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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU - Still buying stuff for daughter at University

424 replies

Virgo28 · 10/03/2020 13:21

I'll try to give all details to save questions so please bear with me. DD and her BF both 1st year students at uni one on south coast and one up north so the only time they see each other is when they are home but still text etc each other. Me and DP have been to see daughter twice, once in November and again end of February and both times I have taken up a bag of goodies for her, stuff like biscuits, sweets, basically stuff that I have seen when shopping that I thought she might like as a treat or maybe an essential that she has mentioned she needs. She works hard, is getting good grades and also has a part time job between her studies as her student maintenance loan only just covers her rent. The girls had been talking and DD mentioned the weekend we visited and told BF the stuff we had done (tourist stuff) and the bits I had taken up to her. BF must of told her mum and the next day BF's mum is knocking on my door basically demanding I stop enabling and spoiling my DD because apparently I should be allowing my DD to be an adult and not interfer as it's not helping her learn "life lessons" I also should not be visiting her as this doesn't help her either. Who is being unreasonable here? It honestly didn't cross my mind, it was just a few bits and a day out exploring where she is because we'd never been there before DD started there. It's about 4 hours each way so we drove up Saturday morning, spent the afternoon and early evening together, stayed at hotel that night, took her to breakfast the following morning and then left lunchtime to come home.

OP posts:
IsAnybodyListening · 10/03/2020 17:41

Our DD is in second year, and we do the same. I send the odd Tesco delivery, and will also include random luxuries as well as essentials to cheer her up.

Last Easter, I sent a lot of chocolate/Pj's/Books and a bottle of Gin Grin.

We give her the odd cash gift (just a small amount here and there).

Last time we visited we took her to a nearby coastal town for the weekend, with her younger brother also-ate at restaurants, took her clothes shopping, saw the sights. She really appreciated it, and it was great fun.

I think that woman is jealous. No right to tell you how to parent. It is worth noting, a lot of the first yrs need a hand hold-in my dd's first yr, 3 students died by suicide. My dd also tells me about friends at Uni who are very lonely without family backing, so I know it makes the difference.

Gadgnkk · 10/03/2020 17:42

What an absolutely horrible woman she sounds. Carry on being a nice mum to your dd.

Redannie118 · 10/03/2020 17:42

This reply has been withdrawn

The OP has privacy concerns, and so we've agreed to take this down now.

GreenTulips · 10/03/2020 17:47

its not helping her learn "life lessons" I also should not be visiting her as this doesn't help her either

Does this just apply to Uni or when she’s left? What complete twaddle!!!

I’m over 50 and mum still visits and I will with my chidlren.

MrsAJ27 · 10/03/2020 17:59

I hope you told her to mind her own business. What a silly woman

BlueJava · 10/03/2020 17:59

BF's mum is bonkers. We will probably have 2 DS at Uni next year, of course we'll make a weekend of it, visit them, take them stuff, etc. Why wouldn't we, they are our sons!

Elsa8 · 10/03/2020 18:01

My parents never visited me really. I was always so jealous of my flat mates who’d get taken out for a lovely meal, a full supermarket shop and get a load of treats brought from home! Keep doing it!

OrangeCinnamon · 10/03/2020 18:05

I will always buy my Dd little treats (i hope) and visit whereever....life is too short.

MrsMozartMkII · 10/03/2020 18:05

My parents didn't visit me, though a sister did once.

We visited both DDs and took them food / did full shops when there / gave cash / paid for their cars / etc. etc. etc. Our daughters. Our money. Our choice.

And both DDs know the value of a pound and are both perfectly capable of looking after themselves.

Stompythedinosaur · 10/03/2020 18:06

I'm 39 and my mum brought iced fingers when she came over yesterday.

I think you are normal (and lovely)!

DuLANGDuLANGDuLANG · 10/03/2020 18:10

Ooooh.

Iced fingers!

DuLANGDuLANGDuLANG · 10/03/2020 18:10

Jealous!

Ewock · 10/03/2020 18:15

I have great memories of my parents visits to me at uni. Sometimes they both came or others just my mum and she stayed over. They always took me for a big shop and out for dinner. And whenever I went home I was always sent back with a care package. My older sister sent me lovely treats through the post such as sweets. My dad always put a £20 note in my hand when he gave me a hug goodbye. That was a fantastic night out on that! I can say I can function independently and am successful in my career so no damage done. I also still get sent home with care packages but I also take them stuff and buy things if I know they will like them. It's just a lovely way to treat each other. Your daughter will remember this for years to come (I finished uni over 20 yrs ago) and you sound absolutely lovely.

Poppinjay · 10/03/2020 18:18

I know that BFs parents have never visited her or even sent anything. I think in her eyes I'm making her look bad or maybe feel guilty?

Yes.

I'd send an anonymous Amazon delivery of goodies to the BF then deny all knowledge.

ScampiLady · 10/03/2020 18:26

BF's mother is a fruit loop to confront you about looking after your DD.

We do the same for ours, only she lives with my DH in her uni town so when I visit (monthly) I take care packages for them both Grin. This week I took extra bits incase they have to self isolate.

It's just what I do to look after my own and would be mightily narked if some busy body ranted at me not to.

BeepOpsiePie · 10/03/2020 18:37

You should send her daughter a bag of treats too just to piss her off Grin

NurseJaques · 10/03/2020 18:43

Friends mum is batshit Confused

JRUIN · 10/03/2020 18:46

I can't believe you have to ask who is being unreasonable? I would have told her to fuck off, mind her own business and shut the door in her face. Who the fuck is she to tell you how to treat your own daughter? Confused

thegcatsmother · 10/03/2020 18:52

I used to take ds to the supermarket and buy his shopping each time we went, and I used to pick him up and drop him back, but we were in different countries!

Isithometimeyet0987 · 10/03/2020 18:57

When my family come to see me in London (their from Northern Ireland) I do tourist stuff with them because they want to see the city. Sometimes they bring things from back home you can’t get in England, wee snack type items. Carry on what your doing I think it’s totally normal to visit family and bring a gift/treat if you want to. She sounds jealous tbh.

Bluntness100 · 10/03/2020 19:04

Daughter has asked her why she never comes to see her or buys her anything. She feels shit so decided the solution was to stop you doing it so she didn’t Look like shit mum of the century.

Your behaviour is not just normal op, it’s healthy and it’s good.

And if she thinks your behaviour is wrong, she should meet me and see how I treat my daughter, she’s 22 and still in her uni town finishing her fifth and last year, so I visit and stay in hotels and she stays with me and I take her out for dinner and drinks,, I go up and move her when she needs to move, I send her gifts randomly via amazon, I still partially financially support her, and oh and this weekend, as she’s just finished a load of tough exams I’m taking her to a rather posh hotel in london for some mum and daughter relaxation.

It would send the batshit one into a state of shock. 😂😂😂

SpringFan · 10/03/2020 19:05

Another one thinking BF mum is bonkers - you must be making her feel really guilty!
DS2 did post grad and now works in his Uni town. We go to visit, and still take him out for dinner etc, he visits tourist places with us if he is free. I give him any surplus plants I have grown for the garden in his rented place and make chocolate brownies for the him and his house mates. He still has his supermarket card and I top it up sometimes as well- his bro lives at home and gets a good deal. ( I get discount on the top ups through the TU so not altogether mad!)
.

KateF · 10/03/2020 19:13

My parents never visited me at university (and I was there for six years!). You sound like a lovely mum and the other mother should mind her own business.

Ragwort · 10/03/2020 19:24

When my DS first went to uni I made a large pasta bake for him to share with his new flat mates the first night, another of the students arrived with a huge box of homemade cookies from his mum - the six students really bonded well and ate together that first night ........... they added their own wine and beers Grin.

Sunshineandwiltshire · 10/03/2020 19:26

Wow! Never stop... it’s lovely and what loving parents do. If my daughter goes to uni I will be the exact same. Also, I am 35 and when my mum comes to visit she still brings treats!!! It’s what mums do!