, go low contact - don't initiate visits - either at hers or at yours, don't respond to texts or calls, except briefly and without getting drawn into heated discussions or melodramatic mini soap operas.

You've got quite enough to keep you busy with your gorgeous wee girl, and DP. Let her have her tanty without getting any oxygen or attention from you while she's doing it.

Brefugee · 30/08/2019 14:56

Tell her that unless you're confident that she won't go against your wishes that she won't be getting 1 second of anything approaching alone time with your baby.

You sound as though you know what you're about and current advice is good. Good luck (and congrats on your baby)

Mummyoflittledragon · 30/08/2019 14:58

I also cut contact with my mother for a few months to establish boundaries and put her in her place. My mother used to criticise my parenting a lot. The irony is it’s far better than hers ever was.

NeelixFelicis · 30/08/2019 15:01

Oops, posted too early!

My DM was the same OP, "set in her ways", with no time for modern interfering.
It's ignorant at best, dangerous at worst.

I asked her once to watch poorly DD (virus with high temp) for an hour while I took DS for his first day at nursery. I came back to an Ambulance outside my house.
DM in her fucking infinite wisdom thought DD wasn't warm enough, so she'd turned my fire up, put a cardigan and a blanket on her, which caused her to overheat and have a febrile convulsion.

Her reasoning? In "her day", you sweat a fever out, and taking layers off a baby with a temperature would give them pneumonia.

You're doing well OP and it sounds like your DD is thriving. Don't let your DM undermine you, you know what is best for your own child.

AryaStarkWolf · 30/08/2019 15:03

you know me I don’t care what she’s feeling

Nice

redexpat · 30/08/2019 15:03

Why is it that people who bang on about being respected never grasp what it actually means or that it has to be earned and that it goes both ways?

I would just go low contact with her. She doesnt see anything wrong in the way she has acted.

When you do interact with her dont feel the need to JADE - justify apologise defend explain. Google grey rock technique.

You can always come to MN for support.

ohtheholidays · 30/08/2019 15:04

My DD is 16 and pregnant and there is no way on earth that I will go against her wishes when it comes to her child,because it is her child and not mine!

If I ever spoke to my DD the way your Mum has spoken to you I'd expect her to tell me to Fuck Off and it would be well deserved as well!

It must have been quite a while ago that your mother had her last child,because my youngest is nearly 12 and the advice when she was a baby was to not give solids till they were 6 months old and even though I'm a Mum of 5DC and I worked with children of all different ages I'd never speak to one of my DC the way your Mum has spoken to you!

If you can find someone else to look after your DD when you go back into education then I would if I was you,otherwise your going to be constantly worried about what your Mother is doing to go against your wishes whilst she looks after your DD.

uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 15:04

@AryaStarkWolf she's awful

OP posts:
uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 15:06

@ohtheholidays thanks for your reply and advice! Her youngest is 10, so she must've ignored advice given with her last baby!

OP posts:
uptheapplesandpearss · 30/08/2019 15:08

I'm really torn about replying to her texts! One part of me wants to seriously let rip on her and the other half just never wants to talk to her again!

OP posts:
Cherrysoup · 30/08/2019 15:08

Are you paying market value rent to her? Any kind of tenancy agreement?

Given her t st to you and DP, I would send her a message saying you do not have to suck up any of the ‘wind up’ stuff she says to you, she has contravened your wishes re feeding already given she’s fed the baby tastes of stuff and your rules for your child are how it’s gping to be. If she can’t cope with that, then she doesn’t get to see you. Go low contact and research other options for childcare. I’m sorry, your not so ‘d’m sounds like an absolute bitch.

mbosnz · 30/08/2019 15:09

I have to say, if the best you can say about your parenting is, to paraphrase, 'well I had four of you and you all survived', you're not setting the bar very high.

I suspect your Mum has niggling doubts about how good a job she did as a Mum to you guys, and is rather defensive about it, and therefore ready to perceive a slight if you do things differently or make it clear you don't accept or respect her pronouncements from on parenting high.

ImNotYourGranny · 30/08/2019 15:10

I don’t care that you’re apparently got built up frustrations regarding feeding xxx solids .... we just joke about it to you as we know it winds you up

I can't imagine ever deliberately doing something to wind up my daughter or anyone else for that matter. And calling it a joke. isn't that what bullies do. 'It's just a joke, you've got no sense of humour/are too sensitive!' Bullshit!

Cherrysoup · 30/08/2019 15:10

Re not putting it into your name, if you aren’t married, it would be very difficult for your DP to claim the flat if you split. Your mum is all about the control, isn’t she? She won’t let anyone else tell her what to do or have that control when she thinks she’s right. Read up on narcissism: I think she may be a classic case!

mbosnz · 30/08/2019 15:10

My youngest is 16, and I received the same advice - 6 months for solids.

Please create an account

To comment on this thread you need to create a Mumsnet account.

This thread is closed and is no longer accepting replies. Click here to start a new thread.