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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not continue to buy my exH's family presents?

254 replies

GlummyMcGlummerson · 05/05/2020 20:06

ExH and I have been split up for nearly a year. We’re leading separate lives in separate cities whilst trying to co-parent our 7yo and 3yo.

When we were together I did ALL the “life admin”, even in regard to his family - bought all presents, RSVPd to weddings and organised hotels, outfits etc, sorted us going to family parties, everything. I did it begrudgingly because I always loved (most of) his family and otherwise nothing would get done.

The kids came back from a week at his on Sunday, the same day as their cousin’s (exSIL’s son) 7th birthday. I commented on her Facebook post saying happy birthday Harry, but I didn’t check if the kids had spoken to him as, by then time they got home at 5.30pm, it had gone from my mind. May or may not be relevant - “Harry” is very spoilt and indulged, to a ridiculous degree, Ex and I used to refer to him between ourselves as Little Lord Fauntleroy. There would be an expectation from everyone to make a big deal about his birthday.

Yesterday I got a text from exSIL saying that Harry is very upset as he feels his cousins forgot his birthday - they didn’t get a call, a card or a present, and she “expected better of me” Hmm. She knows they came home in the evening and Harry was expecting a call when they got back. Now since Ex and I split up, I’ve maintained a good relationship with his family - mainly because I always got on with them, especially his mum and dad, and there really was no need for any animosity. But his siblings were always hard work and I wasn’t sorry to see the back of them. So I simply replied “speak to your brother” and thanked my lucky stars I didn’t have to please her any more.

Anyway today I got a text fro exMIL - who BTW I adore and she’s been amazingly supportive since the split. She said exSIL is obviously upset because Harry’s birthday was a bit naff in isolation and that was compounded by no contact from his favourite cousins - which she acknowledges is exH’s fault entirely. However she’s basically gone on to ask if I could carry on getting presents for their family members - on behalf on the DC and/or me rather than from ex - as she feels that otherwise there’s gonna be no presents at all and a lot of upset.

My first thought was “no fucking way”. Aside from the fact that I don’t want to continue to facilitate exH’s goal of being the biggest manchild in existence, I’m a single mum now and this could cost a fortune! His family is huge and even if I spent just £10 each on cousins, aunties, uncles and grandparents, for Xmas and birthdays that would be £400 a year!

However, she’s right about one thing - if I said no, there’d be no presents for them ever again. ExH has the unfortunate affliction of being lazy, selfish and tight fisted all at the same time. He’s not hapless or forgetful - but buying presents means taking more than 4 seconds to do something for someone else, whilst parting with his money, and he won’t do it. And he wouldn’t be ashamed about it either (you can see why he’s an Ex). His mum and dad especially deserve better than that. I’m not exaggerating when I say I’ll be amazed if DD gets anything from him for her birthday in a couple of weeks. So if I do say no, then my in laws will get nothing and my DC will be in the horrible position of being the only grandkids not to buy granny, grandad etc presents at Christmas - something they scarcely notice now but will do before long.

Good people of MN - what should I do?!

OP posts:
HaveAtEm · 06/05/2020 10:02

@1forsorrow nobody is suggesting that the OP does not show appreciation for the children’s grandparents ffs! Her post was about her SIL complaining that she hadn’t bought a gift for the spoilt cousin...and being asked to continue buying gifts for her lazy arse EX’s **extended family because he’s a twat and won’t do it 🤦‍♀️ The OP has already said she will of course continue to do so for grandparents. Keep up with the thread 👍

Scarlettpixie · 06/05/2020 10:10

I split up from my H 2 years ago and still buy Xmas presents for my BIL, his girlfriend and her kids. I send them from me and DS. I tell ex what I have got, ask him to pass them on and leave it up to him if he buys as well. He is always skint so it’s hit and miss. They buy for me and DS so it seems only fair. Plus I still consider them family.

I send cards to cousins (who I consider friends but we stopped buying gifts for each other’s kids a while back). His parents are deceased.

In my situation it isn’t a big expense but yours is different. Could you maybe just buy his parents since you get on with them so well?

FeedMeSantiago · 06/05/2020 10:13

You have left this circus and these are no longer your monkeys. Even if they were your monkeys still, his life admin is not your responsibility.

I have been with DH since we were teenagers. He remembers his family birthdays and arranges cards and presents, just as I remember my family birthdays and arrange cards and presents. Men are just as capable as women! My vagina doesn't confer special present buying powers.

I bet OP's ex won't be helping her DC get her birthday and Christmas presents.

If MIL cares that much then she and FIL can arrange the presents from your DC.

1forsorrow · 06/05/2020 10:16

@HaveAtEm maybe it is you who should keep up? Lots of people telling OP not to buy for in laws as it isn't her responsibility. OP said, So if I do say no, then my in laws will get nothing and my DC will be in the horrible position of being the only grandkids not to buy granny, grandad etc presents at Christmas so I think she was including PIL in not buying presents.

Otterseatpuffinsdontthey · 06/05/2020 10:24

Q

antisupermum · 06/05/2020 10:46

Its incredibly hard navigating the questions that children have about the no-hoper other parent. My situation is different in that my ExH is an abusive alcoholic, and the kids have witnessed his extreme ways. But even so, my daughter (11) thinks the sun shines out of him. She would sail me down the river for him without a backward glance, which is hard to admit or know.

For years I gave the BS answers about why he is the way he is: "daddy isnt well but he loves you SO much" type stuff, but now that she is older and the questions have got tougher, I am having to be a lot more honest with her, as it is actually affecting her mental health to not understand why such a "good guy" keeps failing her. "If he is such a good guy why doesn't he love her" type questions. So, I've had to be quite blunt and say that yes, technically his addiction is an illness but to be frank, he isn't a nice man and he hasn't been for a very long time. His addiction makes him incredibly selfish and that sadly, it would be better if she expected nothing from him. Its a horrible conversation to have with a child, but it really was needed as the BS 'nicey nicey' approach only raised more issues and confusion as the years went on.

Obviously, depending on your daughters age the 'nicey nicey' approach is probably the best way to go about it for now. My point is that, as they get older, they do notice things and they do ask harder questions, and the truth is sometimes the only way forward.

blubberball · 06/05/2020 10:52

Don't do it. You still acknowledged and said Happy birthday, that is enough.

I get on well with exh sisters and exmil. Still get them things from the dc. But we are in regular contact any way. If we didn't get along so well, I wouldn't do it.

HaveAtEm · 06/05/2020 11:04

@1forsorrow goodness! She says further down that she WILL continue to buy for them! Maybe you ought to read the whole thread 🤦‍♀️

Iwalkinmyclothing · 06/05/2020 11:08

So if I do say no, then my in laws will get nothing and my DC will be in the horrible position of being the only grandkids not to buy granny, grandad etc presents at Christmas

Purely to support my children's relationships with their grandparents (and any other relatives with whom they are particularly close) I think I would buy presents for the dc to give to the grandparents at Xmas. If my dc asked specifically to give gifts to particular cousins etc I would try and do that also, but I would not do it as default.

CrazyTimesAreOccurring · 06/05/2020 11:10

"buy for the grandparents" is going to become the new "cancel the cheque" isnt it Grin

StripeyDeckchair · 06/05/2020 11:13

Dear MIL
Whilst ExH and I were together I undertook all the present buying for the family. However in my changed financial circumstances post split this is no longer possible. I think it is better that ExH maintains the relationships with his family and I do with mine, including all present buying and giving.
Best wishes

Iwalkinmyclothing · 06/05/2020 11:46

Also, having had a little think, it's not bloody surprising that your ex is this way is it, if his own mother's response to your SIL complaining about this is to try and get you to compensate for her son's shittiness. How many other times over the years did his parents excuse him of any responsibilities and get others to pick up the slack, I wonder?

netstaller · 06/05/2020 11:50

Don't mug yourself off OP, it's his family! Don't let his mum enable his shitty behaviour by making birthdays your responsibility. Be strong and polite, but reply with a firm no!

Fromthebirdsnest · 06/05/2020 12:12

I would probably get small gifts for grandparents at Xmas you can make truffles very cheaply and do those for adult gifts and maybe for children get a selection box at Xmas and a book (you.can buy a nice book for under £5 ) on birthday but not do adult birthdays .. We don't do extended adult family birthdays we have the money but it gets ridiculous the amount of presents you need to buy .. We do family hampers for Xmas and that makes it much easier x

LannieDuck · 06/05/2020 13:01

My initial reaction was 'of course not - no more wifework now you're not married!'.

But if the grandparents have a good relationship with your kids, it might be nice for the kids if they gave granny/grandad a card on their birthdays. I think that's as far as I would go.

his parents have already asked what I'd like as a voucher so I know I'll get something

You could consider asking for Amazon vouchers, and then saving them to buy reciprocal birthday or xmas gifts for his parents from the kids (if you decide to do gifts)? That way at least your net outlay would be zero...

Iloveacurry · 06/05/2020 13:52

If I was you, I’d just buy presents for the kids grandparents. You have a good relationship with them. They obviously know how useless their son is, so perhaps suggest to them, that they should be picking this up and purchasing the gifts from the kids to extended family. You’re not in the financial position to do so.

1forsorrow · 06/05/2020 13:53

@HaveAtEm and yet she is still getting messages telling her not to buy them presents. Maybe you should suggest they read the thread or on the other hand you could let other people have a discussion on a discussion site. I realise that is a novel idea for some but it is worth trying.

ShagMeRiggins · 06/05/2020 14:02

@GlummyMcGlummerson I know the thread has moved on and you’ve received great advice, but I wanted to take a moment to thank you for this sentence on the OP:

I don’t want to continue to facilitate exH’s goal of being the biggest manchild in existence

That absolutely made my day. It is a thing of beauty, that sentence.

Idontwantthis · 06/05/2020 14:47

Oh heck no

StCharlotte · 06/05/2020 14:49

He turned out a selfish shit because of her parenting.

Actually that was my thought way back on page 1.

cleanasawhistle · 06/05/2020 14:59

I wouldnt buy the presents either OP,the main reason being you can't it.

This reminds me.....I never got a birthday card off my MIL . Never thought anything of it .But I always remembered her birthday.
At her house one day and she mentioned a present she had bought for SIL boyfriend. Couple of months later she mentioned taking out other son and his girlfriend for lunch because it was the girlfriends birthday.

So I said to my husband when its your mams birthday I will leave it up to you.
Husbands sister turns up and says to me....you forgot mams birthday...I replied no I didnt it was last week....well she didnt get a card....I replied thats because I didnt send her one.
But it was me that SIL approached

cleanasawhistle · 06/05/2020 14:59

you cant afford it

Ariela · 06/05/2020 15:01

@GlummyMcGlummerson
Kids christmas present to their Dad every year: they choose a calendar and they write in all the dates.
Your 'Job' is done. Your kids will know when everyones birthday is and your DH will know he's forgotten to organise presents. Win win.

TooTrusting · 06/05/2020 15:09

I like Calmdownjanet's message. It's the right tone. But I would add that there are x relatives to buy for and that would cost me at least £x every year. I just can't afford that. If you could persuade your son to pay me that on top of the child maintenance he is paying then I'd happily make the effort to buy for the cousins because I am very fond of you all and want our good relationship to continue. I'm sure the adults would understand that I can't carry on buying for them (this doesn't include you!)

TooTrusting · 06/05/2020 15:15

I agree with PPs you shouldn't have to do this. But they are the DCs' family even if not yours. I'm a pleaser and would do this to maintain good relations. But I'd certainly limit it to the relatives who are children and not the adults. Your PILs sound lovely, you are lucky there.

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