Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

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:
Zaphodsotherhead · 11/03/2020 18:42

Has DDs boyfriend complained to his mum that his GF's parents 'always do xxxx' and she feels guilty that she doesn't, so she's trying to stop you to shut him up?

I visited all four of mine when they were at uni. Three of them were fairly local so I didn't need to stay over, but I'd buy them food, give them some money now and then, take them out for meals during days out. The one who was at Oxford, I 'd go and stay and do her a big shop whilst I was there.

Although, to be fair, I was extremely skint while they were at uni and I think they were all better off on a day to day basis with loans and bursaries than I was.

pigsDOfly · 11/03/2020 18:44

It's absolutely nothing to do with your DD's boyfriend's mum what you do and don't give your DD. What a very strange reaction on her part.

Sounds like you have a loving, close relationship with your DD.

My DDs are both a lot older than your DD OP. One married, one living with DP. If I pick up a bit a shopping for either of them, I don't ask for the money, because that's what you do.

My elder DD frequently buys gifts for her younger sister who has 3 small children so doesn't spend much on herself.

I'm very much in the children should learn to be independent adults camp, but that has got absolutely nothing to do with visiting one's children or taking them gifts to help them out.

morriseysquif · 11/03/2020 18:46

This reminds me of the friend who told me I had to send DD to pre-school because we were too close and needed some separation. She was 2 at the time!

OP, you sound lovely and I would have been be chuffed to bits to get a treats and visits like your daughter. I think this is jealousy and guilt playing out here. Ignore the mother and carry on as you were!

theincredible · 11/03/2020 18:52

My son was at Uni 2 hours drive away...at least 3 times I went to see him, had a Chinese and then got pissed round town with him
Before going home I would do a £50 supermarket shop with him
Can't believe that woman telling you what to do

Theflying19 · 11/03/2020 18:52

She's an interfering busybody!

LargeGinOnTap · 11/03/2020 18:58

Yanbu she is off her rocker

Because I went to uni a fair distance away my dm come to visit that often. But when she did she would do a big supermarket shop for me and always brought me a few extras like furniture I might find useful. (Small chest of drawers)

And I always had a few goodies to take back with me after the holidays.

Jeeperscreepers69 · 11/03/2020 18:59

I used to take a months food down each time i went to visit my son and Stay 3 days at a b & b he would meet me for meal everynight my treat. Its my son. Your friend is out of order

Thisismytimetoshine · 11/03/2020 19:09

How did he store a month’s food, Jeepers? Most of them have a single cupboard and a shared fridge!

Newmumatlast · 11/03/2020 19:11

Wow. Imo you're just showing love to your daughter. My parents do things like this for us and we're in our 30s. Perfectly independent but if they see something we would like, especially if we are having a crap time, they'll treat us. I will for my children too. And I am of the view that teens need to grow up and be responsible - gifting things to people you love doesnt prevent this.

Iloveplacentas · 11/03/2020 19:12

My mum still brings me treats and things I need like tea towels or tea spoons and I’m 37 and a mother myself!

At university she’s definitely not an independent adult yet. What you’re doing is fine!

TeeniefaeTroon · 11/03/2020 19:16

My DD is away at uni and I sometimes feel guilty that I don't go visit her but I work full time and have a younger child too. Her friends parents seem to visit her friend quite often and take them out for a meal. In my defence DD pretty much comes home every month and when she's not home she's working. I don't feel the need to visit as often but we have been through twice in the last 6 months. My parents have been through a few times too. My DH works in the city that DD lives and commutes daily so I don't think he'd be keen on travelling through at the weekend too.

She gets a great allowance from us plus if we have a takeaway I'll transfer her extra money so she can get one too.

This thread has inspired me to send her a treat package though, I've had a look on amazon pantry but the postage is quite expensive so I'm going to make up a wee hamper and post it through.

Her BF's mum is obviously feeling guilty so is taking it out on you.

CardsforKittens · 11/03/2020 19:17

The other mum is a bit odd IMHO. The oddest part is coming to your door to tell you off. Who does that?

My DD was visited recently at uni (several hours away) by her 80 year-old granny, who brought her a bag of goodies, went round the tourist sites with her, and took her out to dinner. If you can’t treat your kids/grandkids, who can you treat?

curlychocs · 11/03/2020 19:23

She is unreasonable. My parents used to buy me a weekly shop everytime I went home.....which infirst year was nearly once a month. I have coped as a fully fledged adult!!

Rachel1874 · 11/03/2020 19:24

Firstly it's none of the BF mothers business. Secondly if you can afford to and want to I'm sure its appreciated by your daughter and that's all that matters.

bruffin · 11/03/2020 19:27

Dd is in Belgium on an erasmus. Went to visit her at weekend, took her a load of graze snacks and we also give her £50 a week for food. When she is at a normal uni. she hasn't got time to work as she has a lot of full time placements with long commutes.

Vexed80 · 11/03/2020 19:32

BFs mum is a dick!! It is absolutely none of her business how many times you visit your daughter. How dare she go to your home and tell you not to do things you want for your child?! I've got the rage on your behalf!!!!
She would absolutely hate me!! My son has finished uni, moved back home and he lives rent free and gets fed despite the fact he's working. Because he's my son, I love him, and I've been doing it for the last 23 years anyway, so why not?!

safariboot · 11/03/2020 19:32

Your daughter's potential MIL is batshit sticking her nose into this. I hope for your whole family's sake DD's relationship doesn't carry on much longer.

You are reasonable.

oxoxoxoxo · 11/03/2020 19:34

At our wedding 20 odd years ago the best man mentioned the fact that we still get 'red cross parcels' from MIL - everyone knows that's a great thing!

She makes amazing cakes and pickles, plus she brings home made apple pies etc on sundays when I cook the roast. She's 92.....

Why wouldn't you treat your children when they're at uni - DD's friend's Mum is bonkers. And even more bonkers to come round and say anything.....[shocked]

Goatymcgoaty · 11/03/2020 19:43

Jealousy and guilt. It’s her, not you. Ignore her.

damnthatanxiety · 11/03/2020 19:47

Odd woman. Does she never intend to visit her dc ever again now that she is an adult? Or does she somehow think university is not normal life and once there, one must live in purgatory. Dies she intend to never ever buy her a gift in her life because she will be infantilising her? The woman is baaaaaat shit and hasn't thought her philosophy through. It just doesn't make sense. Has she always displayed this level of insanity?

VivaLeBeaver · 11/03/2020 19:50

She’s wrong for telling you what you should and shouldn’t do with your own dd. It’s perfectly reasonable to take her food, etc. I do this for my uni aged dd.

But I also think the bf could have been a bit more compassionate and not told her mum.....is she trying to guilt her into doing the same? What if she can’t afford it?

Love51 · 11/03/2020 19:50

Back in the day my friend would always have to be met from the station because she would always come back to uni with a load of tinned tomatoes and pasta. She was quite small and struggled to carry it by herself! There would have been other food too, presumably. She went back to her home town monthly as she had a boyfriend there. It's fairly normal.
Before I went to uni I was looking for a particular style of coat (pre eBay). A couple of weeks into term my mum saw one in a charity shop and bought it and posted it to me! It was lovely and didn't affect my ability to get a mortgage at a young age, hold down decent jobs and learn to swim and drive. So I've got all the major life skills!

roxanne119 · 11/03/2020 19:50

The loan and a part time job barely cover anything I’m doing the same as u . Frankly it’s upto what you do for yours isn’t it . This is how I roll x

jomaIone · 11/03/2020 19:54

This is the weirdest reaction. Imagine knocking your door to tell you that.

My Mum lives 10 minutes away and still will pick me up something she sees that she thinks I'll like. Most recently a pack of chilli cheese hot cross buns, in the past a wee torch, bathroom grout cleaner, a nice candle, a bag of sweets... Just stuff she sees that she knows I need or want. I'll do the same for my daughter for as long as I am able.

jomaIone · 11/03/2020 19:55

Oh and I haven't been a uni student for 12 years.