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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

AIBU to just not go to this dinner - Told DC cannot go

264 replies

feelingthepinch · 06/07/2022 16:36

Not sure what to think on this one to be honest. I've namechanged as will be outing if anyone reads it.

Been with DP almost 5 years. He has 2 sisters, one of which I see alot and we get on well, the other we don't see as much as lives further away. Get on ok but shes always been a bit off with me (she was good friends with his ex wife, so probably she feels a bit awkward or disloyal if she likes me or something). Its never been a huge problem though. We are civil and friendly.

This Dsis is having a milestone birthday meal out at end of July. All DP's family are invited, its a case of the place is booked and we all buy our own food, so she isn't paying for everyone.
We agreed we could go and my exdp was having the dc that weekend so all good.

ExDP has had to go into hospital and although nothing serious looks like it will be hard for him to have the DC on the weekend as planned as it falls after a minor operation. The older DC can stay at home but youngest is 7 and i'm not keen on the others having the responsbility of him for that long as the restuarant is just over an hour drive away.

There are other DC going to the meal, ranging in age from I think about 3 to teens.
Before we asked his Dsis if its possible to bring DC, I called the restaurant to see if needed could an extra chair be put at the table thats booked and they said yes its no problem and we can just let them know the day before. Reason I did this was because if the restaurant couldn't accommodate another person at the table there would be no point in asking his Dsis if we could bring DC anyway and I'd have to sort something out.

But as other Dc are going, Dp then asked his Dsis if we can bring him and she said No. The reason is because we are not married, and he isn't family.

If she'd of said no because there was no room or because no dc I'd of understood completely but the fact she said he isn't family just sort of stung me a bit. No we are not married, but we are engaged and live together and DP has been in DS's life since he was 3.

For the record DS is a very well behaved child, he will sit at a table and behave when out, so the reason is definitely not that hes a child who would misbehave. he is quiet, you'd hardly know he was there. Plus we are paying for our food anyway, so not like he would cost her anything.

I'm inclined to thinking I don't want to go now at all, and won't try and sort other arrangement for DS. DP thinks i'm being silly and too sensitive but its left me feeling a bit disappointed and like I'm basically an outcast and still not seen as part of the family. I do over think, but am I being silly about this or would anyone else feel a bit offended?

OP posts:
whynotwhatknot · 07/07/2022 11:51

she does need to be told why though not just that all of you cant make it or whats the point

what happens next time

Frankola · 07/07/2022 11:57

While she has the right to invite who she wants, you have the right not to go if you don't want to.

Just say you can't go as you can't leave dc. Her reasoning sounds a bit crappy.

girlfriend44 · 07/07/2022 12:01

That's dreadful. Definitely none of you should go. Your partner should take charge and tell her.

What is wrong with ppl honestly this is the quickest way to split the family silly woman.

How would she like it said to her?

ImAvingOops · 07/07/2022 15:18

There's no point in not going unless you are going to explain why. Otherwise nothing changes.

RealityTV · 07/07/2022 19:05

Technically, she is right! YOU are not her family and neither is your son! Therefore, I would stay home with my child! NO ONE who treats my child that way needs my presence AND the fact that your SO doesn't see that as a problem would be troubling to me as well! Let her celebrate with those she considers "family". I wouldn't go and be phony with her. If my child can't come, then I WON'T COME! END OF STORY!

DGay · 12/07/2022 23:51

If your son is not family then neither are you, so don't go. If DP doesn't stick up for you and your son, I'd seriously re-think him as a husband. He won't stick up for you or your son.

DGay · 13/07/2022 01:00

feelingthepinch · 06/07/2022 19:07

I feel better that I wasn’t being overly sensitive about it. Thank you all.
dp home any second and I’m not going to be going. And you are all right in that he should’ve been annoyed at her reason. DS is his family as far as I’m concerned and thought he thought the same.
I shall let you know what he says, but I'm not backing down on not going.

Tell him that not sticking up for you and son means he doesn't consider you or son family either.

ohgawdnowivedoneit · 13/07/2022 04:07

I wouldn't go.

I'd also hope your DP wouldn't go in support of you and your child as, realistically, you are his family!

RustyShackleford3 · 13/07/2022 05:14

Good grief, what a petty, miserable, cow.

I'm glad you and DH aren't going. I probably wouldn't bother with her at all anymore. Be polite if you happen to see her but I wouldn't accept any invitations from her in future. You're always busy watching paint dry.

WalkingOnTheCracks · 13/07/2022 12:52

I think your bloke needs to call his sister and say, "Sorry, we can't get a sitter so we won't be able to come."

In the conversation that follows, as she argues the point, he'll need to get across...

  • no, I'm not coming on my own. Why would I want to do that?
  • no, the kid is family. Might not be your family, but he's mine.
  • how about if we brought all the kids - that is, those from my first marriage? Would you expect us to leave this one at home?
  • Sis, you're being an arsehole. Just back down, okay?
KangFang · 13/07/2022 12:57

I wouldn't go.

WalkingOnTheCracks · 13/07/2022 12:57

WalkingOnTheCracks · 13/07/2022 12:52

I think your bloke needs to call his sister and say, "Sorry, we can't get a sitter so we won't be able to come."

In the conversation that follows, as she argues the point, he'll need to get across...

  • no, I'm not coming on my own. Why would I want to do that?
  • no, the kid is family. Might not be your family, but he's mine.
  • how about if we brought all the kids - that is, those from my first marriage? Would you expect us to leave this one at home?
  • Sis, you're being an arsehole. Just back down, okay?

....and now I've posted that, I read to the end and find that that's more or less what happened, and she didn't back down.

Onlyhuman123 · 13/07/2022 13:05

The SIL was probably hoping that OP wouldn't go to the meal after she said that OP's child was 'not family'...she was clearly getting a dig in at that point and highlighting the fact that OP is not family either but wasn't brave enough to say it. But if she was hoping that it would just mean that her brother would come to the meal, she's shot herself in the foot now hasn't she as he's not going either?! how pathetic and bloody rude too!

Loics · 13/07/2022 13:26

None of you going is definitely the way to go if she is adamant one child is to be excluded, how nasty of her.

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