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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:
SuburbanFraggle · 10/03/2020 13:55

So she's telling her son's girlfriend's mother that treating a teenager is being overinvested.

Isn't it ironic, yeah I really do think!
(That's what it means now, blame Alanis)

user14366425683113 · 10/03/2020 13:58

Feeling cared for and secure, with positive relationships, is an important "life lesson" anyway, surely? Healthy independence doesn't mean doing everything alone and never letting or needing anybody to care for, support or nurture you.

WhatWouldYouDoWhatWouldJesusDo · 10/03/2020 13:59

BFs mum probably can't afford to do the same for her child. But that isn't your issue in all honesty.

nagynolonger · 10/03/2020 14:00

We never visited ours at university. Mainly because we had younger children at home. So really we only went at the start of term to do a big shop for them (we paid) and then at the end of term to collect them. The only time we stayed overnight was for their graduations. Very occasional they came home in term time for the weekend.

Having said that what you do is your business and the DF mum should wind her neck in.

amusedbush · 10/03/2020 14:03

The friend's mum would blow a gasket a my parents then - I moved out at 21, had a full time job and my parents would occasionally treat me to a weekly shop from Aldi. I wasn't even a poor student! Shock

Nootka · 10/03/2020 14:03

My DM used to cut the crusts off my toast. I was until I was about 35. She would save money out of her pension and send me and my sons cheques. I used to pay them into sons accounts but avoid paying in mine until she would phone me up and tell me off because she had checked her bank account and the cheque hadn't cleared. God I miss that wonderful woman.

kateandme · 10/03/2020 14:03

ffs sake my mum still does this now and we love her for it.those jiffy bags of random things she sends us are so lovely.and we are all pat the 30 year mark
when my sibs wre in uni they went and visited and hung out. one being a lot closer they went all the time particulaly because it was a great area so there was always things to do.and the shopping centre was frequently visited for girly days out.and they were a homebod so loved seeing mum.often came home when she could too and still does to this day.
mum would also on most visits take them to tesco for a big shop.or leave some cash if they didnt have time.
they are now both very independant.have brilliant jobs.one in the city of london and travvels round the world for her job working her way up to manager.
the other is in the sports industry and is now working for top football club.
tell her "its ok,we dont all need to be close to our children to be able to visit and enjoy doing and buying thign together."
it will be your children who cna come to you in times of need.
yours who remember feeling supported.
yours who will have great emmorys of showing mum around their new homes and towns.

WalkingDeadTrainee · 10/03/2020 14:04

I am 32 and my mum still visits and brings me foreign goodiesGrin

Agree with PP. It's possible BF mum can't afford the same, but still shouldn't be flipping on you like this let alone telling you how to behave with your own child. .

Isthistrueor · 10/03/2020 14:04

Wow the BF’s Mum is crazy! Of course it’s normal to take goodies along, living away from home for the first time is quite daunting.

pumpkinpie01 · 10/03/2020 14:05

What an odd reaction from her, rude woman . Adult children can be independent and appreciate food and treats. When my DS was at uni I would send him back after a visit home with a weeks food shop, when we visited we would all go out for a meal together. My DD is in her first year, I have visited a few times since September we go shopping and have nice meals out on the months I don't see her I send her something - last month was some lovely homemade melts and a box of nail varnishes , didn't cost me much but she was so happy when she collected her parcel from the halls reception. These are the little things that make the hard days easier. Hopefully the woman will change her ways and see she is the unreasonable one.

strawberrylipgloss · 10/03/2020 14:05

The other mum is projecting.

I've visited my son and seen lots of parents at halls. I think the BF mum is unusual not having travelled

AryaStarkWolf · 10/03/2020 14:06

Are you seriously asking who is being unreasonable? As if someone can call to your door and tell you to stop visiting your DD or giving her stuff? Who on Earth does she think she is?

Bringringbring12 · 10/03/2020 14:06

What baffles me is that you are a grown asses woman and you’re even asking if this is reasonable or not

TheMagiciansMewTwo · 10/03/2020 14:06

Obviously bf's mum shouldn't have turned up on your doorstep and there's nothing wrong with visiting your DD if she is inviting you and she wants you there.
But you've visited in Nov, Feb and are planning another visit in April? I do think that's too often. You can always post her a food parcel without turning up on her doorstep.

ShanghaiDiva · 10/03/2020 14:07

Other parent is bonkers. How you parent your child and what you do for them is nothing to do with her. I think it’s important for young adults to feel supported as they move away from home.

Jaichangecentfoisdenom · 10/03/2020 14:07

The best friend has been comparing her mother (or parents) unfavourably to you, @Virgo28 and complaining that her mother doesn't treat her as well as you do your daughter, in all ways, I'll bet!
I really don't agree with this, "you give birth to a child, look after them till they're18 and then cut all ties and send them off to university (or wherever) and leaving them to fend completely for themselves without a backward glance, or giving them what help you can, or seeing them as regularly as possible and as it suits them" attitude. You sound like a normal, caring, supportive, mother, OP - just ignore the silly woman, she's got no idea how to behave as a parent and has absolutely no right to tell you how to behave with your own child. She must be feeling massively guilty, to actually take the trouble to come round and tell you off like that!

P1nkHeartLovesCake · 10/03/2020 14:08

You took your dd a pack of biscuits and sweets it’s hardly outrageous spoiling.

Hell I’m an adult mother of 3 and my parents don’t live near by and when they Visit they often bring biscuits etc with then or mum bakes a cake

TheNavigator · 10/03/2020 14:08

Visiting my oldest in her University city is one of the treats of my life. We have lovely meals, cocktails, brunch - whatever. And of course I pay for everything - I am an adult professional woman with a tiny mortgage, she is a student renting a flat. It is a joy to treat her.

I have to say, my mum would never put her hand in her pocket for me, but she remarried and her husband resented me. My DH and I love being able to help our daughters' out financially - frankly, they are what I go to work for.

HaddawayAndShite · 10/03/2020 14:08

What did you actually say to her when she came knocking?

Honestly, I lived for the goodie bags my parents sent me / sent me home with (they never visited). Maybe she’s having financial issues and can’t provide treats for her daughter but she’s got absolutely no right to tell you what to do.

Wa1kthisway · 10/03/2020 14:08

Is your DD's BF's mother this controlling over your daughter in general?
Dictating how much you visit your adult daughter, what you choose to purchase her... what ever next, what course your daughter can do at uni? To quit uni altogether.
How very scary that this woman feels she has the right/this level of power over anyone else.

Rosehip10 · 10/03/2020 14:08

Is your family more middle class than your daughters's friends family?

HAhelp101 · 10/03/2020 14:08

She is crazy. None of her busines. What you do with your dd. Maybe she should take a leaf out of your book and be nicer to her dd. I would love to visit my kids if and when they go to uni! Who wouldn't and yes I would go armed with their favourite food! For them and their friends. I thought that was normal

TeetotalKoala · 10/03/2020 14:09

She wants you to stop as you are making her look bad.

This. That's all you need to know. You carry on.

Bringringbring12 · 10/03/2020 14:09

She’s a fruitcake
But seriously OP, in your own way, so are you

Lyricallie · 10/03/2020 14:09

Ha I live away from home and I'm getting married and my mum still sends me sachets of risotto from Aldi.