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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

'Escape from it all' holiday gate-crashed

393 replies

Ismellspring · 08/05/2022 06:54

After a very traumatic and emotionally draining 18 months that have pushed us to the brink, my partner and I plus our 6 year old daughter have rented an apartment in a European city for a month this summer. We just need somewhere to escape to, to regroup and unwind. We absolutely need this 'getting away from it all' opportunity to allow us to heal and begin to move on. The looking forward to it is already beginning to have a positive impact.
Now, there is a child involved and that child has adoring grandparents. You probably know where this is going...
Doting grandparents don't live near us (4 hours away) and we typically visit each other every couple of months for a weekend. Come visit us in * instead, we say. The usual 3 days, we say. Remember, we're getting away from everything, we say.
10 DAYS THEY'VE BOOKED.
Don't worry, we won't intrude, they say. We know you need space to recuperate so we'll keep a low profile, they say. You'll never know we're here, they say.
Their apartment is round the corner. She is very demanding and needy. She thinks there's a life rule book and she wrote it. Everyone around her dances to her tune - it's easier as she is a sulker and stropper. We have all been guilty of pandering to her in the past as we are never in her company long or often enough for it to be worth challenging.
I've hit rock bottom. We were so looking forward to a whole month of a different normal and the space and sanctuary to begin to live again.

OP posts:
StEval · 08/05/2022 15:21

Ismellspring · 08/05/2022 08:22

@Everyoneishappier They know. They just put their needs/wants before those of others.

If this is the case then offering 3 days when you know they will overstep boundaries is a self sabotaging and fawning behaviour.
Fawning is appeasement to avoid conflict but actually it has created it.

You wanted a complete break, its up to you to make that happen ...

alfagirl73 · 08/05/2022 15:32

OP I think you're getting a bit of a hard time on here. It is not unreasonable for them to extend their trip to 10 days or however long if they want to make the most of it but the issue now is that there may well be a mis-match in expectations and from your posts I get the impression that despite what they say, they are the type to push 3 days into 4 or 5... or engineer things a bit to get what they want? Whatever the case, this is where you are now so as is the case with many things - you can't control what other people do - only how you deal with it.

So, in your shoes, here is what I'd do. Keep it light/positive/friendly - and go "oh you decided to extend your trip? How lovely! So obviously we have xxx (days) together... what are you up to the rest of the time? Are you going to fit in visiting xxx (attraction, museum, other place nearby - ie other city or a beach or wherever)?". Asking this question does 2 things - it sends the message that you are not expecting to be spending that time together and also you get information. If they have fairly definite plans and things they want to do then possibly they ARE just making the most of the trip.

If they are very vague and don't seem to have any real reason for extending the trip, that suggests they may be hoping to push for more time with you. If it was a beach type holiday then I would expect more vague "play it by ear" chilled out type plans. A European city break I would tend to expect people to have some more definite plans over a 10 day visit - ie. certain tourist attractions or whatever eg. If I were visiting Rome there would be a number of things I would definitely want to see there and would have at least a rough plan for fitting it all in.

If they respond more vaguely or don't really know what they want to do, in that case you might want to make those days the "busy" portion of your holiday - day trips booked etc.. .and just not be very available. Maybe make suggestions to them of things they might want to do - encourage them to book a few things and talk in terms of them doing things together rather than with you. Eg: "oh - so if you're visiting xxx you'll want to go here... and make sure you see xxxx - it's amazing!". It's friendly - it's not telling them to bugger off - but it's still making clear that their holiday is separate from yours.

limitedperiodonly · 08/05/2022 15:38

Have you got a website OP? Direct them there so they can make an appointment with you and your family. Advise them of your cookie policy while you're at it.

RachelGreeneGreep · 08/05/2022 15:41

Ismellspring · 08/05/2022 15:17

Hi All
Thank you again for your huge range of responses. They've given me, as I said earlier, some perspective.
Please don't worry, no grandparents have been harmed (nor will be) during this process! They remain blissfully unaware of my feelings - I've had years of practise. They are looking forward to joining us and we shall ensure they have a great time. We will not be hiding behind closed doors or turned off phones.
We shall, however, choose our words far more carefully in the future and clarify all details together.

Please ensure that you, your husband and child ALSO have a great time, during the grandparents stay, and obviously over the longer holiday.

Check yourself before leaping into agreeing to everything they want to do, while there, unless you all actually want to do it.

MyrtlethePurpleTurtle · 08/05/2022 15:47

MakeMineALarge1 · 08/05/2022 13:06

OP you sound quite the drama queen here and really quite self absorbed.
You seem to think they will want to spend all their time with you, I bet they are thinking to themselves, only 3 days with them and then we can enjoy our holiday!

Yep!!

Jux · 08/05/2022 15:47

Ask them what they're planning on doing the other 7 days. Be firm now, so tell them that you won't be available, phones will be off and you won't be answering the door.

Jux · 08/05/2022 15:50

If you bump into them when out and about, give them a nod, pass the time of day - lovely weather....must rush...blah - as you would to someone you saw every day in the street at home, and then move on.

Marvellousmadness · 08/05/2022 15:53

Just saw the update ...

Dont come complaining during or after your "escape from it all ,but inviting my in laws "holiday . You made your choice (s)

Sally090807 · 08/05/2022 15:56

babanod · 08/05/2022 14:29

I can’t believe there’s people saying you’ve been unreasonable. Tell them to fuck off. Ridiculous behaviour on their behalf.

I can’t believe you’re suggesting she tells her parents to fuck off when they booked a holiday they were invited on. I’m beginning to think this whole thread is just a wind up like the various other ones posted on MN

LiesDoNotBecomeUs · 08/05/2022 16:04

OP I think people are missing the information about your need for this break. It sounds serious.

Having to think about 'entertaining' people who are difficult for 10 days is a bigger deal in some circumstances than in others.

I'm sorry that your respite has been invaded.
(The fact that you felt you had to invite the invaders for 3 days is another matter. )

LIZS · 08/05/2022 17:11

Ismellspring · 08/05/2022 15:17

Hi All
Thank you again for your huge range of responses. They've given me, as I said earlier, some perspective.
Please don't worry, no grandparents have been harmed (nor will be) during this process! They remain blissfully unaware of my feelings - I've had years of practise. They are looking forward to joining us and we shall ensure they have a great time. We will not be hiding behind closed doors or turned off phones.
We shall, however, choose our words far more carefully in the future and clarify all details together.

But it is not up to you to ensure they have a good time, you are not hosting them. They are adults and can make their own plans and fun independent of you. Maybe they can even indulge you for once.

NumberTheory · 08/05/2022 17:24

We shall, however, choose our words far more carefully in the future and clarify all details together.

But you chose your words carefully this time and were clear about what you needed and why. It does not sound like communication is the problem in your relationship. The problem is that your PiL think they are right. And you are about to prove it to them again by ensuring they have a great time and giving the impression you are having a great time when they come out for the extra 7 days you told them you didn't want them there for.

RampantIvy · 08/05/2022 17:37

and we shall ensure they have a great time

That is not your responsibility. You are there for a holiday, and they chose to holiday in the same city. Just do what you want to do, and they can fit in with your plans.

Is there a cultural issue here where you feel the need to please these people all the time?

TheLightYears · 08/05/2022 17:40

OP I think people are missing the information about your need for this break. It sounds serious

People didnt miss this.
They are pointing out to the Op that its her responsibility to make the complete break happen.

FogLight · 08/05/2022 17:48

and we shall ensure they have a great time

Such a martyr 🙄

Do you have any idea how grandiose you sound?

I’m sure the grandparents are more than capable of managing their holiday plans. Honestly the whole thing smacks of melodrama. You invited them, they accepted, and now you’re huffing and puffing.

And I note you didn’t nvite them for 3 days as has been presumed (and you have carefully not corrected). You say you usually visit each other for 3 days in the UK and you said oh why don’t you visit us in mystery European city next time. You did not specify a timeframe and like any normal people they wanted a bit of time on their holiday.

mycatisannoying · 08/05/2022 18:23

They're grown adults. If they've booked and paid for their own accommodation, then you can't dictate that they only stay in the same city as you for 3 days.

Pluvia · 08/05/2022 21:16

Ismellspring · 08/05/2022 15:17

Hi All
Thank you again for your huge range of responses. They've given me, as I said earlier, some perspective.
Please don't worry, no grandparents have been harmed (nor will be) during this process! They remain blissfully unaware of my feelings - I've had years of practise. They are looking forward to joining us and we shall ensure they have a great time. We will not be hiding behind closed doors or turned off phones.
We shall, however, choose our words far more carefully in the future and clarify all details together.

See, OP, you're doing the PA martyr number again. You invited them for three days, they're not staying with you and it's not your responsibility to ensure they have a great time. You can work things so that you see them for just a few hours a day. They've decided to join you and they will take you as they find you. You'll be in a city with bars and restaurants and cafes and entertainment of one kind or another to keep them occupied. This doesn't have to be a huge deal if you decide it's not going to be. You can't change them but you can change the way you react.

LicoricePizza · 09/05/2022 01:42

Ok - OP & family has obviously gone through some kind of traumatic event for which she & her DH feel a month away is what they need to try to start to recover.

Obvs that’s not how EVERYONE would react, but it’s how she is reacting & it’s her right to be able to choose that.

Presumably she is financially capable of doing that & should not be judged for it.

One or both may have got compassionate leave, accruing a/l, taking a sabbatical, career break, one of them cld be planning to WFH while there, or may be unemployed due to stress of said trauma, using savings - who knows? How they’re funding it is irrelevant.

Using the month as ammunition to justify claims OP’s a self indulgent drama queen are also unfair.

Yes we’ve all got our own experiences of personal traumas - some more than others - & we all have had to get on with life. But respect each person’s right to cope with distress how they see fit.
This month away may actually save her sanity & prevent her &/or DH having to go off work sick for months on end or claim benefits from the tax payer - so come on. She may already be off work sick - so what better time to try to recover??

Chastising OP for inviting the GP’s is kind of pointless too. She did. She wishes she didn’t. Yes she’s useless with boundaries, a people pleaser & her defenses were down because of what she’s been going through. Went into appeasing mode & proffered an invitation to join them abroad & visit in the vain hope that like healthy considerate people, they’d say “no we wouldn’t dream of it, you need to time to heal”. Except they didn’t. Because they’re not.

It’s possible OP was feeling extra guilt (maybe bcos of the trauma??) & felt she needed to compensate somehow by giving MIL some other kind other offering. Says she felt bad for depriving them of seeing their GC for so long. Again who knows?? She’s not a bad person for doing so however - just obviously going through a tough time & needs to work on her ability to assert herself & set boundaries.
Especially with people who are manipulative & act out when they don’t get their own way.

If GPs are used to travelling then is perfectly legitimate they’re thinking they spend a couple of days to a acclimatise /recover from journey/get settled in -spend 3days with them & then use the remaining time to have a holiday independently from OP -given they were given the opportunity to do so in the first place.

OP does need to discuss now that they’d love to spend a few days with them & find out what they’d all like to do with their days together & what they plan to be doing with their time independently.

Then it’s out there & she can relax - as much as possible - about the trip.

If they freak out & guilt trip & strop as predicted then this is the perfect opportunity for OP & her DH to start practising what setting boundaries actually looks like!

If it goes well - GP’s will play nice. But we know they probably won’t - at least the MIL anyway, in which case it wouldn’t be surprising if MIL becomes very hurt, offended, histrionic etc.

All par for the course OP & progress for you!!
Steel yourself!! She manipulates you into doing what she wants because she knows you don’t like her sulks & unpleasant behaviour. So you always appease her.

Yes it will be more drama & guilt tripping but you have to be able to get your needs met & can’t be held to random by others’ unreasonable behaviour.

If she’s so wounded she may even cancel trip altogether in which case problem solved!

Maybe a positive from all of this awful trauma & sadness could be that it that forced a major change in the dynamics of your families & ensured the sanctity of your own little family unit, which needs fiercely guarding & fighting to protect.

So easy to preach how others should live their lives isn’it?!
B’cos of course we’re all so perfect & functional.

Good luck OP it’s not easy

RampantIvy · 09/05/2022 07:14

Why is everyone assuming that the grandparents are the OP's in-laws?

We don't know because she hasn't said.

Pluvia · 09/05/2022 07:19

@LicoricePizza Such a lot of !! speculation and projection. That's the problem, isn't it? OP has given no concrete information, just a lot of high-octane psychobabble.

rookiemere · 09/05/2022 07:19

@LicoricePizza "in the vain hope that like healthy considerate people, they’d say “no we wouldn’t dream of it, you need to time to heal”. Except they didn’t. Because they’re not. "

Wow so now it's the GPs fault for not realising that the polite thing to do is say No to being invited to spend time with OP and family.

shouldn't we expect people not to proffer invites unless they mean them, rather than the onus being on the invitee to decipher the true intention?

The month does matter because most people don't get that length of holiday, so GPs possibly wouldn't have come even if invited if the trip was say 14 days.

The extended stay is an overstep if - and only if - they expect to spend time with OP and family for the full 10 days. As I said upthread, overseas travel is stressful these days and you cannot dictate the length of peoples holidays particularly when they are paying for them themselves and staying in their own accommodation.

DockOTheBay · 09/05/2022 09:32

Can you imagine the reverse of this if you followed some of the advice 😂

"My daughter and her family have booked a very long holiday to rest and recuperate after a difficult time. They invited us to join them for a few days, so we have booked to stay an apartment nearby. Its in a big city so we can spend a few days visiting them and then explore the city by ourselves. DD has just text me to say they've cancelled their booking because we are "gatecrashing" their holiday. They're booking somewhere else but won't tell us where and now she's ignoring my calls. I'm really worried about DD, her mental health is not the best right now. Plus weve spent over £1500 for flights and accommodation. AIBU?"

DockOTheBay · 09/05/2022 09:45

in the vain hope that like healthy considerate people, they’d say “no we wouldn’t dream of it, you need to time to heal”. Except they didn’t. Because they’re not
They're not psychic?
If they had said "no" then OP probably would have been on here complaining that the grandparents aren't being supportive, or don't want to see their grandchild who they haven't seen for ages.

VintageGibbon · 09/05/2022 09:47

mycatisannoying · 08/05/2022 18:23

They're grown adults. If they've booked and paid for their own accommodation, then you can't dictate that they only stay in the same city as you for 3 days.

Exactly. If DC invited me to join them abroad for three days I certainly wouldn't scurry back to the airport at dawn on day 4 to avoid taxing them with the stress of bumping into me in the street on day 7.

The hysterical reactions of some people on this thread mystify me. Why assume you can micromanage the lives of other adults?

Howaboutnope · 09/05/2022 09:49

toomuchlaundry · 08/05/2022 06:59

Why did you suggest they come, if you are trying to get away from everything?

Yep sorry, this is your own fault.

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