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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:
sweeneytoddsrazor · 06/07/2022 17:16

The fact that she doesn't know your DC puts a slightly different perspective on the situation, but it is still mean and she won't get to know them without meeting them will she.

AchatAVendre · 06/07/2022 17:16

No, absolutely not. Thats appalling to single out a 7 year old child in that way and what a dreadful way to talk about him. He is part of your and your DP's family and therefore part of theirs, and talking about marriage being necessary is outdated and would alienate a substantial element of the population. She clearly disapproves of your relationship in some way and I wouldn't be rushing to be all people-pleasing to her.

CoffeeWithNiles · 06/07/2022 17:17

zingally · 06/07/2022 16:44

She's perfectly entitled to have an adults-only meal out for her birthday. A child at the table, even a well-behaved, quiet one, changes the dynamic of the group, and the adults won't be able to speak so freely, as they'll be feeling like they have to tailor their topics of conversation for kid ears.

Saying that, she also needs to be okay with the fact that being firm on a no kids policy, may mean that some people are unable to attend.

It's not an adults only meal.

Blendiful · 06/07/2022 17:20

There has been a similar thread like this on the step-parent board. However the situation is different. As you tried to go without DC and it's because of a health reason exH can't have them, and so you have now asked to attend I don't think YABU.

It's an unavoidable situation and also there is other DC going. So not like they would be the only child. I also think her reasoning is rude.

SarahProblem · 06/07/2022 17:20

Don't go and don't make up any fake excuses about child care (or let your DP for that matter).
Don't send a card. She doesn't deserve any civility from you.

myuterusistryingtokillme · 06/07/2022 17:22

zingally · 06/07/2022 16:44

She's perfectly entitled to have an adults-only meal out for her birthday. A child at the table, even a well-behaved, quiet one, changes the dynamic of the group, and the adults won't be able to speak so freely, as they'll be feeling like they have to tailor their topics of conversation for kid ears.

Saying that, she also needs to be okay with the fact that being firm on a no kids policy, may mean that some people are unable to attend.

Which would be fine if it were adults only. However the OP says There are other DC going to the meal, ranging in age from I think about 3 to teens.

Goldencarp · 06/07/2022 17:24

Urm no you aren’t being sensitive. She’s a cow. Also if my sister said that about my partners child I wouldn’t be going either.

cooldarkroom · 06/07/2022 17:25

Wow, well hopefully she won't be invited to your wedding. She knows full well this is incredibly rude, excluding you & your DC.
I don't think your H should go either.

Justmuddlingalong · 06/07/2022 17:26

I would contact her myself to tell her the truth about why you won't be attending. It'll save your DP the effort of lying and making up a wishy-washy excuse on your behalf.

RuthW · 06/07/2022 17:27

It's up to her, but I wouldn't go

SausageAndCash · 06/07/2022 17:28

Is she the parent of any of your DC’s step-cousins?

In principle I think she is being outrageous. Especially if she is excluding her DC’s step cousins. Spiteful and unkind.

However if she is not a parent she might feel as if she is being bombarded and outnumbered by kids at her birthday dinner. They are different occasions if the majority adults are also answering kids, checking behaviour, wiping up, minding their language, not lingering for a long boozy afternoon.

Still bad, though.

summer4509 · 06/07/2022 17:28

I wouldn't be going either and would be clear as to why. I would also have an issue with my DP who thought that this was acceptable. Does he not see your DC as his family either? I don't buy into the theory that step children should be treated as your own on all occasions but in this instance there is no reason they shouldn't be.

Davyjones · 06/07/2022 17:28

If you are family he is family
She’s being a bitch
I’d not make effort with her again

Justmuddlingalong · 06/07/2022 17:31

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.
She's not worried about being overrun by kids at the meal. She's made her reason perfectly clear

PatchworkElmer · 06/07/2022 17:32

Sod that. She clearly doesn’t see you as ‘family’ either.

Reginaldina · 06/07/2022 17:32

You're not overthinking or being sensitive. She is being rude, especially as there are other children going. Don't make a big deal just say that as you're not allowed to bring your child and your ex isn't well enough to look after them, then you'll have to stay home and look after them. It will make her look bad to any normal thinking person, especially when others ask her brother why you're not there.

MRex · 06/07/2022 17:33

Think of it this way, she is someone who thinks it is fun to take out petty grudges by being mean about a 7yo. Is that the sort of person whose birthday you would like to:
A) Celebrate
B) Avoid at all costs.

Is your DP aware and still going? I'd be shocked if my DH didn't tell his own sister that she was being awful and withdraw.

BungleandGeorge · 06/07/2022 17:33

Tbh she has a point that if you haven’t introduced them in 5 years then they aren’t really her family. Who are the kids that are going? How old are your other children, if they’re teenagers she may feel that bringing your 7 year old is avoidable

Fenella123 · 06/07/2022 17:34

I'm guessing she has never been a stepchild herself.
I have, and my step-relatives have always been nice to me.
Don't go, let DP say whatever he likes, and given she's just not that interested in a relationship with you, don't put yourself out on her account in future. Invest your energies elsewhere...

doadeer · 06/07/2022 17:35

Would understand more if you'd only been dating a couple months but you've been together years! She is really being awful.

I wouldn't bother going.

AnnaFF · 06/07/2022 17:35

I wouldn't go. She is being unreasonable. Unless you were the OW then she has no reason to dislike you because she is Friends with his ex. Very childish.

growandhope · 06/07/2022 17:37

I'd expect your Dp to tell her where to go with her meal, he shouldn't bother going either.

Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 06/07/2022 17:37

I'd be tempted to turn up with my DS but probably wouldn't. I'd definitely call her and tell her the reason you're not going. Don't make up excuses, it just lets her off the hook.

shinynewapple22 · 06/07/2022 17:38

I would feel upset by this. I would be staying at home to look after the child she doesn't want to attend .

What does your DP think ?

HayfeverSniff · 06/07/2022 17:39

Please do not go! All it shows her is that you are willing to bend to her weird definitions of who qualifies to be at the table and that you and your children are second rate.

Unfortunately with people like this, attending the dinner will not get you brownie points or improve your relationship anyway so it's not like this will make her warm towards you and accept you. Also, why would you want to befriend his sister if she is this outright rude about your children? It's not like you're asking to bring a random child you'd agreed to babysit.

Stay home with your children and have a nice takeaway instead. DP can go on his own.

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