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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Raging at crazy-rude party guest! Talk me down ladies.

282 replies

WoolyMammoth55 · 24/05/2021 20:15

Ok it's long, forgive me - need to unburden!

My DS's 5th birthday was this past weekend. We'd been hoping for a gathering in the garden in nice weather but the forecast was right and it was tipping down so we did a very small indoors thing instead. Shame because his last birthday was in full lockdown so had hoped for a nicer party but hey ho. We knew it was weather dependent so only invited the indoors-scenario people, but were hoping to add on others if it was sunny, and couldn't.

We have smaller kids including a very young baby, so the morning of the party was hectic. Trying to make the place look nice and get presentable while unwrapping presents and wrangling the kids - we could of used help from several nannies and cleaners! Kept on top of the downstairs but upstairs was a disaster zone. But DS had a nice morning, which was obviously the main thing.

DS's best bud has separated parents who are amicable. I am friends with the mum and have had playdates at her house, but only know the dad in passing. He's been to our house a few times but just to collect his son - we've never been invited to his. He didn't make it onto the tiny indoors guest list, but he called me in the morning - I was worried it was to say his DS couldn't come, which would have ruined it for mine! - but instead he was wrangling an invite. In the moment under pressure I said yes, that he could swing by towards the end - sort of thought he wanted to see the kids enjoying themselves or whatever.

So here's the thing: having been a CF and invited himself, does he behave well? HELL NO. Came earlier than I expected and totally empty-handed, not even a card for my son. Then get this - disappeared upstairs with the boys (who I'd told 'no going upstairs', but before he came) and stayed up there for ages, until eventually his ex went upstairs to get them down. No way he didn't get an eye-full of my dirty laundry (literally).

I am so furious and mortified. My unmade bed, my discarded towel, my nightie! I realise in a perfect world it would have been tidy but honestly at one point I didn't think I'd have time to shower...

We have had the situation at other play dates when the kids run off upstairs and I would NEVER follow without asking - what was he thinking?

Since then he's distinguished himself again by being the only guest not to say thanks for a lovely party. Nada from this guy. Unless he was raised by wolves then there's no mitigating circs that I can see and I think I might have to say something if I'm going to have to keep being civil to him.

Am I missing something? Is it not really that bad? And is it pointless saying anything? Urgh just want to throw up thinking about him poking around my bedroom!

OP posts:
SmidgenofaPigeon · 24/05/2021 20:30

So- the mum of your son’s friends
brought the boy to your house for the party- with a card and present presumably?

The dad came after, but didn’t bring a separate card or present (because the boy had already handed these over? Why would your son need two cards from the same family?)

He then went upstairs to supervise the son playing up there? Presumably he didn’t go up on his own to chill out up there.

He hasn’t been in touch to say thanks for...what, exactly?

I think you need to get a grip, honestly.

Grendalsmum · 24/05/2021 20:35

In the kindest way possible - chill! I know you're cringing at what you think he thought but in the grand scheme of things - who cares what he (maybe) thinks? Did your son have a nice party? If the answer is yes then job done. Forget the rest.

Goawayquickly · 24/05/2021 20:36

You sound a bit dramatic

Geordieoldgirl · 24/05/2021 20:36

I would feel really annoyed if that had happened to me , OP. I think If you say ‘No going upstairs’ that means everyone stays downstairs! It amazes me that people think they can do what they like in other people’s houses.

JellyTumble · 24/05/2021 20:38

@SmidgenofaPigeon

So- the mum of your son’s friends brought the boy to your house for the party- with a card and present presumably?

The dad came after, but didn’t bring a separate card or present (because the boy had already handed these over? Why would your son need two cards from the same family?)

He then went upstairs to supervise the son playing up there? Presumably he didn’t go up on his own to chill out up there.

He hasn’t been in touch to say thanks for...what, exactly?

I think you need to get a grip, honestly.

Absolutely this. YABU.
VeganCheesePlease · 24/05/2021 20:38

You say he was uninvited but you said yes which means that he was-albeit last minute - invited. You say they are separated but amicable but you expected two cards and presents. Don't get me wrong he could have picked something up but given his child had already handed over a present, I don't see a massive deal. I think you're being a bit OTT here. I don't get the massive big deal about going upstairs - if it was an issue, why not tell him at the start?

Seesawmummadaw · 24/05/2021 20:39

What was he doing upstairs? That’s a bit weird.

Did the mum bring a card?

JellyTumble · 24/05/2021 20:39

@Geordieoldgirl

I would feel really annoyed if that had happened to me , OP. I think If you say ‘No going upstairs’ that means everyone stays downstairs! It amazes me that people think they can do what they like in other people’s houses.
She didn’t say no going upstairs to the dad. That was said to the kids before he came so he had no idea.
DysmalRadius · 24/05/2021 20:40

Why didn't you call the boys down rather than leaving them up there? I can see how he was supposed to know that you didn't want the children up there since you said you had told the boys before he had arrived?

And I'm not sure what you mean by wrangling an invite? You mean he was trying to persuade you to invite him to a five year old's birthday party? As a lone adult with a child who was already there but with their other parent? That's quite an unusual thing to do.

Flowerlane · 24/05/2021 20:41

Confused did the mum bring a card when she brought the son? If yes then unsure why you are expecting a separate card/gift? That’s strange to be honest.

Maybe going upstairs to watch the kids play is a tad unusual I agree with you there.

AllThatFancyPaintsAsFair · 24/05/2021 20:41

No adult with a normal sense of boundaries goes upstairs in the house of someone they don't know without express permission and definitely doesn't stay there for an extended period

I'd be cross too, not too bothered about the card aspect or explicit thank you though.

CanofCant · 24/05/2021 20:43

From the sounds of it, the mum and dad aren't together. So was it the mum's weekend with her son and the dad wanted to come along too?

Tk5787338 · 24/05/2021 20:43

How do you know he was in your bedroom? I would assume that he was in your DSs bedroom with them? I think it’s a bit rude to go upstairs without asking but I’m confused why you didn’t call them all down immediately.
Did the mum bring a card and present? I don’t sign cards from myself, they’re from my DC so it wouldn’t occur to me to bring one in that scenario

NewMatress · 24/05/2021 20:44

I'm not sure I'd have allowed someone I didn't know to supervise children upstairs in my house and if you'd said no upstairs to the children, why on earth didn't you just tell him that, but the rest is bonkers.

Librariesmakeshhhhappen · 24/05/2021 20:44

So the mum brought the boy? Why did he come again? It was nothing to do with him. Not an adult's party.

1Morewineplease · 24/05/2021 20:46

Why should you get two gifts from the same child?
You'd already said 'no' to upstairs to the children, yet you effectively let them go upstairs. The child's father merely joined his child as , you didn't call the children downstairs.
I don't understand your AIBU.

HintofVintagePink · 24/05/2021 20:48

It sounds like you went to lots of effort to make it a special day for your DS. I bet he had a blast!
In the kindest way, you need to let this go! As PP said, why would you expect two cards/gifts from the same child/family?

How would the Dad have known you told the boys not to go upstairs if you told them before he arrived?

Perhaps he arrived early to spend some time with his son and enjoy seeing him play with DS.

I think your embarrassed rather than angry. Things can’t always go 100% to plan and live up to the perfect image in your head.

So he (possibly) saw some dirty washing and a lived in bedroom. So what?!?

Treacletoots · 24/05/2021 20:50

It's a bit odd for.him to invite himself but honestly I think you're very lucky if this is the worst thing to happen to you recently.

Here, you can have my grip. It sounds like you need one.

CuriousandReady · 24/05/2021 20:53

I’m confused too. I’d have shut my bedroom door before guests arrived.
As the boys went upstairs I’d ask them back down and steer them towards something else to do.

Personally, I wouldn’t go upstairs in somebody else house, but that just me
All sees very odd and I think you are overthinking it

Howshouldibehave · 24/05/2021 20:56

You need to work on your boundaries, I think! If you didn’t want him to come, you shouldn’t have said he could come. If you didn’t want people upstairs, you should have called them down. Did you actually say in front of the dad that you wanted people to stay downstairs?

As for expecting a birthday present/card off both the mum and dad, that’s just cheeky!

Stichintime · 24/05/2021 20:58

It's not clear why you didn't get the boys down straight away. Why do you think he was poking about in your bedroom?

DuckbilledSplatterPuff · 24/05/2021 20:59

He sounds like an Odd Bod, and its a cringe that he was upstairs and saw the mess, but so what? It was a kids party and you had your hands full. It wasn't a party for him and under those circumstances people have to take you as they find you. If he ever comes to your house again, make sure you tell him that upstairs is out of bounds, although if his boy is up there unsupervised you might have to chase them all down first.

The kids had a great time and your son had a lovely party. That's the main thing to focus on, rather than an annoying guest. Let it go.

allthequeenshorsesandmen · 24/05/2021 21:00

F

SnackSizeRaisin · 24/05/2021 21:00

Why was he poking around in your bedroom? That sounds odd. But I don't understand why you didn't make the children stay downstairs. Maybe he thought his child needed supervision, especially if only 4. To be honest I think either tidy your room, or ensure guests don't go in there. I don't see why you would want someone else's child in your bedroom either.
I would expect the child to say thanks when leaving (prompted by parent perhaps) but wouldn't expect any further thanks for a child's party

NeverDropYourMoonCup · 24/05/2021 21:03

Have you checked your jewellery box or other valuables up there since?