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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU not to take my granny on holiday

76 replies

Alvinsredhead · 21/02/2020 15:47

I genuinely don’t know if I am.

She’s 88. Today I mentioned we were going abroad and Fil was coming with us. I could tell by her face she was pissed off st not being asked and for the rest of the morning she was quiet and distracted.

She has been like a mother to me and made sure I was always ok. She walked me down the isle when I got married. We talk daily and one day a week I take her shopping or do jobs she needs doing as no one else can be arsed.

She loves travelling and worries that she won’t get away on holiday again because her insurance is too high.

However - and this is where I sound horrible - last time we went abroad and she came she was a nightmare. I actually had to pay more attention to her than my kids. She over talks people and dominates the conversation. She moans when we eat out. She walks super slow as her strides are really small so even though it looks like she is moving fast she’s hardly moving. I find it really hard to walk at her pace even if I slow down. So we all end up walking ridiculously slow. She won’t go in a wheel chair.

Where we are going is really hilly and has a pool. She will be telling the kids off and calling for me to ‘watch them’ when inam and they are perfectly fine. She can be a bit abrupt with the kids which can be jolting as she uses the same tone she uses with her dog when she wants it to heel.

After the last holiday I said never again. It’s like she turns in to a child when we are are away.

But I know she’s not going to be here for much longer and feel rotten and selfish.

Hit me with it.

OP posts:
Liddell · 21/02/2020 16:19

You are doing the right thing, ask her where she would like to go for a mini-break to make up for it.

We used to take DP's Mum with us on holiday - in a caravan! (double hell!).

She used to say 'I'll just fit in' - no, moaned non stop and everything had to fit in around her!

Wonkybanana · 21/02/2020 16:19

First of all, wait for her to say something rather than reacting to a cat's bum face. Then if she does, explain what sort of a holiday it's going to be and that it's all planned round the DCs.

Then if you want to soften the blow, suggest a weekend - city break abroad if you're feeling up to it (I suggest) have somewhere else, your parents, ILs, whatever, who will take care of the DCs that weekend to reduce the level of friction.

But no, you're not being rotten and selfish not to take her on this one. If you did, experience tells you that it would be all about her and therefore not a holiday for anyone else.

Bowerbird5 · 21/02/2020 16:20

Would it be possible to have a few days away with her somewhere else.i know it isn’t always possible but if you could take her somewhere without the children then it would be easier for you. She could be the centre of attention. Then she would have something to look forward to.
She was probably thinking that she wouldn’t get the opportunity to go any more. It is hard getting older and realising you can’t always do things anymore.

HollowTalk · 21/02/2020 16:22

There’s loads of singles holidays for your nans age group

That's a bit of an exaggeration - her granny's 88!

BarbaraofSeville · 21/02/2020 16:23

Well you have your reason not to take her in your OP - her insurance is too high. Plus it's hilly and she won't be able to manage.

But you could look at taking her somewhere in the UK for a few days, just the two of you? Somewhere flat, where she hasn't been before, where you could visit whatever sorts of places she's interested in.

SallySun123 · 21/02/2020 16:29

It sounds like you do a lot for her on a daily/weekly basis. Give yourself a break, no need for the holidays too.

Squirrelblanket · 21/02/2020 16:29

I don't blame you and I don't think you've done anything wrong. We went away with my dad for a weekend last summer and while we managed to have a good time overall, he was hard work and we said never again!

It might be a nice touch if you could take her away a few days maybe just the two of you. (My mum can also be hard work but I find her much easier when it's just me and her!)

FraglesRock · 21/02/2020 16:33

Tbh I'd begrudge paying for an extra person including food and drink (but I'm presuming she's not contributing) to have your children feel like their at school on what is to most people a sacred few weeks away.

So no, if you have the spare cash a nice day out (with no kids) would be lovely.

And don't tell her fil is going next time.

Alvinsredhead · 21/02/2020 16:38

Thanks you lot.

I’m going to try and book a few days away in the summer. Some where with bingo, it’s flat and where she can smoke her vapour cig in peace Grin

OP posts:
2020maddog · 21/02/2020 16:40

You are not being unreasonable. But, you know, I'd take her but not before telling her how she had been on other holidays and how it made your family feel.

If she won't accept that, leave her sulking but, if I were you, I'd see if as your last holiday with her and (without sounding cringe), make some memories!

She's not going to be on this earth much longer and, presumably, you'll have future holidays to go on when she's no longer around.

She is family. And maybe that is why she felt sad because she knew that it may be her last.

By the way, I know it will take a lot of strength and patience but, if you lay down the law before you go, she may behave differently.

I also know that, perhaps, I'm being a little too optimistic Smile

amusedbush · 21/02/2020 16:41

My granny is 86 and the thought of taking her on holiday fills me with horror. She also refuses a wheelchair but can't walk far/fast, she doesn't eat anything apart from bog standard "British" food, she doesn't like the heat, she sleeps like shite so she gets up at 4am to read her book in the living room... it would be bonkers!

YANBU.

5foot5 · 21/02/2020 16:44

YANBU

We used to go regularly on holiday with PILs and it was all good. But the last time we did was about 7 years ago and it was really hard and afterwards DH and I agreed that was the last time.

They were in their 80s by then and MIL was starting with dementia (much worse now). We were very limited about what we could do on days out as they could no longer walk very far. MIL needed watching all the time as she was apt to wonder off. They muttered about eating outside that it was too cold (it really wasn't). They struggled with stairs so we gave them the ground floor bedroom but then they went to bed about 9 pm so we couldn't have the TV or music on. Also they found the long journey really, really difficult.

Thing is this was meant to be the main family holiday and we had teenage DC too, but really the whole holiday had to be geared around the PILs - which we felt wasn't fair on DC let alone on us.

5foot5 · 21/02/2020 16:45

Oh just to say, my late Mum used to struggle with mobility issues and poor health but we could manage to take her away for long weekends as she was happy to use a wheelchair. A long holiday abroad would never have worked though.

Alvinsredhead · 21/02/2020 16:48

You are not being unreasonable. But, you know, I'd take her but not before telling her how she had been on other holidays and how it made your family feel

Oh Jesus she’d melt if I did. Doesn’t take criticism well...

OP posts:
2018SoFarSoGreat · 21/02/2020 16:48

I so feel you, OP. Nothing you do will be quite right, for some or all of you.

Last few years with my DM holidays were really hard. She so wanted to do it all, but in reality could not walk far at all. It meant that she was not satisfied, and neither were any of us. We stayed in a large hotel and never quite made it to the pool because it was too far to walk. Her wishes and dreams were to revisit places, but in fact she was just able to 'be there' not enjoy the things she used to do. It was really sad.

We ended up not holidaying if she couldn't come, so we all lost out. Nobody felt good.

Lost her last year, and can't help but wishing I could take her now though. I'd be much more patient and just happy to be with her. Hindsight is 20/20.

Bluerussian · 21/02/2020 16:48

Alvinsredhead Fri 21-Feb-20 16:38:36
Thanks you lot.

I’m going to try and book a few days away in the summer. Some where with bingo, it’s flat and where she can smoke her vapour cig in peace grin
.........
That sounds like a good plan. Even the odd day out somewhere would be good. You're certainly not unreasonable to want your family holiday to be as you planned.

lakeswimmer · 21/02/2020 16:52

YANBU

FIL walks with a very, very slow shuffle and is unsteady but insists he doesn't need a wheelchair. It's really difficult to go anywhere with him. We've started to only take him to places where there are wheelchairs available for visitors and insisting he uses one. DH basically now says if he doesn't use a wheelchair he can't come out with us! It might seem harsh but he's barely able to walk, he's not safe and we can't get around otherwise.

CoffeeRunner · 21/02/2020 16:52

YANBU, you all work hard and I assume save hard to afford your holidays. It should be relaxing for everyone.

I agree that it would be nice to take her on a short break just the two of you, if you can afford it. That would be a good compromise.

kateandme · 21/02/2020 16:52

you need this time away so you can be the best you can be for her.so you can put up with all the little quirks in ur day to do with her.
a little respite every now and then to be you and free and with the kids will help you have the patience and kindness for her later.
we cant be all for everyone all the time op.
though i know how you feel and its really kind of you.but it wont help beating yourself up.you will make your hokiday miserable for all with the guilt.
keep doing the things your doing.maybe even think of a night away somewhere.a spa day and night maybe?
but really no,no guilt.
we too have done this.a loooooong time ago.it always feels shitty but you have to leav that feeling behind.your doing ur best.

BrokenAmp · 21/02/2020 16:54

We went on Hol with my Dh’s grandmother once. (And only once!) She was the same sort of age. We went to centre parks and she was very unsettled and confused by being out of her normal environment. She would cone into our room in the middle of the night and turn the bedroom light on then have a wee in our en suite with the door open. Repetitively. It was a nightmare.
We didn’t realise how bad her memory had gotten, in fairness to her she was not upset as such just a bit bewildered. When we got home my husband organised a secure housing accommodation.

Reading some of these replies reminded me of her. And a bit more scarily-makes me now think of my mother in law!

It’s impossible to please such a wide age range think you planning a weekend together is def the best way to go

pickletickled · 21/02/2020 16:56

YANBU
You need a break too and your dc deserve to enjoy their holidays.
As others have said taking her somewhere for a few days that's better suited to her, is the way forward.

cushioncovers · 21/02/2020 16:56

I took my dgm to Cornwall with my kids a year after she was widowed. She was a pain in the ass. She wanted everything to be centred around her. She couldn't cope with eating at different times and hated eating out. She was grumpy because she missed her tv shows and refused to walk anywhere. She ruined it for the rest of us. Stupidly I got persuaded to do it again the following year. She was exactly the same. Never done it after that.

Pumpkinandpeas · 21/02/2020 16:59

No I wouldn't. The whole point of a holiday is to relax. She'll soon be over it don't worry.

AuditAngel · 21/02/2020 17:00

We have holidayed both with my mum (no longer with us) and MIL (separately, not together) but last time round MIL said not again until she was more mobile. That was actually a cruise and she felt she missed out, we didn’t as we arranged excursions leaving her on board.

She does still go to Spain each summer, usually on3 son will take her out and another bring her back. But once there she doesn’t really go out. She will be driven to the supermarket, but that is really it.

Roselilly36 · 21/02/2020 17:02

Enjoy your holiday OP, the holiday isn’t suitable for your granny. You aren’t abandoning her. If she did come it would lead to tension and that’s not nice for any of you. Go and enjoy, and don’t feel guilty.

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