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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:
Skyla2005 · 24/05/2021 21:40

I wouldn't be happy about a man I didn't hardly know being upstairs with
My children ! Fuck the dirty washing

Twickerhun · 24/05/2021 21:41

We had a kids party 18 months ago and a group of kids snook upstairs to play in my room. All their parents went up (separately) without my knowledge to extract their kids. I was mildly embarrassed due to the state of upstairs. I would far rather they hadn’t seen the chaos I allow and I would have far rather they didn’t go up there but hey. they are all still friends and I don’t think they judge me too harshly. No of them asked me if they could go up.

ElaborateSalad · 24/05/2021 21:41

I don't understand what he has done wrong?

GreyhoundG1rl · 24/05/2021 21:42

You told they kids not to go upstairs, but they went anyway and he went up too to supervise them?
I'd have shooed the whole lot back down again, including him!
It's a weird thing to do, don't let anyone tell you differently.
But why did you let it happen? Didn't you have anything organised downstairs for them?

steff13 · 24/05/2021 21:44

I didn't call the boys down myself as was stuck on the sofa breastfeeding! But in his shoes I'd have said "Wooly the kids are upstairs, will you supervise or shall I?"

If youwere stuck breastfeeding, why would he ask if you wanted to go up and supervise? He probably thought, rightly, that you were busy.

HeadNorth · 24/05/2021 21:47

I think you have a low bar for 'crazy-rude' guests. At worst he sounds thoughtless and inept - I was expecting something far more dramatic from the thread title (trying on your underwear/coming down stairs with your dildo - that would be crazy-rude).

tattleandbagels · 24/05/2021 21:47

@Skyla2005

I wouldn't be happy about a man I didn't hardly know being upstairs with My children ! Fuck the dirty washing
he's not a random from the street, he was with his own son Hmm.

He gave the OP privacy to BF, who can blame the guy. Unless you have a webcam at the door, how do you even know he went into your bedroom?

toocold54 · 24/05/2021 21:48

YABU I think you’re just tired from the party and disappointed that it wasn’t as fantastic as you’d hoped to make up for last time so you’re overthinking it.
I don’t think this guy did anything wrong apart from not saying thanks but he might have but you didn’t hear.
If your DC had a good time which it sounds like it, that’s all that matters Smile

DavidTheDog · 24/05/2021 21:48

Where was the mum and the other parents?

I think it would be unusual to take a bottle of wine to a five year old’s party.

Howshouldibehave · 24/05/2021 21:49

How do you know he went into your bedroom, @WoolyMammoth55?

Cherrysoup · 24/05/2021 21:49

He drank loads of your wine, but brought nothing? Definitely a cheeky fucker. You had the perfect excuse to tell him he couldn’t come, I would have told him no due to numbers and that it was for my dc, not him.

Flowers500 · 24/05/2021 21:50

Christ I think you could get offended if someone blinked the wrong number of times

steff13 · 24/05/2021 21:50

Wait, why would he have brought a bottle of wine? Did you invite him to dinner?

sbhydrogen · 24/05/2021 21:50

The card and present don't really bother me much as there would already be one from that family unit, but the rest would bother me greatly.

Jellybabiesforbreakfast · 24/05/2021 21:51

YABU but I can see why you're annoyed.

I haven't taken the stairgate off our stairs for this precise reason even though DC no longer needs it. Very useful for keeping upstairs out-of-bounds. After your harrowing tale of dirty laundry and discarded nighties, I may keep it forever Grin.

hibbledibble · 24/05/2021 21:53

I wouldn't expect a present from each parent, even if separated.

Regarding the upstairs thing, some may mind this, many wouldn't be bothered. Since he didn't know your feelings, as you said nothing, you can't hold a grudge for this.

I think you are being a wee bit dramatic here.

BeefSupreme · 24/05/2021 21:53

@Queenoftheashes

This doesn’t sound that bad. I’ve had a guest enter my bedroom and drip fag ash on my bed, burning a hole in my duvet while doing really awful farts.
Was his name Michael Fagan?

Your username is Queen after all.

Sweettea1 · 24/05/2021 21:54

Bet the boys had the best time playing upstairs with him kids love it when adults get involved even more so when the adult could be hanging out with other adults. Why was they playing in your bedroom tho and not ds? Doubt he give the mess a second thought tbh.

NurseButtercup · 24/05/2021 21:55

@steff13

Wait, why would he have brought a bottle of wine? Did you invite him to dinner?
I'm so glad somebody else picked up on this point. I've never ever ever been expected to take alcohol to a child's birthday party.
toocold54 · 24/05/2021 21:56

I also would find a bottle of wine for a child birthday party quite wrong - unless this is what you usually do in your circle of friends

BeefSupreme · 24/05/2021 21:58

maybe a bottle of wine

What kind of weirdo would bring wine to a child’s 5th birthday party?

mnahmnah · 24/05/2021 21:58

The gift is from the child, not the parents. Just because the parents are separated they shouldn’t provide two gifts!

I am assuming he went upstairs following the kids to keep an eye on them. Do you always expect a formal agreement on who is to supervise the children at which time? If it’s a party I would say it’s just everyone mucking in to help.

Also, why would the dad bring wine to a children’s party?!

BeefSupreme · 24/05/2021 22:01

was expecting something far more dramatic from the thread title (trying on your underwear/coming down stairs with your dildo - that would be crazy-rude)

😂

cunningartificer · 24/05/2021 22:03

To be honest it doesn’t sound as though he’s done anything wrong and I think you’re being pretty unfair. In fact he sounds quite thoughtful; coming to the party presumably because he wanted to see his son have fun, and supervising his son upstairs rather than ignoring him when you were busy breastfeeding. I can’t help feeling if he had stayed you’d be annoyed he hadn’t left you in peace. Weird to expect a special extra present. Understandable you are annoyed about the possibility is a guest seeing an untidy part of your house, but I guarantee he wasn’t bothered and was (presumably) concentrating on his son.

wizzywig · 24/05/2021 22:05

He has put a spy camera in your bedroom!!