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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:
mumsonthenet · 16/05/2020 10:25

ignore the messages
Would responding be worthwhile when she is obviously has a fixed mind set on your daughter
Why did she text you about her hang ups when she is 19 not 12.
Definitely no thanks for letting me know texts, do not let your life be part of the drama

Blueroses99 · 16/05/2020 10:27

I like crusheddaffodils lighthearted message sticking up for your daughter while accepting that things may have changed. I would add something about night shift though.

To my ears, “Thank you for letting me know” puts you into parent mode of having to discipline your child, which is completely inappropriate.

omgggggggggggg · 16/05/2020 10:30

Fucking hell. She didn't have to start on DD if she had a problem. She could have spoke about it like an adult if she had anything to say.

Deffo have your DD &BF stay with you.

Hope everything works out ok

FudgeBrownie2019 · 16/05/2020 10:34

I wouldn't reply. Not to be rude, mostly just because DD and her boyfriend are fully functional adults and their fallouts with inlaws are nothing to do with anyone else.

The boyfriends Mum clearly wanted to rant and vent - she's done that. You don't need to be drawn in and allow it to escalate in any way.

Neepers · 16/05/2020 10:34

Christmas is going to be interesting...

AgentJohnson · 16/05/2020 10:36

Acknowledge her message but don’t enter into a dialogue. However, I wouldn’t have invited the bf, lockdown is going to be wound down in next few weeks, surely they could live without seeing each other for that long.

Make your expectations very clear and write it down so that there aren’t any misunderstandings.

Splitsunrise · 16/05/2020 10:39

Yeah I wouldn’t reply. And talk to DD first anyway.

pilates · 16/05/2020 10:41

I would ignore the message

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/05/2020 10:45

It's hard having someone who hasn't been brought up with your family move into a family home I think. It's different when it's a group of folk all moved in together rather than moving into a family dynamic.

Personally, I'd just ignore the email.

DS and his girlfriend have been separated since lock down and he's asked if she can come and stay for a few days when the rules allow. I'm fine with that but having a "permanent" extra in the house I'd imagine would be quite difficult on both sides.

AdelaideK · 16/05/2020 10:50

Of course the mum is pissed off at her son and taking it out on the daughter Hmm

It couldn't possibly be the daughter's fault. I shouldn't be surprised at so many posters falling over themselves to blame the son.

LoveSummerLife · 16/05/2020 10:57

Personally I would defend my daughter. But don’t do it when you’re angry.
I would send a calm message saying I will discuss the issue’s raised with my daughter but as I understand it she works until early morning so it’s understandable that she has a different sleeping and eating pattern and my daughter has always been a very tidy person when she lived here before. Thank you for accommodating them for the last x weeks but it seems it was not a good fit so they are welcome to stay here.
Then no further engagement.

Northernparent68 · 16/05/2020 10:58

I have not read the whole thread but it’s possibly a case of different standards, or maybe your daughter behaves differently when she’s away from you.

saraclara · 16/05/2020 11:01

Ignoring the message gives her ammunition to think less of you. But don't use the word 'thanks' anywhere. Your daughter is an adult so you don't have to thank anyone for doing anything for her.

"ok, sorry it didn't work out, happy to take a turn in having them both to stay"

slipperywhensparticus · 16/05/2020 11:02

I would probably say thanks for the heads up as they will make up with her anyway so your best not getting involved

OhCaptain · 16/05/2020 11:02

I shouldn't be surprised at so many posters falling over themselves to blame the son.

Who has blamed the son?

lotusbell · 16/05/2020 11:03

I'd also be tempted not to tell your daughter what his mum said, as it may result in her going on the defensive and driving a wedge even further between them. She will have her own version of events and will be probably be forthcoming in telling you her side. Only then would I reply to mum and perhaps stay neutral, unless your opinion changes once they've been living with you for a bit. Also think the boyfriend should just stay at home although this may cause issues with your daughter and him if it looks like he's taking his mums side.

sunflowersandtulips50 · 16/05/2020 11:03

I think you need to wait to speak to your DD and her BF before responding.

tara66 · 16/05/2020 11:04

Just reply ''OK thanks'' - which is totally meaningless but somehow guilelessly annoying. As someone said - think of the next few Xmases and have excuses prepared.

TheSmelliestHouse · 16/05/2020 11:07

Thanks for letting me know is a great answer. But I wouldn't hash it out with your daughter. Let them move in and set your ground rules for her and her bf from the start. Then just deal with things that are an issue for you if they arise. They might not!

HostessTrolley · 16/05/2020 11:07

I think I’d mention it to your daughter once they get to yours and just move on. If you feel the need to reply, just say thanks for having her and hope you enjoy some peace and quiet.

My d and boyf have been together for the whole lockdown, they spent 4 weeks at his family home and have been at ours for the rest. Both households don’t have anyone who’s high risk or symptomatic, and are all working at home so very little outside contact other than food shopping. They’re similar age to OP and have been together two years - mental health wise they’re better off together than apart. There are minor irritations but that’s to be expected with adults who are usually out at work/away at uni all living under each other’s feet 24/7. We haven’t dealt with the money bit as they funded her to stay with them, then we funded him to stay with us - the same arrangement applied to holidays last year, we just saw it as having an extra family member along.

I know people would judge and disagree with our arrangement but they’ve had their first year of uni chopped off, they’re happy and productive when they’re together, and it’s less stressful for the remaining members of both families if they were apart. She was actually at his house when the lockdown was announced and was invited to just stay there. It’s not adding additional risk to anyone else 🤷‍♀️

F0RESTGRUMP · 16/05/2020 11:14

Just reply “OK”.

It’s all that’s needed and it’ll annoy her. Win win.

RadioactiveHead · 16/05/2020 11:15

If the boyfriends mum is anything like a lot of the women on here, then she’s been cooking 3 times a day, putting 3 dishwasher loads on, more washing, more ironing, more shopping and generally being treated like an unpaid housekeeper. Also, I find that men who usually are good in their own place, become childlike around their mum. My DH suddenly had a personality transplant at his mums where he sits on the sofa and lets her bring him his favourite food.

Your DD May have helped out a bit, but maybe his mum has been run ragged by them all. I doubt looking after your DDs boyfriend is going to be much fun over the next few months.

AriadnesFilament · 16/05/2020 11:17

“I’m not getting involved because she’s an adult and this is between her, you, and your son, in the same way that any problems that may arise while they’re here would be between us and them and we wouldn’t involve you. Regards, OP”

AriadnesFilament · 16/05/2020 11:22

You weren’t there, you’ve no idea what’s actually led to this and I’d be loathe to get dragged into mediating an adult version ‘he said/she said’.

All you can do is talk to your daughter about appropriate behaviour in someone else’s house if she raises the issue with you, help her if she asks for advice with any fallout, set expectations about how things will work in your house and enforce them 🤷🏻‍♀️

Everything else isn’t your business, in the same way it wouldn’t be if she fell out with a housemate at uni.

WaxOnFeckOff · 16/05/2020 11:22

I'd also add that food prices seem to have shot up, so she may be blaming her rising bill on the extra person when the reality is that her bill would be up 20% regardless. If i wasn't struggling I wouldn't have been charging anyway. I don't charge my own student DC and I can afford to feed an extra so I'd rather they kept any money they earned for themselves, there are no pockets in a shroud.

Do you intend to charge the boyfriend OP?

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