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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Angry message from DD's boyfriends mum

346 replies

richele4 · 16/05/2020 02:17

Background: DD is 19, boyfriend is 20, been together for almost 3 years. When lockdown was announced DD moved out of uni accommodation and in with her boyfriend and his family (mum, dad, brother).

Tonight DD rings me upset and says that she had an argument with boyfriends mum and was told she wasn't welcome to stay there anymore. She asked if could come and stay with us instead (boyfriend included). Don't bash me for this, I know the rules say you can't switch between households but it's my daughter, of course I said yes. Asked what the argument was about and she said that boyfriends mum shouted at her for not doing enough housework and not contributing enough towards shopping. I've never asked how much DD was contributing towards food or bills because she's an adult with a job and can sort that herself. I know that she was paying weekly towards shopping (and getting them discount because she works at Tesco) and also giving some money for rent and bills, I just don't know how much.

DD and boyfriend due to come to ours from tomorrow which is totally fine.

Anyway, I received a message from boyfriends mum saying how disgusted she was with DD's behaviour while she's been living there. Saying that she was messy, waking up in the afternoon, only cooking and cleaning for herself, eating more food than she was paying for... Essentially, "treating the place like a hotel."

Firstly, DD works evenings into the night, often not arriving home until 3 or 4 in the morning, so if she wakes up in the afternoon then it's because she was up half the night? Secondly, DD has always been the cleanest person I know. Her room or bathroom was never untidy when she lived at home and she hated when dishes weren't cleaned immediately after use. As for only cooking and cleaning for herself, if she's working then her mealtimes fit around her hours, it's always been that way.

I find it hard to believe that DD has changed her personality and all her mannerisms in the 8 months it's been since she lived at home. Obviously I will talk to her about it tomorrow because I would hate for my daughter to have been rude and taken someone else's hospitality for granted.

I just want to know if IABU to ignore the message and not get involved? I don't want to cause conflict. I don't feel like I should have received a message from her in the first place, she argued with DD who is an adult, surely it's not my business to get involved in my grown up daughters affairs? I don't believe a lot of what she said in her message either but I suppose I will find out how much of it is true in the weeks to come when they're living with us.

I just don't feel like it's my business to get involved. They're adults and it's between my DD and her boyfriends mum. I've only spoken to her a couple of times over the years. AIBU to ignore it or send something like "I'm sorry, I am not getting involved". Or do you think it's my responsibility as a parent to make sure things get resolved?

OP posts:
redcarbluecar · 16/05/2020 06:10

I wouldn’t suggest saying anything even slightly defensive. Bf’s mum may be an arsehole, may not be, but she’s allowed to decide who she wants living with her. Maybe she thought she could cope with an extra household member, but just couldn’t. It’s good that your DD is out of there. I think @EdwinaMay’s suggestion- basically, thanks for having her- is the most appropriate.

Chicchicchicchiclana · 16/05/2020 06:11

Why did your dd move in with her boyfriend's family in the first place? My dd and her boyfriend are the same ages and have been together a similar length of time. They have had to stay in their respective family homes and not see each other I'm afraid. I wouldn't have been happy to have another adult living here all this time, especially one who does shift work and keeps hours that are out of kilter with the rest of the household. The nature of her work also means that she is putting the whole of that household at a higher risk of infection.

I expect her dp's mother just got sick of having her there for so long.

It's difficult re. responding to the text. As you say, your dd is an adult and this woman should have been communicating with her. I might be inclined to ignore it actually. Or perhaps "Thanks, message received".

pictish · 16/05/2020 06:19

I guess she’s sick of having a houseguest, little niggles have become bigger ones and it has eventually and inevitably erupted.
Maybe living with his family in lockdown wasn’t the best idea.

callmeadoctor · 16/05/2020 06:19

I wouldn't let the boyfriend move in, in any event.

Honeybee85 · 16/05/2020 06:27

YANBU

If she has a problem with your DD she could have called you. Sending a message about this is weird and rude. Don't get involved so don't reply. Involving you in such way means she is only interested in stirring up shit. I would not get involved.

Marsalimay · 16/05/2020 06:28

Why did your dd move in with her boyfriend's family in the first place?

Because they’ve been together three years and didn’t want to be separated, presumably.

I’m wondering what their previous arrangements were.

I wouldn't let the boyfriend move in, in any event.

Why not?

Chicchicchicchiclana · 16/05/2020 06:35

I don't think they were living together? Dd had to move out of university accommodation. Perhaps op can clarify.

TreeTopTim · 16/05/2020 06:37

You don't know what your dd was like when she was living there so I wouldn't reply.

Have you spoken to your dd and he bf about rules and paying their way when they live with you?

Theonewiththecat · 16/05/2020 06:37

I would be tempted to reply ''OK then, we will see how perfect your son is then shall we"

Redred2429 · 16/05/2020 06:43

I would ignore her op she is looking for a fight by the sounds of it

pussycatinboots · 16/05/2020 06:43

Sounds like she's trying to split them up and keep her DS with her whilst letting your DD go home to you.

Alittleshortforaspacepooper · 16/05/2020 06:45

I would completely ignore that message. It's between your daughter and them. I also think it speaks volumes about the mum that she's sent that message to you. I would be really warey of her. Sounds like she might be a bit unhinged...

Bluntness100 · 16/05/2020 06:50

I’d respond, I think ignoring it is rude and it’s highly unlikely your daughter if she was being messy etc is going to tell you. She may well act differently in your home.

They clearly don’t get on and it didn’t work out. It’s not easy having someone else live with you so I imagine this added to it all.

I’d text back and just say thanks for letting me know and leave it there and past that don’t get involved.

FAQs · 16/05/2020 06:52

I’d respond along the lines of @BlackeyedSusan response

Shoxfordian · 16/05/2020 06:57

I wouldn't reply
Wait and ask your daughter her side of it

anothernamechangeagain · 16/05/2020 07:03

Agree with others just saying "thanks for your message, they're coming to stay here now" and leave it at that.

Btw it's not against the rules for people to move house.

guanciale · 16/05/2020 07:05

if the bf is standing by your dd's side it shows how unreasonable that woman is!

Inthepurplerain · 16/05/2020 07:07

The women sounds awful. How dare her slag your daughter off to you.

I would personally respond - she’s 20, works until 3am, has a body clock different to everyone else because of this so of course she’s going to eat at different times and sleep in.
It is not appropriate to slag off my adult daughter to me to make yourself feel more justified.
They’re both here and safe now thank goodness, they may not have had anywhere to go.

Please stick up for your daughter OP. It’s really important that she knows you have her back.

worriedmama1980 · 16/05/2020 07:07

'Thank you for the message' suggests you think it's appropriate she messaged you. What if they stay together for years? Will you be getting texts if she's pissed off at the seating plan for the wedding or what they name your grandchild?

'Thank you for letting me know' suggests you're taking everything she's saying at face value and will deal with it, which is unfair to your daughter.

If you must reply, I'd say something like it think it's best not to get into the issue, they're both adults, but I'm sure you'll be glad to know they're safe here as we were when they were with you'

Though I'd be v tempted to start with something like 'Not really something I want to get drawn into, though I thought DD worked shift work, so a bit confused why it's rude to sleep to the afternoon if you only go to bed in the morning.'

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/05/2020 07:09

I would not ignore the message. Your dd may end up staying with her bf for a very long time and it will be easier for her if you oil the wheels with in laws.

I would thank her for letting you know. Say something along the lines of you appreciate it must be difficult to live with someone, who is working overnight and consequently not keeping the same hours as the rest of the household. Then conclude you look forward to welcoming her ds into your home for a while.

However unreasonable the text, she is doing something, which a lot of people on this thread said they would not. IE put up your teen during lock down. Take it that she was ranting and is looking for recognition.

Reading between the lines, your dd perhaps isn’t making food for everyone else simply because she’s eating at different times. Maybe they’ve been leaving her prepped food?

In fairness, you really don’t know if she’s doing anything wrong or not. It depends on the personality of the mother. She may be behaving impeccably as I did when I stayed with family for a few weeks and still got screamed at or she may be behaving like MrsHoons SIL.

KatherineJaneway · 16/05/2020 07:09

I would reply, just to be polite, and say 'Thank you for letting me know'. That way you have not been rude and not replied but what you have said is non committal.

You only have to look at some MN threads to see how differently people can live and what different standards people have. Her boyfriend's mum may never have lived with a shift worker and had no idea how it can disrupt a household's rhythm for example.

I inferred that she thought having your dd there would mean she has someone there to help with the cooking and cleaning but, with her shift hours, dd just cooked and cleaned up after herself and the mum had to do more than she had expected.

I would however make sure you have rules for them living in your house.

Ditheringdooley · 16/05/2020 07:10

Agree with people above- don’t say anything or rely just saying thanks for getting in touch. Hope to see you when this is all over or something.

It sounds like they are being completely unreasonable but being generous to the MIL, she probably sees the impact of her son and your daughter on her home (much more food being eaten, more mess, just people around) and puts it all down to your dad because it wouldn’t have been like that when just son at home previously. People forget that in the past people are quite a bit of food outside the house and spent time outside so lots are shocked at empty cupboards and more dishes and mess. Just mean and short sighted to blame your daughter.

Completely unreasonable to kick them out.

Good luck and well done you for taking them in.

Mummyoflittledragon · 16/05/2020 07:11

Cross post with worriedmama. Good point about thank you for letting me know. You could just scrap that sentence and say the rest?

dontdisturbmenow · 16/05/2020 07:11

I find it hard to believe that DD has changed her personality and all her mannerisms in the 8 months it's been since she lived at home
But you don't find it hard that she would make this up? Why would she do so?

Does she work full time at Tesco and all evening/night shifts? Or could it be that she does a couple of shifts but still stay in bed until afternoon even when she's off?

Re. Messiness, maybe his mum has different standards than you. As for the money, even though she is a working adult, it would have been reasonable to at least ask your daughter how much she was paying and frankly get in contact with the family just to thank them for looking after her during this difficult time, just the same should have been expected if he'd come to you from the start.

I find it sad that you've already made up your mind that that woman is being totally unreasonable after looking for your daughter for over 6 weeks when she has no reason whatsoever to lie about your daughters behaviour.

I wouldn't respond to the message but call her to discuss. I would also not have her son over unless things were made very clear about rules and finances.

Avacadoandtoast · 16/05/2020 07:11

I would absolutely reply, but be the bigger person and as most people have said above be polite, ‘hi X, Thanks for letting me know. that’s DD/Boyf arrived here with us now. Hope all is well with you, OP.’
Friendly, acknowledges the message, but doesn’t get sucked in or let her know your feelings on the matter!

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