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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To expect my mum to help with her grandchildren?

470 replies

flingaling77 · 06/08/2021 20:12

My mum is 68 years old and quite well. She lives a few minutes down the road. She is retired and on her own since my dad died. During covid she stepped back and refused to be part of our bubble at times. We have a 6yo daughter and a 3 yo son. My son has a speech delay and has behaviour issues. My husband and I found lockdown very tough and argued frequently. We considered splitting up due to the strain of his behaviour and the need for constant supervision. His parents live in Cornwall which is 6 hours away from us. They are older but amazing and so hands on. I feel closer to them than my mum really. We chose to live near my mum to support her but we get little help. She makes us feel guilty and is reluctant. She blames lack of confidence but she has made it clear that she wouldn't like to do a lot of childcare like some of her friends. She has said she would have my son for 1 day a fortnight only while I work. I feel hard done by as most of my friends get more help than us. AIBU to expect my mum to want to help with the kids?

OP posts:
Hekatestorch · 06/08/2021 21:47

@Mistymountain

I think you should move to Cornwall. Don't feel guilty your mum has made her priorities clear
And what if the inlaws then decide they, can't actually cope and are exhausted?

They may think they can help out more, when it's not actually real.

There's a huge difference, between helping out when occasionally visiting.

But when it becomes regular, every week its exhausting. The inlaws are older. So let's say they do, do it. For how long will they be able?

Laska2Meryls · 06/08/2021 21:47

My parents never looked after my child once... And I was a single parent...and I didn't expect them to....

Ginger1982 · 06/08/2021 21:47

My mum is 65 and my MIL 73. They both have DS(4) alternative weeks one night overnight and the following day and he is in nursery the rest of the time. I realise I'm very lucky though that they want to do it and if either of them said they wanted to stop I would respect that.

I can't imagine not wanting to help with any future grandchildren but not everyone feels the same.

RhonaRed · 06/08/2021 21:48

I recall my gran telling my mum she just couldn't take us any more. Fair enough, though I thought I'd been pretty well behaved. With the best will in the world it had just got too much for her.

BizzyIzzyfruitpie · 06/08/2021 21:50

Yep definitely unreasonable. We have a disabled son, he’s an adult now. He’s incredibly difficult. No one has ever helped us and I wouldn’t expect them to. I’ve never really asked my parents or DH’s parents to do anything.

I’ll be perfectly honest. If my younger children have kids I won’t be offering to do much. Of course I’d help if needed though.

Daisychainsandlaughs · 06/08/2021 21:51

At 68, a child with behavioural issues may be just too much for her. I have done a lot of childcare for my grandchildren over the years. One in particular was very badly behaved. I was in my late 40s/early 50s at the time and I dreaded having to look after him. No way would I want to at 68.

Oldbutstillgotit · 06/08/2021 21:51

As a granny I cannot imagine not helping with my grandchildren. I feel blessed to be such an integral part of their lives and happy to support my DD .
DGS15 has his own room here and I am hoping that DGD who is only a few months old will start staying soon .
Some people don’t know what they are missing !

Bellyups · 06/08/2021 21:52

YABU.
She offers you regular childcare. You’re still disappointed. I wonder if you would be able to look after a 4 year old with those difficulties at 68

Truthseeker34 · 06/08/2021 21:53

It would be hard on her own to look after the two children. My mum is the same but was a fantastic mum so I let her off

bevelino · 06/08/2021 21:53

OP, I understand how you feel but as we all know families are different, some dgps are fully hands on with dgc but others are not. I have many friends with parents in both camps and I know that in my situation friends are still surprised at how involved my parents are with my 4 dds.

Pinkchocolate · 06/08/2021 21:54

The entitlement to childcare is shocking OP! If you choose to help your mum you should do so without expecting childcare in return for the help which is what has come across. Lots of us have had it really hard during lockdown but our children are OUR responsibility, not the children’s grandparents. I would suggest looking at paid childcare.
Also please don’t be unkind to your recently widowed mum because she can’t help you more than once a fortnight, my mum is on the receiving end of this from a sibling and it’s so so sad to see.

sleeponeday · 06/08/2021 21:56

@Thenose

sleeponeday

Yes, I have two disabled children, and one is non-verbal.

"children are often the cause of adult relationship problems because they place huge demands on a couple."

I completely disagree. Adult relationship problems often develop as a consequence of adults' unhelpful responses to demanding circumstances. Blaming a disabled child for an adult's failure to maintain a healthy adult relationship is unhelpful for everyone.

Nobody's blaming anyone in acknowledging a basic reality: that huge demands, such as those of small children, place additional strains on couples. It's a statement of situational fact, not a moral judgement.

It's really odd that you seem set on refusing to recognise that the colossal demands of parenting can strain marriages - and why are you so set on the idea that honesty must equal attribution of blame? It's not anyone's fault; parents or child. Less time to focus on one another, less energy of all kinds, less money, less sleep. What sort of robot wouldn't find that placed a strain on a relationship, however wanted, loved and fabulous the child is (well, mine are!)? And there is neither blame nor shame in that, nor in acknowledging the truth of it for most - or shouldn't be.

I think acknowledging it helps people, speaking as someone who has been married, mostly very happily, through two decades. The very early years are hard for most of us, in relationship terms. The early years are hard for lots of fantastic mothers I know in parenting terms, too - that's why charities to support them exist! If we weather times of stress and strain, and the marriage was good to begin with, you get past it, but that doesn't mean those rites of passage are easy, or that the strains don't occur. Why are you of the view that blame has to be apportioned - to anyone - by the acknowledgement of some extremely well-researched fact?

The OP has no right to more care than her mum is offering, which isn't that low. But she has every right to express distress and frustration with how hard this part of her life is for her, and to seek extra support, and to find that the struggle placed a lot of strain on her marriage - which is, from women I know in our shoes, not unusual, though in most cases thankfully it passes. All of this is okay. None of it is anyone's fault. So let people vent, and then try to work on a plan to make life easier and better for all of them - which, surely, supports the child you purport to be concerned for better than castigating their mum? No?

Chibbles · 06/08/2021 21:58

he has now turned a corner but we would have screaming throwing hitting and hair pulling for a lot of the day. He didn't have the understanding or language to communicate.

This jumped out at me. Would she be able to cope with him? Based on the above I'm not sure she should have to deal with this alone?

Tbh I think a day a fortnight is generous, what level of help were you expecting? How much help do your friends have, and do their kids have severe additional needs?

ShitPoetryClub · 06/08/2021 22:03

I am 52 and looked after a relatives little boy recently for the day. He has additional needs and is non verbal at 4. Just keeping him safe was nearly impossible.
It nearly bloody killed me. Can't imagine doing that at 68.

Chloemol · 06/08/2021 22:03

YABU. They are your children, your responsibility. Your mother owes you nothing in terms of childcare

Christmasfairy2020 · 06/08/2021 22:06

How old was you when you had your kids. My mil has mine regularly she was 50 when oldest was born I have 2 youngest is 6. She's done school pick ups had them loads and still does. My mum is nearly 60 and has them when needed but mil more

Mary46 · 06/08/2021 22:06

Op its hard. Never got help I had to pay. I guess some gp just not into it. My hurt now is my mum expects alot when we never had a dig out over the years. Covid not easy year either. But to be fair of my school mams their mums were younger than mine

WingingItSince1973 · 06/08/2021 22:07

I have always helped my dd with my gs because I remember how hard it was when mine were little and the relief when my dd or mil would have them for a few hours/overnight. But saying that my dgs now 6 has been very hard work the first few years of his life and I'm a young nan at 48 but he really did wreck me some days. I'm probably too involved as they are now living back with us but before that I was the main childcare while my dd worked. To be honest it nearly broke me as I also have dodgy health. You mum is 20 years older than me so I can see why she is putting down boundaries. But then I do think it's sad when gps don't want to be that involved in their dgs life. My daughter has been a single parent all of his life so I guess that's a totally different situation. If she had been married and had a stable life I probably would have not been as much in his life as I am. Please don't forget that your mum did raise you and you say she was a lovely mum. Maybe she is super anxious about looking after your dcs especially if your ds has issues. I know I found it very challenging at times with my dgs as he had rages etc due to issues. Do you make time for just your mum and you? I know that's probably asking alot when you have a busy life but it would help her see she's not just all about facilitating your childcare xxx

WingingItSince1973 · 06/08/2021 22:10

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Cookiebox · 06/08/2021 22:11

We chose to live near my mum to support her but we get little help

This is so telling. Come on you didn't move near her to 'support her' because you haven't ...you moved close to her because you expected her to support you.

hudagee · 06/08/2021 22:14

perhaps she thought it would be mutual? I live close to my mum & help her out & she helps me out.

SemperIdem · 06/08/2021 22:16

It’s easy for your in laws to be really hands on given the frequency they have to be so.

She’s in good health…but still 68.

Thenose · 06/08/2021 22:17

56sleeponeday,

"Children are often the cause of adult relationship problems because they place huge demands on a couple" does not simply "acknowledge basic reality". It's a subjective judgement that attributes responsibility to the child.

You placed the blame; I just moved it.

Beckhamsmetatarsal · 06/08/2021 22:18

You're not hard done by OP. I don't understand why people have children then expect their parents to look after them. Perhaps it's because I don't have any so it's never been an option for me, but it just seems strange and common. You chose to have the children, she didn't? She's done her time raising you and she's been open about how she feels about caring for them.I don't think it makes her bad or uncaring for your DC. She just knows her limits.

I do think you considering moving away from her just because she won't provide you with childcare dickish though.

IceCreamAndCandyfloss · 06/08/2021 22:19

She is under no obligation to provide you with childcare when it was your choice to have two children.

If you moved to support her why the want for free childcare from her or looking to move from her as she won’t provide more?
Your ILs are far away, if you move closer then they too may not be so hands on if far more is expected of them.
They have all raised their children and should be free to enjoy their lives now they have no responsibilities to young children.

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