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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:
Virgo28 · 10/03/2020 15:01

@AmelieTaylor - best friends not boyfriend. BF is lovely but they only see each other when they are both home. One uni on south coast and one up north so too far away from each other.

OP posts:
Iwalkinmyclothing · 10/03/2020 15:01

University accommodation has become so expensive I'm surprised anyone still uses it.

outnumberedmummy · 10/03/2020 15:02

BF’s mum is batshit

JellyfishandShells · 10/03/2020 15:03

My mother used to send me the local paper every week (very pre internet days) with a nice long chatty letter, which helped with any homesickness pangs.

Brefugee · 10/03/2020 15:04

My mum still does this sort of things when she comes to visit me and i'm in my 50s...

You sound like a lovely mum, OP, don't let this other mum put you off!

Fluffybutter · 10/03/2020 15:04

Who the fuck is this other woman to tell you what you should be doing ?!
We did the same as you ,we’d travel to see ds every 6 weeks or so and stay over night as it’s also about 4 hours each way .
We’d do touristy stuff and get lunch the next day before driving back .
We also would give him some cash or get him something he needed as we’re his parents and we love him!
He had 2 jobs and was studying so a bag of food is not taking away “life lessons” .

userxx · 10/03/2020 15:05

@crazeelala2u Fancy adopting me? :)

mrsm12 · 10/03/2020 15:05

What a strange reaction, I went home every weekend and was always sent back with a bag of shopping. My dm would still bring me my favorite chocolate bar the odd time when she calls

ifancyagreencard · 10/03/2020 15:05

Bloody hell, OP. Your mate would love me!

DD is a long way from home in a really nice town; we sometimes grab an Air BnB and make a weekend of it. We do our own thing but she joins us for meals / tourist stuff if she's not too busy.

Last trip, the AirBnB had a lovely kitchen/dining area. Next thing I know, at DD's request, I'm knocking up a "Mum Cooked Sunday Roast" for her and her mates (which I did with genuine pleasure). They turned up bearing a box of chocs and we had fab evening.

I have clearly ruined DD's future . . . . .

redastherose · 10/03/2020 15:06

Her daughter must be feeling like she's been abandoned if they haven't bothered visiting since she went in September, and instead of dealing with that she wants to blame you for doing what normal parents do.

Dividingthementalload · 10/03/2020 15:07

Tell your ‘friend’ to butt out!! I remember my mum always bringing me back to uni with a full shop. It was the nicest thing you can do for a student on a budget, never mind your child! I would have told her to fuck right off, cheeky git. What business is it if hers? She is just worried it makes her look bad.

Ignore and I’d reconsider that friendship too.

Virgo28 · 10/03/2020 15:07

@Iwalkinmyclothing - DD current university digs was one of the cheapest because it's a 20 min walk from the uni but the rent almost doubles for next year which is why they are moving out. Got a 4 bed house 25 mins away for £95 a week each. I think being up north helps awell because the rates seem a lot lower than some we were looking at down south before she decided which uni.

OP posts:
Strawberrycreamsundae · 10/03/2020 15:07

She’s jealous of the close relationship between you and your DD I reckon.
I used to take surprises and send the odd £10 or £20 in a card whenever I could. Both DCs were well stocked up with essentials and a few treats at the beginning of each term too.
BF’s DM has a very strange attitude.

JellyfishandShells · 10/03/2020 15:08

*University accommodation has become so expensive I'm surprised anyone still uses it8

True, but there is not much alternative in some places, especially for the first year when they don't know any one yet that they could share with in outside accommodation. And for both my DDs, being in halls/college was the basis of friendships and a great support in that first term, along way from home.

Shimy · 10/03/2020 15:08

best friend not boyfriend

Thank goodness.
I'm surprised that the BF didn't stop her mum from making a fool of herself or perhaps to apologise to your DD afterwards. That tells me there's a possibility they share the same thinking, perhaps she thinks you're out of line as well? she must know her mother came over......

CherryValance · 10/03/2020 15:10

When I was going back to university my dad would usually present me with a carrier bag full of sugar sachets he'd purloined from cafes and service stations! But also things like toothpaste, soap, soup, biscuits etc. Plus my mum would make a cake. Perfectly normal (maybe not the sugar sachets!)

redwoodmazza · 10/03/2020 15:11

I still do this when I visit my son. He's 27 now and living in his own flat about 10 miles away. It's all part and parcel of being a Mum, isn't it???

Why on earth should she tell you how to behave regarding your own daughter? Loopy!

Virgo28 · 10/03/2020 15:11

@Dividingthementalload - luckily we do not really have a friendship as such. We never really socialized outside of the school gates, parties etc and once the girls hit secondary school I'd see her even less.

OP posts:
SciFiScream · 10/03/2020 15:11

My Mum died when I was 8. I didn't even know this was a thing to miss. My dad didn't/doesn't do things like that.

I'm taking notes so I can do for my two!

TinklyLittleLaugh · 10/03/2020 15:11

I did treat my kids to the odd package of goodies, but they tended to prefer hard cash.

Are you sure you DD wouldn’t prefer the same, especially if you are not topping her finances up to the correct level and she is having to work lots of hours. Sometimes a part time job can really impact on grades, depending on how demanding the course is.

Hotels and sightseeing must be costing you a fair bit. Maybe the money would be better given to your DD so that she can work less?

Stinkycatbreath · 10/03/2020 15:13

All I can say is that it is none of her business.

Virgo28 · 10/03/2020 15:14

@Shimy - I have told my DD but she didn't know so BF hasn't said anything to her so I don't know if BFs mum mentioned it.

OP posts:
crazeelala2u · 10/03/2020 15:16

@userxx

:)

PawPatrolMakesMeDrink · 10/03/2020 15:17

She’s bonkers and you sound lovely! If you can’t be kind and thoughtful towards your own children who can you be to?
My mum does things like this sometimes, I’m 34! She bought me a new chopping board the other week as we were chatting about one I saw and liked but would be waiting til payday, so she treated me! It’s lovely!

EverythingChanges321 · 10/03/2020 15:18

You don’t stop being a parent just because they’ve left home.
I think you should post a small care package for the BF seeing as her mum is fucking negligent.