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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To not want a weekend away that includes my DM's partner?

66 replies

Wiggleinherwalk · 02/03/2021 16:40

I've not seen my DM (74) since Feb '20 - we live different ends of the UK (5hr drive) and due to both her and her DP having medical conditions, and him needing a big operation at the end of last year, they've been doing maximum shielding. They both have their own houses but she's basically moved in with him, which I guess is nice as otherwise it would have been pretty miserable and lonely...

They've now both had their first injections and my DM has suggested meeting up when lockdown lifts in May/June - I'm due with my first baby in mid-July so it would be to see her when I have my bump, and before we're in the chaos of baby's arrival.

When she first suggested meeting she said she'd love to treat me to a weekend away somewhere mid-way between us, could stay somewhere nice, just a very chilled catch up. Thought it was a lovely idea and was delighted. However, she then said that the invite was for me & DH and would be her and her partner...

There is quite a bit of back story with her DP but briefly I don't like him, I don't trust him, and by choice I wouldn't spend any time at all with him. When they first got to know each other it was as friends (Mum had just lost my DDad, he'd lost his DW), but although he was seeing someone else he kept trying it on with my mum anyway, told her some horrific things he'd done with other women (incl an event he told her about that I'd say is rape). He's made some inappropriate comments to me (he's mid-70s, I'm early-30s), he's walked in on me in the bathroom. Last time I stayed with her it was without my DH and I put my suitcase and a chair behind my bedroom door as he was staying in her house and I didn't feel safe that he wouldn't 'accidentally' open the door while I was changing etc.

As well as thinking he's morally disgusting he's also just horrible to be around - he doesn't listen or join in conversations, you'll be chatting in a group while he's on his phone and he'll just cut across with something completely unrelated and derail the conversation. If he's bored he makes random noises/humming/whistling. He's also still recovering from his op, so can't really walk far or do much, so it would completely change the dynamic and it would be Mum looking after him/making sure he's OK, and make catching up almost impossible.

There's also an awful dynamic between him and my DH, as (rightly) my DH thinks he's disgusting, gets super irritated being in a room with him, and that my DM is basically an idiot for being with him. So it's super stressful trying to be in the middle of that as well!

Mum knows I don't like him. But when she found the suitcase blocking the door her response was 'I'm sorry you feel like that', when I asked if he could just go to his own house occasionally (like be there for breakfast, then come back for dinner) so we could actually talk she thinks I'm being mean and the implication was "you don't have to come then". She's put me in awkward situations where she invites him to things (like my birthday dinner [4 of us, so not a big group to hide in]), and then when I've said I don't want him there that I'm then cruel and guilt trips me. Want to suggest a weekend just the two of us, but from previous things I don't think she'll go for it...

But on the other hand, she's 74, I've not seen her in over a year, and she seems to want him there... And with the pandemic you become aware that you can just lose people in the blink of an eye, so if I say 'no, I'm not going if he's there' and then something happens I'll regret a missed opportunity to have seen her?

YABU - Suck it up - it's only a weekend, be civil and you can just try and pick out some good bits despite him being there
YANBU - Say you can't face a weekend with him and suggest either a weekend just the two of you or politely decline the invite

OP posts:
Wiggleinherwalk · 02/03/2021 16:41

Sorry for the long post! Just didn't want to drip feed why I feel so strongly that I don't want to be anywhere near him!

OP posts:
JoyOrbison · 02/03/2021 16:46

No way. I think your mum is pushing it be all of you so that any attendance is seen as slowly opening the gates for this to be the norm.

Long term you need to think about when you have the baby (congratulations!) will your mum want to visit, will you be visiting her, how will you deal with this?

There will be posters much better equipped to guide you through future potential issues and it might be wise to think of how you're going to address the long term visits etc.

No way would I go, your mum knows the issues and valid concerns but won't arrange to see you without her dp - in that case she has made a choice, and lives with the repercussions that choice brings.

NurseButtercup · 02/03/2021 16:46

I would suggest a mother daughter weekend, don't mention your disdain for her dp and see what she says.

YoniAndGuy · 02/03/2021 16:47

Nope.

'DH knows how much I want a proper catch up with you, just mum and daughter, after so long, so he wouldn't come. I'm sure PervyPete will understand too, so just us two this time mum.'

roarfeckingroarr · 02/03/2021 16:48

He sounds awful and he will be even more irritating when you're heavily pregnant, plus expect inappropriate comments relating to your pregnancy / birth by the sounds of things. I'm not sure what you can do though, except request a weekend / day just you and your mum? Does your husband'a dislike of him make it more difficult for you? Or can he keep it to himself, be supportive and understand the partner is an evil to be endured so you can spend time with your mum?

Dragonfly3 · 02/03/2021 16:48

He sounds hideous and I understand why you don’t want him there. Could you ask your mum if you can do a girl’s catch up and leave the chaps at home? If she says no then I’d just suck it up. My mum died 5 years ago and I’d give anything to have some more time with her, even putting up with a ghastly partner. Bear in mind he may be the type to give your mum a hard time for wanting to do things without him.

Downthefarm · 02/03/2021 16:53

I don't know about the weekend but definitely I'd call him out quite publicly on any dodgy behaviour or comments.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 02/03/2021 16:55

I wouldn’t feel comfortable staying somewhere with this man. As you haven’t seen your DM for so long I think it would be fine to say you want to spend time just the two of you.

Agree with pp saying think about how to handle future visits after the baby is here. Presumably you don’t want him coming to stay in your house... so don’t set a precedent that you’re happy to be around him.

JemimaTiggywinkle · 02/03/2021 16:57

Also agree that she might not actually want him there... she might be being pressured into not being allowed to do things without him.

In which case it’s more important that she gets some time away from him.

TheCatWithTheFluffyTail · 02/03/2021 16:58

Say no but you’d be happy to meet up with just her at some point if she wanted that.

Sittingonabench · 02/03/2021 17:00

Use the pregnancy as an excuse not to have him. Say you’ll feel self conscious as it is and uncomfortable so really you just want a hug from your man not a full on family affair.

Sittingonabench · 02/03/2021 17:00

Mam not man

NoSquirrels · 02/03/2021 17:04

“Mum, I’m so looking forward to it being just us - who knows when we’ll be able to do that again with the baby coming. DH knows I wanted a weekend just with you and is happy with that. Is it OK if it’s just you and me this time?”

RunningFromInsanity · 02/03/2021 17:10

It’s not up to you to decide who your mum dates, or to ask her to ask him to leave her house when you visit.

You say she puts you in awkward situations by inviting him but have you though how awkward it must be for her, with you making it so blatant that you don’t like her life partner?

How would you feel if she constantly excluded your DH, or asked him to leave the house when she visits?

katy1213 · 02/03/2021 17:14

Stand firm; it's a girly weekend or nothing. Also, you don't want to be setting any precedent for him to be visiting when your baby arrives. Don't mince your words: you're welcome - but you know we don't like him. And fingers crossed he'll kick the bucket soon!

candycane222 · 02/03/2021 17:18

If my mum really disliked my dh then it would be awkward and sad, but I don't think I'd have the right to force him on her though? Id probably go along with it and see her, but also probably less often. I woyiwant my dh to be subject to meeting her in the gkare of hef disapproval though - id want to avoid the worse awkwardnessl of that. I suppose if l reallh couldn't bear what mh mum has said to me about him, I might decide i didn't want to see my mum at all ;it would be up to her to decide how to react.

Somethingkindaoooo · 02/03/2021 17:18

I clicked YABU because as pp said, you have no right to dictate his visits at your mums house.

Perhaps she is very lonely, and has made a bad choice with this one, but it isn't for you to comment. Just support her,like you hope she would do if she didn't like your husband.

Perhaps she invited him because she has lost her confidence with travelling?

candycane222 · 02/03/2021 17:19

(in reply to running)

candycane222 · 02/03/2021 17:20

And apologies re typing, screen badly in need of a clean i think!

Justmuddlingalong · 02/03/2021 17:25

Your DM knows how you feel about him. She knows you want to see her and by inviting him, she's putting you in a really awkward position. I would absolutely put it back on her by suggesting it's just the 2 of you. If she refuses, then you have every right to decline the invitation.

Summersun2020 · 02/03/2021 17:30

Yep go with the “girls only” angle-hopefully this won’t get her back up. I wouldn’t go with him either, OP, he sounds disgusting.
Flowers

Sunflowergirl1 · 02/03/2021 17:37

Yes suggest the girlie weekend but if not accepted make it clear how you feel so she knows how things will play out once the baby is born

Justforphoto · 02/03/2021 17:44

Thing is though that your mother is the one who suggested and is paying for the weekend, you can either accept or decline not make your own stipulations, yes you can say you'd like a weekend just the 2 of you but that isn't what she is offering.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 02/03/2021 18:06

@NoSquirrels

“Mum, I’m so looking forward to it being just us - who knows when we’ll be able to do that again with the baby coming. DH knows I wanted a weekend just with you and is happy with that. Is it OK if it’s just you and me this time?”
This sounds like a good approach to me. Whilst you shouldn’t have to pretend to like someone when you’re uncomfortable being around him, you’ve already raised your concerns - there’s not much more you can do as yet. If you can get some time alone with your mother, without either partner, it might take the pressure off.
StillCoughingandLaughing · 02/03/2021 18:07

@Justforphoto

Thing is though that your mother is the one who suggested and is paying for the weekend, you can either accept or decline not make your own stipulations, yes you can say you'd like a weekend just the 2 of you but that isn't what she is offering.
Why can’t she ask? The mother is entitled to say no, but unless the OP asks, she’ll never know.